“I know it sounds sexist to say that she is pretty, but that makes her telegenic, even if what she has to say is total nonsense.”
Translation: She’s too pretty for anyone to take here seriously.
Who in this day would say such a thing about a former newswoman who now devotes herself to education reform? Must be some sexist Republican pig, right?
In fact, the words come from Diane Ravitch, an education expert who once championed the reforms Campbell Brown now does. In a Washington Post profile of Brown, Ravitch focused her fire not so much on Brown’s arguments but her looks.
“She is a good media figure because of her looks, but she doesn’t seem to know or understand anything about teaching and why tenure matters,” Ravitch said.
Isn’t this what Republicans are accused of doing — diminishing women? But when it comes from a liberal, that makes it OK?
Our hunch is that the attacks on Brown are coming because the education establishment fears her.
After a California court held teacher-tenure laws come at the expense of students, especially poor and minority kids, Brown’s group moved to back a similar lawsuit in New York.
We intend to follow that suit closely. In the meantime, give Brown points for a sense of humor.
“I thought we had moved beyond judging women on their looks,” Brown told the Post, “and yet, once again, Diane is here to give us an education.”