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Originally Posted by Bownesian
Whether our mayor is a misogynist (I suspect not) or an ass with thin skin and not much filter (more likely this), the "Math is hard" comment was perceived as sexist when it came from Prentice to Notley, and is thus unacceptable in the current political climate.
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If it is considered sexist in the current political climate (and it certainly is by some, which is why Rempel chose to respond in this way), that's a problem with the political climate itself. Whether or not Notley or Rempel claim to "perceive" it as sexist (as stated, I think it's more a matter of phony, cynical opportunism) is irrelevant. Claiming to have had your feelings hurt by a statement does not in any way affect the intent or content of the statement. In other words,
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Because tone matters, please watch the video of Nenshi's comment if you haven't:
https://twitter.com/CBCScott/status/819196897105588224
I wouldn't like this sort of scornful condescension directed at myself, nor would I accept it. People shouldn't talk about each other that way, regardless of gender.
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I have, and I think your comment is a perfectly reasonable reaction to it. I understand his frustration with an MP making public statements that are deliberately misleading, as Rempel's were, but his response represents what people dislike most about Nenshi. If I'm being honest, though, I'd probably be at least as big a sarcastic jerk if I were mayor and faced with some of the nonsense that's propagated by politicians hoping to advance their own interests and agenda, without any sense that they care about misinforming their audience. That said, I can't disagree with your assessment.
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It's disappointing, and is a part of a pattern that has driven me from being a Nenshi supporter to being much more ready to consider an alternative.
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I agree that it's part of a pattern. I don't agree that it significantly moves me toward an alternative, with the caveat that I'll consider any alternative in any election that seems like they'd do a better job at the position. Nenshi's intermittent public relations gaffes don't change my view that he is highly qualified to be doing what he's doing, and that by and large, he's done a pretty good job. I'd rather have a mayor who says dumb things to the press than one who's totally unobjectionable in public but isn't as capable in his day to day job. Just my voting priorities, of course.