The Magazine

Naomi Wolf, the little poster girl, and more.

Oct 4, 2004, Vol. 10, No. 04
Single Page Print Larger Text Smaller Text Alerts

Earth Tones Out, Jewel Tones In

Writing in the September 27 New York magazine, Naomi Wolf . . . well, you just have to admire her, don't you? No matter how often she fails, no matter how many people laugh at her--doggonnit, she just picks herself up, dusts herself off, and takes another swing at sounding smart.

This time, unfortunately, it's the same old pitch Ms. Wolf has been whiffing at for years. Did you know that "gender imagery" and, yes, even color schemes have a vitally important effect on American voting behavior, especially where women are concerned? It's true!

Republicans understand this better than Democrats, Wolf ruefully notes: "A key tactic is wife deployment. Is Dick Cheney a scary, old-guard, male-dinosaur guy? Send out Lynne to talk about how he whips up brunch." And look how "Karl Rove makes eggs with bacon for Mary Matalin!"

(THE SCRAPBOOK must confess it's a bit confused by this eggs-and-bacon business. Perhaps the gender imagery of Mr. Rove cooking breakfast for Ms. Matalin reassures swing voters because they'd otherwise have to think about Mary in the kitchen with her actual husband, James Carville?)

Ms. Wolf continues: "While Bush Inc. understands the power of the vivid visual image--dressing the entire GOP convention, for instance, in matching tangerine and turquoise" and using "jewel tones on Laura Bush and other women associated with the administration," the Democrats "keep being bumped to the inside pages because they send out their candidate and his wife in neutrals."

And speaking of the Democratic candidate's wife--jeez, Teresa Heinz Kerry has done "more to emasculate him than the opposition ever could."

To read more, you must be a Weekly Standard Subscriber

We're Sorry,

the rest of this article is available only to subscribers.

You have two options:

Subscribing today will provide you with immediate, complete access to the current issue, as well as to all back issues on the site. Each week you will be able to read articles from the newest issue even before print copies are mailed!

Privacy Policy