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DEL.ICIO.USFiorina: Women still face challenges
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s not easy being a woman in today’s business or political world.
So says Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, who was in Atlanta today as the keynote speaker at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Georgia 100 breakfast at the Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
Fiorina, who is backing presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, cited the challenges that Sen. Hillary Clinton has faced during her run for presidency.
“Women in positions of power are either too soft or too hard. You see that happen with Hillary,” Fiorina said. “I was frequently called either a ‘bimbo’ or that other ‘b’ word.”
Fiorina also told AJC Editor Julia Wallace, in an “unplugged” interview after her speech, that she is “appalled” by the way Hillary Clinton has been treated during this campaign.
Despite her strong arguments for greater diversity in business and politics, she defended her support of McCain by saying the country is at a “fork,” and that both she and McCain believe that the role of government should be to unlock the potential of its people.
Fiorina, however, welcomed the diversity in this year’s campaign with the Democratic candidates still in the race: Sen. Barack Obama, an African-American; and Sen. Clinton.
By the way, Fiorina is serving as an economic advisor for McCain, an area where he is perceived as being weak.
Wallace asked whether Fiorina would be willing to accept being on the ticket with McCain as his vice presidential nominee. Fiorina did not answer directly, so Wallace followed up by asking: “Is that a no or a yes?”
Fiorina answered: “It is neither.”
My colleague, Matt Kempner, helped me with this item.
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Comments
By Now ain't that sumthin'
May 21, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
I worked (note the tense) at Hewlett Packard while Carly Fiorina was CEO…She is neither fit to be a CEO or Presidential candidate. Several thousands of people lost jobs due to her policies and philosphies due to her outsourcing/off-shoring beliefs. Being in a position to guide the country means having its well-being as your ultimate goal. Caring about people is also of benefit, since that is who you serve. We have had enough of politicians who believe that the people work for them instead of the other way around. I will not/cannot support any candidate that sees values in her ideas or supports like ideology with this person. In my opinion, McCain suffers the same fate as Obama does with Jeremiah Wright. Be careful who you associate with…..
By Now ain't that sumthin'
May 21, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
I worked (note the tense) at Hewlett Packard while Carly Fiorina was CEO…She is neither fit to be a CEO or Presidential candidate. Several thousands of people lost jobs due to her policies and philosphies due to her outsourcing/off-shoring beliefs. Being in a position to guide the country means having its well-being as your ultimate goal. Caring about people is also of benefit, since that is who you serve. We have had enough of politicians who believe that the people work for them instead of the other way around. I will not/cannot support any candidate that sees values in her ideas or supports like ideology with this person. In my opinion, McCain suffers the same fate as Obama does with Jeremiah Wright. Be careful who you associate with…..
By HCA
May 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
Hi - my Name is eh Borat.
In my C** …..
Woman NO VOTE!
Just cleaning, eh cookin, and make a sexy. Dat is what woman for.
Tank you vere much. I love US and A.
By Mac
May 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Rather than being a “victim” of the glass ceiling perhaps Ms. Fiorina was a “victim” of the Peter Principle: In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His/Her Level of Incompetence.
By hch
May 21, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Carly Fiorina’s opinions are worthless. HP has always been a company that expected excellence from its employees, including the CEO. Carly Fiorina proved herself unfit as CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Carly not only ruined the legendary work environment, she single-handedly destroyed HP’s corporate reputation. At HP when one part of the company suffered, the rest of the company sacrificed to help carry the load. Carly, on the other hand, considered herself more important than the rest of company and personal sacrifice was beneath her. Although she denied it, Carly once even went so far as to have a tree cut down so her helicopter could land. Simply put, she was incompetent and unworthy to carry on the legacy of Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard.
By Bill
May 21, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
I heard Ms. Fiorina speak several times. The unkind opinions expressed previously are certainly appropriate!! I would hope if we quoted a source in the AJC, they would be better qualified. That certainly does not appear to be the case this time.
By michele
May 22, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
As a former HP employee I have the the utmost respect for Carly. At least she actually cared abotu her employees & didn’t send all the jobs to other countries. If you go tothe HP office in ATlanta now there is less than 5% occupancy.. Don’t blame Carly blame Mark
By vox
May 22, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
McCain mentioned he is strong in foreign policy but is weak in economics. How odd, then, that he picked someone equally weak to guide him. Fiorina was a sales shill at AT&T, nearly destroyed Lucent during the dot-com era (read Optical Illusions), and was not much better at HP (reselling an HP-branded iPod - how innovative). Picking Fiorina is like picking Marion Barry to be your drug czar. Not that it’s going to matter.
By wow
May 26, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
an economic advisor to mccain? God help us all. you have to be kidding me. This lady is pathetic. She complains without providing any facts to support her position.
If she is so concerned about women why is she supporting John McCain.
joker.