New Book Claims Obama White House Is a ‘Hostile Workplace’ for Women
- Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:03pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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A new book claims the Obama White House is a “hostile workplace” for women and a “boys’ club,”
“Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President” by Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Suskind discusses pervasive infighting within the administration, and quotes former White House communications director Anita Dunn as saying, “this place would be in court for a hostile workplace.”
Former White House communications director Anita Dunn. (AP File Photo)
“It actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a genuinely hostile workplace to women,” Dunn said.
But in an interview with the Washington Post, which obtained an excerpt from the book, Dunn appeared to walk her comments back, saying she told Suskind “point blank” that the White House “was not a hostile environment.”
“The president is someone who when he goes home at night he goes home to house full of very strong women,” she said. “He values having strong women around him.”
According to the Post, women held many senior positions in the White House but felt outmaneuvered by male colleagues including former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and former economic adviser Larry Summers:
Former economic adviser Christina Romer. (AP File Photo)
“I felt like a piece of meat,” Christina Romer, former head of the Council of Economic Advisers, said of one meeting in which Suskind writes she was “boxed out” by Summers.
Dunn told Suskind that the problems began during the 2008 campaign. At one point she was viewing a television ad with other campaign officials and was shocked to see no women in the spot.
“There isn’t a single woman in this ad,” Dunn said. “I was dumbfounded. It wasn’t like they were being deliberately sexist. It’s just there was no one offering a female perspective.”
The ad was later reshot, with women included.
“The president has a real woman problem,” an unnamed high-ranking female official told Suskind. “ The idea of the boys’ club being just Larry and Rahm isn’t really fair. He [Obama] was just as responsible himself.”
Dunn told the Post that her husband, now-White House lawyer Bob Bauer, was “surprised to see me as someone who could be talked over in meetings.”
“It’s a place where there is vigorous discussion back and forth. At various times people have issues with their colleagues, but we were united,” Dunn said. “I’ve been very clear that this is a president who values a diverse set of voices on every issue.”
Dunn wouldn’t talk specifics, but added: “I take issue with the idea that [the White House] was a place where senior women weren’t involved in every aspect of every major decision and their voices weren’t heard.”
Yet according to the book, Obama at one point failed to ask Romer for her opinion after soliciting opinions from her male colleagues during a dinner. Incensed, Romer passed a note to Summers threatening to walk out as a result of the snub.
The book was written with White House support: Obama sat for a 50-minute interview with Suskind, who also interviewed other top administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
“Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President” is due out Tuesday.
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Comments (159)
the wireworker
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:38pmask valerie jarrett, rahm deadfish emanuel and bill daley about a hostile work environment
Report Post »ambrosia
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:28pm…..and ya’ wonder why “Obama the Arrogant”
is most happy when Hillary is in a constant state of travel ?
Outa’ state, outa’ mind….outa’ his frazzled, freakin’ hair.
The Obamas’ are PURE phonies !
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:59pmReminds me of an article Michael Savage wrote back in 08 about Obama’s relationship with his mother:
Report Post »the hive.modbee.com/node/13396
GETLIFE
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:09pmhttp://thehive.modbee.com/node/13396
(oops, try again)
Report Post »WeeDontNeedNoSteenkeenBadges
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:14pmWomen … Obama … muslim … duh!
Report Post »cosette
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:33pmIs anyone surprised? When someone( the Mullah) thinks he’s God, of course he views others as inferior. He was convinced during the last election. The way the silly young people and the media fawned over him was absolutely nauseating. On a different note – how hideous are the women with whom the Mullah surrounds himself?
Report Post »Ditto Head
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:37pmRomer and the phrase “piece of meat” should never be mentioned in the same universe, let alone sentence.
Ditto Head
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:09pmI encourage everyone to join me in reporting “stinkin’badges” above post. We don’t need that kind of inflammatory on conservative sites.
