W60 distancer Joanna Harper ran rings around two Fox News hosts Monday, leaving Tucker Carlson and Mark Steyn stumped in separate segments. Instead of playing the role of punching bag, Joanna (a transgender athlete and IOC consultant on gender issues) defeated her male interrogators with some masters jiu jitsu. She disarmed them by taking their sides and proving herself reasonable and rational. Outsports headlined the exchange: “Trans athlete leaves Tucker Carlson speechless, sets Fox News record.” I detailed Joanna’s story in 2010 and again in 2015.
The post three years ago was occasioned by an amazing piece Joanna wrote for The Washington Post, which included this passage:
My research, published last month in the Journal of Sporting Cultures and Identities, found that collectively, the eight [male-becoming-female] subjects got much slower after their gender transitions and put up nearly identical age-graded scores as men and as women, meaning they were equally — but no more — competitive in their new gender category. (The outlier was a runner who had raced recreationally as a 19-year-old male and became serious about the sport — doubling her training load and shedding 22 pounds — years later as a female.)
Mark raised the oh-so-scary specter of former men taking women’s titles from athletes born female. Joanna noted that transgender women are under-represented in women’s sports. Thus any War on Women’s Sports is a bunch of conspiratorial hooey.
With M45 wingnut Tucker (a former San Diegan, but don’t blame me ), Joanna said trans athletes in high school shouldn’t be eligible for state-meet titles. That took the steam out of Tucker’s plan to mock her stance.
Outsports said:
When Carlson disagrees with a guest, which is his favorite pastime, he is quick to jump on them. This time he was completely shocked that Harper suddenly turned her direction and made his own point for him.
Carlson was silent for exactly 1.6 seconds, a Fox News record for the host.
He was clearly taken aback by Harper’s even-handedness on the issue, something she has genuinely developed over time. She truly believes that trans athletes, even in high school, should face some mandated hormone therapy to win trophies in girls sports. It’s a position with which various LGBTQ advocates disagree.
The bottom line: I’m sorry for Tucker’s booker, who didn’t warn the boss. Joanna avoided becoming a foil for ridicule (except in the insane YouTube comments).
A perceptive comment on YouTube: “I love that Tucker the douchebag was so ready to rip her, and then she basically agrees with him, and the idiot is left speechless multiple times.”
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I watched the segment with Tucker when it aired live. Joanna does have a very rational perspective on this issue, and stated it clearly on the show. As a regular viewer of Tucker Carlson, I’m accustomed to watching him sparing with his guests, and leaving many of them flustered. This was a nice change of pace with Joanna stating her view without interruption.
Too bad I missed her with Mark Steyn. I’m sure it was at least as good.
I will admit to being entertained by both Tucker and Mark, it’s about time that someone (anyone!) leaves them speechless.
Side note; not everyone we disagree with is a doofus or douchbag, and not everyone we agree with is a genius.
Side note #2; YouTube comments are likely the most ridiculous, with the opposing sides exposing the many reasons why people in our great country cannot come to agreement over too many issues. How about a little compromise?
I am glad you enjoyed the segment Greg. For the record I have described both Tucker and Mark as being very civil during our discussions. I appreciate the fact that Fox News has twice allowed to go on the air in order to present my views. My segment with Mark is six months old but you can still find it easily on YouTube.
Shame on you Ken! “Personal attack is always the first place of refugee for someone who doesn’t have a valid argument” This was a very civil discussion, with both sides showing respect for the other. How you could watch and then call Tucker Carlson a doofus is incomprehensible. Everynight, he brings clowns on to his show, and then lets them parade their absurdities, while questioning when and how their positions evolved! The fact that the majority of his guests look worse after their appearance might be the result of their positions being illogical and comical in the first place, which is why they’re on the show!! I repeat…SHAME ON YOU!!
“News doofus” was used for poetic effect. “News idiot, moron, cuckoohead and crazyman” didn’t have the same ring but all apply.
“News idiot, moron, cuckoohead and crazyman” have the same effect for the person saying it…YOU!! At least I don’t need to bother reading anymore of your ‘rants’, seeing how evenhanded and objective you are…NOT!!
Edward, I suggest you look in the mirror. In your first post you state, “Personal attack is always the first place of refugee for someone who doesn’t have a valid argument”. Three sentences later you state, “Every night, he brings clowns on to his show”.
Very insightful : )
Except my comments were not of a personal nature, just an observation of the ‘clowns’ paraded on his show, who, by his own admission, are sought out for their extreme, often comical buffoonery. Since I didn’t single out any individuals, ‘personal attack’ is impossible…by definition!! May I suggest a dictionary before your next post!!
I was interested in watching the clips, and I must admit having a moderate amount of skepticism that what I would hear would be something I agreed with. That being said, I thought Joanna was measured, reasonable, and well-informed in her response and in the ideas she expressed. I was impressed, and thoroughly enjoyed her fantastic interviews.
Can’t we refrain from calling each other names and indulging in schoolyard finger-pointing and just grow the hell up? At least on this site. I don’t have much hope for the national stage.
Michael W: Except my comments were not of a personal nature, just an observation of the ‘clowns’ paraded on his show, who, by his own admission, are sought out for their extreme, often comical buffoonery. Since I didn’t single out any individuals, ‘personal attack’ is impossible…by definition!! May I suggest a dictionary before your next post!!
I attended the 73rd Annual New England Outdoor Track & Field Championship at the University of New Hampshire on June 9, 2018. The 100 m and 200 m girls events were won by the Connecticut athlete who broke the state records for girls in Connecticut after switching from competing against boys to competing against girls. I felt very sorry for the real girls who were bumped down a position because this individual was allowed to compete as a girl. Results can be found at http://www.lancertiming.com.
Nice to see that this is still be viewed. If anyone is interested in the work we are doing, it can be found in the latest issue of science.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/07/scientist-racing-discover-how-gender-transitions-alter-athletic-performance-including
Your use of derogatory terms in describing Tucker Carlson only lessons your legitimacy as a writer. He listened to Joanna’s opinions with respect and asked respectful questions for clarity. Not sure why you felt it necessary to take that route but I assume it was to appeal to a certain population of readers of which I won’t become. Another media individual with an agenda…. Too bad 🙁
I totally agree with Rick. Tucker was quite respectful and his pauses reflected his own consideration of Joanna’s thoughtful opinion. Ken is being rather juvenile in his characterization here.
BTW my (minor) disagreement with Joanna her is that I feel that biological females should be able to cross the line first in winning a state title. Let the trans kids complete in an exhibition until they are adults and on proper hormone therapy.