Obama apologizes to California's Harris

President Obama apologized Friday to California Attorney General Kamala Harris for comments he made about her physical beauty at a Bay Area fundraiser the day before.

At the gathering Thursday in Atherton, Obama introduced Harris, saying, "You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you'd want in anybody who is administering the law, and making sure that everybody is getting a fair shake. She also happens to be by far the best-looking attorney general in the country."

The problem with Obama's remarks, analysts said, is that even complimentary comments about a female politician's physical appearance can diminish her accomplishments.

"It's even more so when the person - like Kamala Harris - is holding a traditionally male position like attorney general, the top law enforcement officer in the state," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Harris accepted the president's apology, her office said.

"The attorney general and the president have been friends for many years. They had a great conversation yesterday, and she strongly supports him," Harris spokesman Gil Duran said Friday.

After Obama's remarks were blasted - including by some liberal allies - his spokesman, Jay Carney, said Friday that Obama called Harris "to apologize for the distraction created by his comments."

Carney said Obama "did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general's profession, accomplishments and her capabilities."

"He fully recognizes the challenges women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance," Carney said.

Harris raised funds for Obama in California when he was a little-known Illinois state senator running a long-shot candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and received a prime speaking slot at last year's Democratic National Convention.

Source: http://feeds.sfgate.com/click.phdo?i=c61fed96e60917e0599e9555a1c6a8c1

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