WSGAC
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:09pmOne more piece of evidence this guy is a Muslim. They despise women.
Of course he may be of the amber stain persuasion? Mr. Davis could tell us about that one.
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:29pmWell Anita, maybe no one wants your murderous “ female perspective”
Report Post »How’s Mao, you lispy tyrant lover?
MIBUGNU2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:12pmThink BO and MO need another Vacation….
Need more AirForce-One air time, They are going to
wear it out before his term is up…NO MO BO and MO…2012
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:34pm@ Ditto Head
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:09pm
I encourage everyone to join me in reporting “stinkin’badges” above post. We don’t need that kind of inflammatory on conservative sites.
But everything he stated is TRUE….
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:39pmSorry, But I think I would have put White after the word House………
Close enough though !!
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:36pmYou think it’s bad now – give Obama 4 more years and he will be able to complete his fundamental transformation of America – Then All – I repeat All of his supporters, the useful idiots, will be done away with.
Report Post »Marci
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:11pmSo shocking…..pfffft. This man and his minions are narcissists to the core. And Dunn is trying to walk back her comments because she hopes her future Mao takes over. You know…Hillary.
Report Post »chipmunk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:27pm@GET A LIFE
good link! I also recommend Dinesh D‘Souza’s ‘The Roots of Obama’s Rage‘ is a great book that also chronicles Obama’s family & early life.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 1:14amI’m writing a book – Obama is Hostile to America
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 7:00amI say let Anita Dunn refer to the philosophers she most frequently gains insight from: Mao and ‘what’s his name.
Report Post »Pujols
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 10:22amObama hates Women.
Report Post »Anita Dunn is an Idiot.
They still both love Moa.
OBAMA = NIGHTMEAR
HKS
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:19amIt’s a good thing that the White House is under Liberal occupancy, if that were under conservative control with that claim the ACLU and everyone else in general would be looking to hang it’s occupants. But since it’s liberals, it’s OK. For the good of the country you know. Since those occupants are Muslim Sheria is OK, they say.
Report Post »Who would Jesus bomb?
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 12:50pmHe’s a Muslim! I‘m surprised he hasn’t smacked Moo-chele around the oval office a few times. He gets Secret Service to do it; he’s too much of a wuss. Moo would kick his sorry arse all over the White House!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:23pmno doubt Obama has a problem with women, her name is Hillary. Guarantee she will challenge him next year, guarantee…
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:49pmI agree.
Report Post »tomeagle55
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:31pmI think so too.
broker0101
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:58pmCare to back that guarantee up with a wager? Say, $100,000.00?
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:23pmwell a wager would be nice but the boy wonder in the WH has depleated my funds and I dont see it getting any better anytime soon. In fact I guarantee it will be getting worse before it gets better. Gee, there I go again making guarantees. I really hate the new reality we live in….
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 5:30pmDon’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the Boy-King get primaried. Unfortunately there will be over one billion reasons why he won’t be.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:42pmBarry is a woman
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:27pmOnly if the Bilderberg group supports it. And I think they will and planned for this back in 2008.
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:19pmMost muslin men are hostile to women in general and women working.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:29pmHell, He was Born and Raised in that culture….DUH !!!!
someone should tell MSNBC and The Media don’t they know yet…
Nice vetting !! OH, don’t forget to tell Oprah too.
Bama was one of her “Favorate Things” Ya Know.. HMMM ??
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:43pmThat is correct. He is a muslim and justified in lying and covering that up. It is in his religion to mistreat and not value women
Report Post »NOMOBIGDRAMANOBAMA
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:18pmIsn’t Anita Dunn the Mao worshipper? Rich, coming from her, don’t ya think?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 4:00pmYes!
Report Post »simply one voice
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:17pmTruly considering the women in very important roles in the White House with Obama, one has to remember BHO’s background as a Muslim and from an Islamist point of practice and rule, Islam teaches that men are more intelligent than women and that there is no point in educating girls beyond the age of eight, at which point FMG can enter the picture.
