Albright, Steinem slammed for 'shaming' women who don't back Clinton
Comments targeting young female supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, made by two prominent women backing his main opponent Hillary Clinton, face the ire of an entire generation, based on social media reactions.
Just days before voting in the first primary begins in New Hampshire, Madeleine Albright, who served as Secretary of State in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet, stumped for his wife Hillary.
"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other," former US Secretary of State Albright said when introducing the democratic presidential hopeful at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Saturday.
Although Clinton herself can be seen laughing at the comment, social media users did not find it funny, some describing the remarks as "condescending", "vile", and "not appropriate".
What a vile and hate-filled person Madeline Albright is.
— Dan Ahern (@TheRealDanAhern) February 7, 2016
.@hillaryclinton laughs, the Madeline Albright comment about special place in hell for women? That's not supporting women #mtp#FeelTheBern
— GeekTexas (@GeekTexas) February 7, 2016
Dear Madeline Albright with your statement that there is "a special place in hell" for women that don't support each...
Posted by We are Bernie Sanders - Feel The Bern on Saturday, 6 February 2016
The entire point of women fighting for suffrage pre 19th Amm. was so that bullies like Madeline Albright couldn't dictate who to vote for
— Rebecca (@masspolitica) February 7, 2016
Madeline Albright: an excellent role model for young women who want to serve the public, go into politics, & accelerate the Rwandan Genocide
— Groundhog Dan (@Bro_Pair) February 7, 2016
#MadelineAlbright just said there's a, "special place in hell for women who don't vote for a woman." Madame Secretary,...
Posted by David Miller on Saturday, 6 February 2016
In a Friday interview on the US TV show "Real Time with Bill Maher", Ms Magazine founder Gloria Steinem, who in 1996 described Sanders as an "honorary woman", said she believed young women only supported Clinton’s rival because "the boys are with Bernie".
That prompted the Daily Kos blogger foolme1ns to write in a Sunday post titled Baby Boomer feminists slut shaming millennials.
"Your dismissal of these young women as just being horny and supporting Bernie simply to find boys, is sooo disappointing on so many levels. Shame on you, Gloria, and all baby boomer feminists for slut shaming the younger women for following their own judgement," wrote foolme1ns.
#ThatMomentWhen feminist icon Gloria Steinem says something ridiculously sexist to female #Sanders2016 supporters. pic.twitter.com/37pLagmtzK
— MercurialMiss (@MercurialMiss) February 6, 2016
#GloriaSteinmen's comments are an insult to any modern day thinking woman. #Dismissive#WhoTheHellDoYouThinkYouAre#LegacyWrecked#DropMic
— Monique Jones (@nickisuz) February 7, 2016
Holy shit #GloriaSteinem is a stupid fucking cow! You lived your whole life to say this now? #soreloser #hillarywontwin
Posted by Paula Soule on Saturday, 6 February 2016
#GloriaSteinmen#FeelTheBern It's total hypocrisy + anti feminist to want a woman over a man for pres, when principle goes out the window
— Pamela Malone (@malone_pamwings) February 6, 2016
#GloriaSteinem how about you quit confusing female sexism with feminism, quit marginalizing and belittling young women...
Posted by Jake Forrester on Saturday, 6 February 2016
Steinem released a short statement on her Facebook page Sunday saying she "misspoke" and apologizes for "what's been misinterpreted".
Comments underneath the post, however, have described it as a "non-apology" with one user noting it was "a great example of establishment feminism for the wealthy and privileged".
Many of those who shared their thoughts on social media said they felt the statements made by both Albright and Steinem have done no favors for Clinton’s campaign and have in fact bolstered support for Sanders.
Gloria Steinem & Madeline Albright are not helping HRC's cause. I can't think of a worse approach to try to get people to vote for someone.
— The Bern Report (@TheBernReport) February 6, 2016
Gloria Steinheim/Madeline Albright/2 uppity rich white women supporting HRC/uppity white woman. How dare try 2 shame women who vote #bernie.
— linda in GA no gmo (@yarrowroot) February 7, 2016
— Veganista⚡️ (@Pb_Dirigible) February 7, 2016
Thank you Madeline Albright & Gloria Steinem today for reinforcing our decision to endorse #Bernie2016pic.twitter.com/Yjat9YrcYb
— RJ (@robinhillock77) February 7, 2016
I'm disappointed by how poorly Gloria Steinhem and Madeline Albright view our young female supporters. #FeelTheBern
— Michele Gilliam (@CheleGilliam) February 6, 2016
Journalist Nathan Wellman wrote on US Uncut, "There’s a ‘Special Place in Hell’ for Madeleine Albright", citing her prominent role in NATO’s 1999 bombing of Serbia which led to the deaths of 2,000 civilians, including 88 children.