President Barack Obama rankled some of his own female supporters on Thursday after he described California’s Kamala Harris as the “best-looking attorney general in the country”. Mr Obama complimented the state attorney general’s looks during a fundraiser in Atherton, California, where he was helping to raise money for the Democratic candidates.
“She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough,” Mr Obama told a crowd of 250 supporters. “She also happens to be, by far, the best-looking attorney general in the country.”
The 48-year-old became California’s first woman attorney general in 2010 and has sometimes been described as “the female Obama” for her charisma and her mixed racial heritage. Miss Harris’s mother was from India and her father’s family is from Jamaica. The President’s comments caused a flurry on Twitter where Zerlina Maxwell, a feminist writer and supporter of Mr Obama’s said: “It would be awesome if men would comment on someone’s skill instead of their looks.”
While a presidential candidate in 2008, Mr Obama apologised to a female reporter who he referred to as “sweetie”.
I – Word Understanding
Rankled – caused annoyance
Best-looking – most beautiful among the others
Complimented – praised
Brilliant – very bright
Dedicated – having single-minded loyalty or integrity
Charisma – Compelling attractiveness or charm
Racial heritage – genetic and cultural origin
Flurry – upset
II – Have your say
1.Why upset? Isn’t it commenting on someone’s look is just common among western people?
2.Facts about Barack Obama
a.He ate dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia
b.He promised Michelle he would quit smoking before running for president – he didn’t
c.He plans to install a basketball court in the White House grounds
034 Barack Obama criticised for commenting on California attorney general’s looks