Reading and listening to the material issued from the distaff side of the White House and that of our Secretary of State, I’m afraid that the above may have deep validity.
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:15pmKeep up with the latest…
#1 MEME (6 months ago): How much voter fraud from unions, ILLEGALS, dead people, ACORN, etc. will the d-cRAT socialists use to steal another election for NO-PLAN OBOZO in Nov 2012?
#2 MEME (4 months ago): Which lunatic-leftist will challenge the OBOZO failure in the primaries?
#3 MEME (2 months ago): By how large a LANDSLIDE will NO-PLAN OBOZO be defeated in Nov 2012?
#4 MEME (now) : When will the OBOZO failure read to the nation the following off his idiot-box teleprompter: “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” ?
…it just keeps getting better and better.
Report Post »Jo save America
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:07pmHello who didn’t know that?
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:01pmWell, what can you expect from Obama? His father was M o o s l i m, his step-father also AND, he was raised in a M o o s l i m country.
Report Post »LeeroyJenkins
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:01pmIs there really anyone out there low enough to make Christina Romer “I felt like a piece of meat,” Who in their right mind would offer her a smile let a lone the king supreme man beam? She is so repulsive a glory hole couldn’t help her out…Was Rahm trying to grease the pig?? Either way I feel quite ill thinking about it.
Report Post »toto
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:55pmYou know, I am as conservative as they come, but I resent those of you that denigrate women on the basis of their appearances and not their policies. Makes YOU look really bad, and I really don’t want losers on the conservative side.
Report Post »njdaily
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 11:21pmPlease, you are acting as ignorantly as the muslo-black supremistist that you are accusing of not valuing women. Acting in that way, valuing women only for their looks or the children – hopefully sons -they can give you, is exactly how the radicalized muslims value their women, so what does that say about you.
Report Post »tom
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:58pmIf America doesn’t know about the Chicago “male gay culture” brought into the White House by now, their simply not paying attention or could careless. Prepare for many sick and twisted stories to be written once their voted out in 2012.
Report Post »bestartist
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:02pmBoth Obama and Rahm Emmanuel are said to be “lifetime members” of Man Country
Report Post »chipmunk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:34pmwell, Rahm was a ballet dancer.
Report Post »DallyWama
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:54pmBeck, stop getting sucked into the identity politics game.
Romer, you werent a POM or POA, but a POS.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:02pmThis is a NO DUH! “moment of clarity”. Communism only plays to the idealism of movements, it doesn’t actually support them. It uses them and plays them off against traditional, and normal thinking society. When communism achieves its hoary headed goal of attaining power, those who supported their ideals get eaten.
There’s not a communist in the world that has ever told the truth.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:49pmHe obviously has a way with female Holsteins, though. Mooooooo!
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:55pmIn fact, I’m confident that President Obama is the first Udder Man to occupy the Oval Office.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:11pmYep first thing I said when I seen Michelle in that black and white dress- She looks like a holstein cow and about as big as one.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:43pmLiberal “men” don’t have much use for women in general, but they really have no use for the unattractive, masculine, liberal breed of “women” who populate the democrat party.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:51pmThey marry them.
Report Post »chipmunk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 11:36pmThen cheat on them.
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:43pmThis Obama boat is so close to sinking.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:53pm“boys club” … is that like the one I heard Obama likes to frequent in Chicago?
Report Post »Shrugged
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:54pmI wish it would hurry up.
Report Post »gbo
Posted on September 18, 2011 at 11:09amThe Commander-in-Cheese loaf is already stinking, but it is fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:23pmwell, maybe if the current fems in the administration werent idio.ts they would get more attention……….hey wait……..give them more tv time …………i like laughing at idi.ots
Report Post »felix
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:21pmROMER a piece of meat ? LOL make that a horrid pile of fat
Report Post »Gnostyk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:36pmIf Romer were thrown to the lions, the lions would throw up a little bit in their mouths.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:15pmHow can this be true, when we know that only Republican women are hotties? All the posters on the Blaze agree that DemonRats are whiny, fugly female pigs without brains or substance.
