Women Leaders: Competent or Likeable, But Not Both?

Accordingly to Obama’s own words, “Hillary, you are likeable enough”. What an elitist Obama has always been.

umm try likable …who does the proof reading for abc news anyway? no spellchecker on your computer?
anyway palin maybe likable ,i dont know.
(she looks like a real b—h though honestly)
but as far as competent goes , perhaps the author (and readership) should give chuck hagels’ opinion some weight?

Palin is seen as competent and likeable by both genders perhaps because she appears to be authentic (no false front), genuinely “likes” the male gender (no hidden hostility towards the opposite gender), genuinely “likes” being female (no hidden self-loathing towards one’s own gender), communicates with a confident and firm tone, and achieves goals which are clearly defined and established through “fair play” (as much as can be fair in politics), hard work, and tenacity. and .

I think this is a valid question. It’s been my experience that women in positions of authority are looked at as either/or but not both. With a man, it is different. Women seem to have to develop a certain ‘aloofness’ if they want to be respected and listened to. They can’t chat with their staff about everyday annoyances nor let anyone in on any apparent weaknesses. A man can do both without any threat to his position of authority.

Palin should count herself lucky that she hasn’t been the target of the Bush/McCain/Rove Swift Boat Committee.
Once that group gets through with you, you’re no longer perceived as fit to drive a garbage truck.
Image what that clique would do to Gov. Palin if she were a Democrat?
I suspect her proximity to Russia would not suffice as grounds for experience in foreign affairs.

I cannot STAND Palin’s voice! She is so whiny and annoying. It was ok in the beginning, but the more I hear here its like chalk on a blackboard. She comes across as false and tries to hard for everyone to like her. She’s so out of touch with the lower 48 states by living in Alaska. She doesn’t have a clue!

As a conservative male I was very excited about the pick of Sarah Palin for VP,
since we all know that Mc Cain was nothing more than Democrat-Lite. Unlike liberal men, conservative men aren’t intimidated by strong women. I was very much behind her as a VP pick. But lefty female bloggers and TV commentators have perhaps changed my position. After seeing the hatred spewed by women at Palin, I tried hard to figure out why. All I heard from supposed “feminist groups was, “she’s not right on womens issues”. I then tried to figure out exactly what “womens issues” are. I remember one point was “equal pay”, but since Obama pays his female staff LESS then men, while Mc Cain pays them MORE then men, I figured that wasn’t it. Maybe education?..No men and women are BOTH interested in their kids education.
Hmmm..what could it be?…Then it became obvious, the ONLY issue is abortion.
Now this brings me to my change of heart in supporting Palin. The DEM men were right, in keeping the glass ceiling in place as evidently the only issue women can comprehend or care about is abortion. Russia flexing it’s muscles, China building 6 new aircraft carriers and 3 new attack subs, Iran trying to get the bomb, economic issues, etc., etc., and yet many women will judge the fitness of a person that associates with, and endorsed by our enemies as preferable to a man with military experience and a strong woman. Perhaps that glass ceiling SHOULD remain for another half century. My hat off to the DEM guys, they got it right.

As an obama supporter, when i saw Palin for the first time, i was quite impressed her first speech in Ohio when Maccain introduced her.
And of course, i was panicking because i myself started to like her.
But then, drop by drop, the facts came out which was quite dissapointing.
power abuse (troopergate), lies (bridge to nowhere), dealing with human resources (choosing friends for the job)
the Likability as an public officer is gone. Of course, she is quite fun, and exciting figure… but in this crisis, we don’t need to elect high office with American idol. the stake if too high.

Sarah Palin comes across as genuine, down to earth, likeable, pretty, and, by the way, she just happens to be the most popular governor and has an 80% approval rating. Governor Palin comes across as someone you know and yet she has led a very remarkable life. Her story is the quintessential American story and she is even from the West to boot. She is exciting, and I think McCain is pretty darn exciting for picking her too. (By the way, I think John McCain must really be a cool guy to have been able to get Cindy McCain to marry him. Cindy McCain can fly a plane and races cars. Exciting Americans. I love it.)

You know, Jack may have a point. The Democrats have held the abortion issue as their ace in the hole for years. All the leaders have to do is say, “They are going to take away your right to abortion” and the women come running due to emotional blackmail.
Number 1 – Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned. McCain hasn’t made it a priority nor has Palin. Yes, they have their beliefs but neither one of them spoke about taking away another woman’s right to choose.
Number 2 – And I’m speaking to women here (sorry Jack). When was the last time that women sat down at talked about this? WE are the ones getting pregnant. WE are the ones having the abortions. WE are the ones raising the children. WE are the ones who should be working out solutions to the problems. I truly resent having men using MY uterus as a political football and I am shocked that more women don’t feel this way.
As women, we should be talking about this in an honest, non-judgmental atmosphere … if for nothing else, so our daughters will not have to be fighting about this in their lifetime. Solutions can be found. We are the stronger sex. Let’s start acting like it.

Jack
Sorry to have to say this because I am a young women reaping the benefits of the work done by the women before me- but you are dead on.

Zen at 8:21…you make me laugh….you don’t want this to be like “American Idol”? Obama is the King of American Idol liberal worship….rock concerts before speeches, sets, his own logo to replace our American Flag? Get real.
McCAIN/PALIN COUNTRY FIRST, NOT EGO!

huh? How about likable but not competent? It has nothing to do with her gender and everything to do with the fact that she is not competent and has done nothing to dissuade us of that. Her silent treatment of the press is bizarre. My friends universally agree she’s probably a nice lady we’d enjoy chatting with at x meeting but we sure don’t trust her to handle the economy, foreign policy, or anything else more complex than her own checkbook.

When has the press BEEN fair to female candidates? By the cries of conservatives complaining about the unfair treatment of Sarah Palin, where were they when Hillary Clinton was running? Can Sarah Palin not play with the big boys? If not, then why are the conservatives giving her a shoulder to cry on but didn’t when Hillary Clinton was running? Talk about double-standard neocons.