Fox's Latest Example Of “Bachmann Derangement Syndrome” Is Just As Bogus As The Rest

Gretchen Carlson is outraged. Outraged that Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) had the nerve to accurately call out Republicans, including Rep. Michele Bachmann, for being anti-women's rights. During a recent appearance at the progressive Campus Progress' national conference, Ellison was asked, "[H]ow can we go forward in an America for equality when women are consistently paid" less than men and represent a minority in Congress despite making up a majority of the country? Ellison responded, in part, by pointing out that “we need to ... confront this idea of income and wealth inequality,” noting that “we can use law to solve this problem.” He then cited the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as an example of how Congress might be able to address this issue. He went on:

ELLISON: I recently hosted a forum in my district called Women's Rights in the Era of Extremism. And this is an era of extremism. These same people who want to shrink government till you can drown it in a bathtub also want mom to get back in the kitchen and take her shoes off and get pregnant. You understand? They are offended by strong, powerful women. And here's the sad part -- some of them are women themselves. Michele Bachmann being an example. So let's stand up -- let's stand up for women's rights, and brothers don't leave the sisters out there. We gotta be in this thing together.

Now that comment was too much for Carlson to handle. Carlson nearly shouted:

CARLSON: Let me just say this, as a strong, powerful woman, that is offensive. That is offensive. How dare you say that about any woman? You don't know what she wants. You don't know that she thinks it's OK to be back in the kitchen and pregnant. Are you kidding me? She wouldn't be running for president unless she wasn't a strong, powerful woman. She wouldn't be getting those people out on the sidelines there of all those streets in Iowa and every other state she goes to unless she was a strong, powerful woman. Just because she has a differing point of view from other people does not mean that she's not a strong, powerful woman.

Of course, in her rant, Carlson completely misses or disregards Ellison's entirely accurate point. Bachmann is against pay equality. She voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Bachmann also may not have a problem with women getting pregnant due to GOP policy. After all, she voted to defund Planned Parenthood as well, which is a huge provider of women's health services like offering subsidized birth control to low-income women. She's a co-sponsor of legislation that would “prohibit federal funds from being used to cover any part of the costs of a health plan that includes coverage of abortion services.”

This goes further than the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used to cover abortions. Bachmann wants to make sure that federal funds can't be used to pay for any health insurance plan that covers abortions, even if women pay for the abortion coverage with their own money. She co-sponsored and voted in favor of the “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act.” Due to her opposition to abortion, she's consistently voted in favor of legislation that would affect women's health insurance coverage.

Also, Ellison never said that Bachmann wasn't “a strong, powerful woman,” as Carlson insisted he did, but that's really beside the point. All of this Fox-generated outrage over a nonexistent “Bachmann Derangement Syndrome” is a continuation of its utterly false narrative that sexism is only aimed at conservative women. Coming from a network that regularly airs gratuitous b-roll of half-naked women, whose hosts seem compelled to comment on their female guests' physical appearance and constantly brag about GOP women's “good-look[s]” and "hotness," this criticism is pretty rich.

Perhaps Carlson would have more credibility speaking out on this issue if her show didn't consistently promote sexist commentary and ideas. Carlson certainly didn't have anything to say when her own show hosted multiple segments on “Mom Caves,” which they reported was a room in which a woman can find sanctuary while “your man watches TV.” Interior designer Elaine Griffin, who coined the term “Mom Cave,” suggested on the show that the room could also serve as a place for women to “relax” and “make lists of things to do” while “your man is getting ready for the Super Bowl.” And Carlson certainly didn't direct any outrage at her co-host, Brian Kilmeade, when he asked Carlson while reporting on “Mom Caves,” “Didn't men give you the kitchen?”

I've also never heard Carlson complain when men on her show describe conservative women as “hot” “good looker[s]” and attribute criticism of women like Bachmann and Sarah Palin to the “good-looking factor.” She doesn't seem to have a problem with men on her show attacking Democratic women's supposedly shrill voices or fantasizing about Lindsay Lohan being “spanked” or referring to women as “babes, chicks” and “skirts” or describing dating as “legal prostitution.” Even today, she teased a segment on how to raise “stronger, more confident” daughters, which turned out to really be a segment on how to raise “good moms” who don't keep their “feminine,” “emotional,” “manipulative” side “in check” and who don't “ignite” but rather go upstairs and “scream into the pillow” when they're upset. Carlson didn't seem to have an issue with that. But Keith Ellison pointing out that GOP politicians like Bachmann voted against equal pay legislation? That's an outrage.

Watch: