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Gloria Steinem Apologizes for Saying Young Women Back Sanders Because of “Boys”

HeadlineFeb 08, 2016

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem has apologized after suggesting young women only support Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders because “the boys are with Bernie.” Steinem made the comments on “Real Time with Bill Maher” Friday night.

Gloria Steinem: “When you’re young, you’re thinking, you know, 'Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie,' or, you know.”

Bill Maher: “Ooh! Now, if I said that.”

Gloria Steinem: “No. No, no, you can say it.”

Bill Maher: “'Yeah, they're for Bernie because that’s where the boys are.’”

Gloria Steinem: “No, no. But—but it’s not…”

Bill Maher: “You’d swat me. Come on.”

Gloria Steinem: “No I wouldn’t.”

Bill Maher: “OK, good.”

Gloria Steinem: “I wouldn’t, because the boys are saying whether—no, I mean, hello? What are you—how well do you know me? OK, right.”

A recent poll found Democratic and independent women between the ages of 18 and 34 prefer Sanders by nearly 20 percentage points. After an outcry, Steinem apologized for her comments, writing, “In a case of talk-show Interruptus, I misspoke on the Bill Maher show recently, and apologize for what’s been misinterpreted as implying young women aren’t serious in their politics.” Meanwhile, another prominent supporter of Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, has drawn attention for saying there is a “special place in hell for women who don’t help each other.” Critics have cited Albright’s past defense of sanctions in Iraq, when she said the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children were “worth it.” Meanwhile, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Sanders has erased Clinton’s national lead. The poll shows Clinton leading Sanders just 48 to 45 percent, putting the two in a dead heat.

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