So obviously they have no case. You can only discriminate against Babes, who are not in the White House yet.
Report Post »just the facts
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:20pmbarry is a muslim. Thus, muslims look down on the female.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:52pmjust the facts,,,,You beat me to that fact !!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:58pmJust The Facts: Think Michele is the same size, if not bigger, than the president. Also don’t think he could “look down on her” as she could clobber him. And she has her mom living in the White House !
Report Post »Gnostyk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 6:53pmSleazy, it has been asserted, in a previous thread, that you are actually Michael Moore. Is this true?
Hotties have no problems–either in the private sector, or in the government workplace. It’s the fugly feministas that have an axe to grind.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:15pmAMERICA is a hostile workplace for women thanks to the people in charge at the whitehouse these days. muslime fever, anyone?????
Report Post »UncommonValor-CommonVirtue
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:14pmI don’t mean to expose the elephant in the room, but if I surrounded myself with some of those G/L she-males, FUGLIES, and other species (Hilary); as a guy I would down right hostile. Then add to the mix that Moochelle would be entering/exiting keeping her man in check, it would be a miserable work environment to be part of, period!
Report Post »Hisemiester
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:13pmObama only likes fat a$$ed white women.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:13pmWHAT A SURPRISE! So was the Clinton White House but for different reasons! Well, Monica Lewinsky didn’t technically work there, but she WAS workin’ it!
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:11pmeven the communist have issues, even though they might have not liked their { hostile } environment,they stayed the course,because the thought they would be able to help destroy America,
Report Post »so i don’t care, they made their beds so they can sleep in them.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:09pmHonestly people, consider the customs with which he was raised with in a socielty where women are counted as nothing more than chattel and property at best. And no, before you assume such, I am not one of these “he is a muslim” people, he is a RADICAL in his his ideology and beliefs, that much is open and absolute indeed based on his actions and words.
Report Post »Gnostyk
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:12pmIn the Islamic faith, it is forbidden to wear jewelry during the month of Ramadan. Are you aware that BHO was observed without his wedding band and wristwatch during the entire month of Ramadan? Yeah, it’s just a coincidence. If it walks like a duck…
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:30pm@Gnostyk — I will check some more into that, thanks for the tip.
Report Post »4blackhorses
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 6:54pm@ GYNOSTYK,
Sorry, caught something about the no jewelry issue somewhere and although there was a picture of his hand with no wedding band, he did have a wristwatch on. I don’t know, maybe a half-*sslim?
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:09pmThey’re just trying to make him look like he has a pair….and isn’t p-whipped by michelle.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 2:20pmYou are reminding me he is the Commander In Chief.
Do you think that the p-whipped President’s sexist attitudes affect women in the military? Are they being made to be “subservient pieces of meat, prevented from being feminine” too?
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:40pmI don’t know how women in the miliary feel right now. I’ve been out for 23 years. I got treated like one of the guys (in the respect that no one monitored their speech around me, felt comfortable, didn’t talk over me or down to me, etc, an equal), but that was 1984-88. And speaking from experience, the Commander in Chief has little to do with day to day actions of any military person. The only interaction I had was when the then Commander in Chief signed my discarge papers, and as many people as are discharged, I’m sure it was an ink stamp or signature facsimile.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:59pmSpeaking of a pair. They are in a jar up on a shelf.
Report Post »4blackhorses
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 7:13pm@ SLEAZY HIPPO,
Obama’s politically sexist attitudes effect everyone in the military in his attraction for the queer voters. The only thing the women of the military are “subservient” to is kicking the enemy’s butt giving your fat ass the freedom to make your obnoxious comments.
Report Post »