DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz criticized the notion of voting for women candidates based on gender during an interview with Vice, telling the outlet that "just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean you’re good for women."
The interview, which was conducted in September but just published by Vice on Monday, conflicted with recent comments from prominent Clinton supporters suggesting that women should vote for Clinton because of her gender:
According to Vice, Wasserman Schultz’s statement was directed at Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina:
The Democratic National Committee's third-ever woman chief — who has frequently been accused of favoring the party's one-presumed presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton — once said that "just because you're a woman doesn't mean you're good for women." Those comments take on whole new meaning in light of this week's battle between feminist icons and young women over Clinton's candidacy.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC's embattled national chair, was talking about Carly Fiorina, of course, at a time when the Republican presidential candidate was espousing some questionable statements about Planned Parenthood. However, that previously unpublished interview with VICE News in September disclosed a sentiment that is also dawning on an increasing number of women voters, especially young ones, who are converging around the Democratic party's male presidential candidate rather than its female one.
Clinton supporters Madeleine Albright and Gloria Steinem drew criticism over their recent comments scolding women for not supporting Clinton.
"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other," said Albright, during a speech at a Clinton rally in New Hampshire on Saturday.
During an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday, Gloria Steinem contended that young women are supporting Bernie Sanders because they wanted to meet "boys." She later apologized on Facebook, saying she "misspoke."
Clinton defended Albright’s remarks, telling NBC on Sunday that Albright "believes it firmly, and in part because she knows what a struggle it has been."