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Food For Thought on the Campaign Trail--When will the pundits begin to be honest and discuss this? When will the media stop and ask themselves if they are upholding the most basic tenet of journalism?

That is, is their reporting and coverage fair and balanced? It isn't when it comes to the gender split in how the media report on female vs. male candidates. After watching the continued double standard the news media and other pundits and self-described experts hold H. Clinton (or any female in a position of power) to I am compelled to write. As a former political reporter I know it was considered a breakthrough to have women reporters on the campaign trail only about 15 years ago

Later, many speculated that as more women would cover politics (previously the domain of male reporters) that coverage of women candidates would change. I am not seeing much of that...especially today as the media continue to cover H. Clinton in a sexist way. The more the media continue to measure Clinton by her "emotional quotient" EQ the more my vote and support her is galvanized.

Like many women who are experienced, wise, strong and OVERLY qualified for job after job after job, we are expected to walk the tightrope of demonstrating we are "human" by showing emotion and vulnerability that in men is considered weak. But we are "too" emotional? If so, then we are no longer qualified. How many of us experience this in our own lives? Also, how many of us have been losing jobs and other positions of "power" to men we're old enough to have given birth to?

I hope the media continue to treat her differently, hold her to some EQ standard the men are not held to by the media (do ANY of the male candidates appear all warm and fuzzy? no!) it's going to galvanize the vote of ANY woman with a brain and a heart. And it seems N.H. women said the same thing...not only did Clinton win their vote, but it was especially high among women around age 50 who don't have children...hmmmm, maybe women working hard in factories, restaurants, offices whose "experience" clearly outshines male counterparts...but who have to greet everyone with a "warm" smile each morning or face being labled, "chilly".

Is our voice warm enough? Our expression warm enough? Do we speak with too much confidence or do we appropriately "qualify" what we know by saying, "well, I think...." etc. etc.

I challenge the media to stop this double standard. Stick with the issues. If you're a political reporter, cover politics and policy, or get a job writing for People Magazine.