Monday, Jun. 13, 2011
George H.W. Bush, 1984
When then Vice President George H.W. Bush stepped up to debate opponent Geraldine Ferraro, he treated her exactly as she did not want to be treated. Appearing incredibly condescending toward the first female ever to run on a major-party ticket, Bush chose to "instruct" Ferraro on foreign policy, saying, "Let me help you with the difference, Ms. Ferraro, between Iran and the embassy in Lebanon." Bush's phrasing might have gone unnoticed, but his opponent quickly drew attention to the remark: "Let me just say, first of all, that I almost resent, Vice President Bush, your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy."