Crossfire with Jeff Cohen and Robert Novak, February 1996: Feminist Weenies

Posted by Deanna Zandt at 12:00 AM on September 19, 2006.

Check out AlterNet's full interview with author and commentator Jeff Cohen: Cable News Confidential.

Novak: Jeff Cohen, since men are voting Republican in rather substantial numbers, under the gender gap, against the things you believe in, do you think it'd be better if men were a little feminized? Became more feministic [sic]?

Cohen: Yes, I do in fact think it'd be good.

Novak: I thought you thought that.

Cohen: If men became ,ore feminist.

Novak: I said "feminine."

Cohen: I'm saying "feminist."

Novak: What's the difference?

Cohen: The difference is that feminist means you're a man who supports independent women and equality for women.

Novak: Kind of a weenie, weak-kneed, want the government to take care of them...

Cohen: There's nothing "weenie" about supporting strong women.

Novak: ... can't stand up for themselves...

Cohen: What I think is "weenie" are the men who are afraid of strong women.

Novak: How about the women like my wife who are pro-life, who believe in raising a family, who are appalled by these conventions of shrieking females.

Cohen: Feminists believe in raising a family. I've got a 4-year-old daughter, and I thank Patricia Ireland and Ellie Smeal and the feminist movement for opening all these doors for my daughter. From the left, I'm Jeff Cohen. Good night from "Crossfire."

Novak: From the right, I'm Robert Novak. Join us again next time for another edition of "Crossfire."

Deanna Zandt is a contributing editor at AlterNet.