Several political pundits, journalists, and Republican politicians reacted to Hillary Clinton’s debate performance by making sexist remarks about her mannerisms. It started before the debate even began when CNN host Michael Smerconish advised Clinton not to be “afraid to smile.”
From there, some Republicans said she didn’t emote enough or seemed “too prepared”:
.@chucktodd: #debatenight exposed Trump's lack of preparation, but Clinton seemed over-prepared at times.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 27, 2016
Trump is interrupting too much. Hillary is too on script and won't look at him.
— Adam Housley (@adamhousley) September 27, 2016
Clinton taking a mid debate nap. Very flat.
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) September 27, 2016
Amazing. @HillaryClinton sounds like a robot reading talking points. #Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/tGaEatDn18
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) September 27, 2016
He is showing real passion. @realDonaldTrump is angry on behalf of the workers who lost their jobs. Hillary sounds callous. #Debates2016
— Rich Zeoli (@Richzeoli) September 27, 2016
Other commentators said she smiled too often or in not the right way:
Clinton smile starting to look a little too much like someone with a little much white wine
— Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) September 27, 2016
Who told Hillary Clinton to keep smiling like she’s at her granddaughter’s birthday party?
— David Frum (@davidfrum) September 27, 2016
Others said she was simply too angry and/or ugly:
Text from a GOP friend of mine in Congress.
I'm sorry, Congressman, but tonight Hillary is coming across as presidential. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/DsEEV2FSho
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 27, 2016
Trump is too shout-y, but Hillary waving her finger and saying "fact-checkers, get to work!" is just … I can't even.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) September 27, 2016
Hillary Clinton is looking so angry. Wow. Nothing new to say so I guess she'll try to scream he message. She has lost her mind
— Rob (@robert_bucholtz) September 17, 2016
On Fox, Brit Hume says Hillary Clinton’s face was “not necessarily attractive” https://t.co/djKyB5AKj2 by @RobertMackey #debates
— The Intercept (@theintercept) September 27, 2016
Despite the assorted sexist comments, when the smoke cleared there appeared to be bipartisan consensus that Clinton won the debate.
Both sides. pic.twitter.com/EN2ejN0gm4
— David Waldman, LLC (@KagroX) September 27, 2016