CALDERON ACCUSED OF ‘DEGRADING’ COMMENTS ABOUT STATE CHIEF JUSTICE
By Greater Long Beach
California Assembly majority leader Charles Calderon, a Democrat who represents most of Downey in the state’s lower house, is accused of making “degrading and inappropriate” remarks about the personality, intelligence and physical attractiveness of California Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.
Sen. Noreen Evans, a Democrat who represents Santa Rosa—and heads the Legislative Women’s Caucus—demanded an apology from Calderon for comments he made during a legislative hearing on a bill he introduced to give judges.”
more say in the running of the state’s courts, which would diminish some of Cantil-Sakauye’s authority. The panel approved the bill.
A tape of the Judiciary Committee meeting was made public Wednesday afternoon and excerpted in a report by the Los Angeles Times. Calderon’s full comment on Cantil-Sakauye was: “It isn’t ‘Is she nice?’ Cause she is; ‘Is she smart?’ Cause she is; ‘Is she attractive?’ Cause she is. It isn’t about that.”
Evans responded: “As the leader of California’s Judiciary, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye should be taken seriously and not spoken about in such a dismissive and frivolous manner,” Evans wrote. “It is crucial that women be valued for more than just being ‘nice or attractive.’ Your comments reinforced stereotypes women fight against every day — that of being judged on our appearance instead of our intellect and accomplishments.”
Calderon said he meant no disrespect to Cantil-Sakauye. In an interview with the Times, he called Evans’ assertions a “sideshow” before adding, “I certainly apologize if anybody misunderstood (his comments).”
2 Comments
Far be it from me to rise in support of most any elected Dem, but I rather doubt the excerpted Calderon quote is, indeed, the “full comment” the L.A. Times claims it to be. Were the “full quote” published, I suspect we would all see some much-needed context that the truncated quote (quite conveniently) does not provide.
I agree with Assemblymember Calderon in this. This letter from Sen. Evans is nothing more than a “sideshow,” intended to deflect attention from the true issue at hand and to generate controversy where none would otherwise exist.
It seems clear that Calderon had no intent to offer any insult or to speak about anyone in a “dismissive and frivolous manner.”
Sen. Evans needs to get a life, thicken her skin, and stop wasting the taxpayers’ money on silliness like this.
hahaha cmon! what a non story.