Another Step Forward for Women in Journalism

Oh Katie Couric, you strike again. In case you didn't watch 60 Minutes on Sunday night, here's a snippet of Couric interviewing Senator Hillary Clinton:

Couric: What were you like in high school? Were you the girl in the front row, taking meticulous notes and always raising your hands? [Yes, she said "hands."]

Clinton: Not always raising my hand. Not always raising my hand!

Couric: Someone told me your nickname in school was Miss Frigidaire. Is that true?

Clinton: Only with some boys.

Couric: I don't know if I want to hear the back story on that!

Clinton: Yeah, well, you wouldn't want to know the boys, either. [laughs]

What the hell is Couric trying to get at here? That some pimply-faced teenage boys were pissed that Hillary wasn't a conformist slutbag at sixteen? Or what if, she was? Would that have been better or worse? Seriously, better or worse? Because only dichotomous arguments can exist when we're talking about girls and sex, there was no right answer to that question. That question was an attempt to entrap her in some asshat stereotype that has obviously followed her around since high school. The woman is a United States Senator, you'd think a nickname from 45 years ago wouldn't be relevant, or at least not worth the air time. Can you imagine if a similar question was asked of Obama? Nope--'cause it wouldn't happen.