Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon has said that political pundits and feminists telling women to vote for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman is “insulting.” The actress’ comments come after a number of high-profile women in the US media derided other women for not supporting the female Democratic candidate.
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who served in Bill Clinton’s cabinet, made headlines last recently when she reiterated her famous quote “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support each other,” when speaking about female voters turning to Bernie Sanders. Those sentiments were echoed by feminist writer Gloria Steinem, who said in an interview that young female voters were flocking to the Vermont politician because “the boys are with Bernie.”
Both Steinem and Albright have since apologised for their comments, but Susan Sarandon weighed in on the topic, saying: “I don’t vote with my vagina. It’s so insulting to women to think that you would follow a candidate just because she’s a woman.”
Sarandon has already publically pledged her support to Sanders, citing his decision to vote against the authorisation of the War in Iraq, which Clinton voted in favour of, as her reason why.
HRC doesn’t rep my interests, @BernieSanders does. Simple as that. (3/3)
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) February 17, 2016
Clinton is not alone in having high profile supporters say things which have since been deemed damaging to her campaign to secure the presidential nomination.
Killer Mike, a rapper who recently spoke at a Sanders rally, has been criticised for saying that Clinton’s gender does not mean she is entitled to the Oval Office.
“[A] uterus doesn’t qualify you to be president,” the rapper said.