ABC’s Raddatz dismisses Pence ‘mansplaining’ to Harris: ‘She should be able to stand up for herself’

ABC’s Martha Raddatz dismissed a charge by some left-leaning pundits that Vice President Pence engaged in “mansplaining” with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) at Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate, with the veteran correspondent arguing that the Democratic nominee “should be able to stand up for herself.”

“A lot of people were noticing some mansplaining going on tonight,” noted ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos in post-debate coverage, apparently referring to chatter on social media.

“When I hear people talk about mansplaining, and talk about these things with Kamala Harris, and a man shouldn’t interrupt her, and it’s going to look bad,” Raddatz replied. “Kamala Harris is a vice presidential candidate, she should be able to stand up for herself.”

“Yes, it’s history-making; yes, you can talk about her history and who she is and she’s a woman of color there,” she added. “But a man can interrupt another vice presidential candidate. It is up to that candidate to talk back, to interrupt themselves, or to hold on to that debate in any way they could.”

Overall, Harris spoke for 38 minutes and 48 seconds, while Pence spoke for 35 minutes and 22 seconds, according to ABC News.

unofficial speaking times –

Pence: 35:22
Harris: 38:48

via @Kjwalsh_news

— Rick Klein (@rickklein) October 8, 2020

The mansplaining narrative was a popular topic among some media members on Twitter Tuesday night, with some sharing Raddatz’s sentiment and others arguing Pence engaged in such behavior.

Take it like a woman. Don’t make faces.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 8, 2020

I don’t think VP Pence’s mansplaining and over-talking is doing a lot to narrow the gender gap, unless it is also turning off moremen as well.

— Dan Rather (@DanRather) October 8, 2020

The mansplaining garbage is coming out because Harris lost. They have to explain it in a way that doesn’t seem to distract from her power, but inadvertently does anyway. The success of an empowered woman isn’t dependent upon the behavior of her male opponent.

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 8, 2020

Pence’s mansplaining, interrupting, condescending and general smarminess is at an 11 tonight.

No wondersuburban women have left the Republican Party in droves.#Debates2020

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) October 8, 2020

According to all the official time counts, at worst, Harris got equal time (CNN), and at best, some 3 mins more than Pence (ABC). If that’s rank sexism and mansplaining, gimme those odds any day.

— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) October 8, 2020

I asked a man I know what he thought of the debate. He said: “The debate was over when she said Mr. Vice President you are interrupting me” #mansplaining

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) <ahref=”https: twitter.com=”” mitchellreports=”” status=”” 1314047371047776256?ref_src=”twsrc%5Etfw””>October 8, 2020