Yesterday’s Today Show interview with General Motors CEO Mary Barra started an Internet firestorm after Matt Lauer asked Barra if she was capable of being a good parent and CEO at the same time.
“Some people are speculating that you also got this job as a woman and as a mom, because people at General Motors knew this company was in for a very tough time — and that as a woman and a mom, you can present a softer face and softer image for this company as it goes through this horrible episode. Does it make sense or does it make you bristle? … Given the pressures at GM, can you do both well?”
Barra, without missing a beat, responded: “It’s absolutely not true. I believe I was selected for this job because of my qualifications, adding senior General Motors officials stepped up to the plate when they found out about the ignition switch issues.
Lauer later posted on his Facebook page to clarify his comments, stating that he merely asked the question after reading a Forbes article in which she talked about how she balances her work and home responsibilities. “If a man had publicly said something similar after accepting a high-level job, I would have asked him exactly the same thing.”
Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh feels that “Lauer would have been better served by forgoing the CEO-mom line of questioning and probing instead about what GM plans to do about compensation for victims of people killed or injured in accidents related to the delayed recalls for defective parts.”
Comments
well he knows that men are just baby daddies.
mothers do care.
Again he shoots himself in the foot.
Barra helped point the gun at his feet, because that’s what mothers do.
Good for her.
I had been under the impression the last few months that Mary Barra had been nursing off-camera the number of times SHE brought up being a mother and wife in interviews–even before congress. But I guess she can claim victim status now that she’s been asked about it on that very anti-women “Today” show. Gary Oldman was half right, there’s far too much false outrage nowadays.
Well it Is others who are claiming the out rage as she has answered the questions.
At here age I would expect she has little issue dealing with it as her kids are old enough to put the milk on their own Wheaties.
Everyone should understand they are 12-14 not 2 and 4 as some would like to make it out. Also they have a father who is in the picture too. Her biggest issue is her son wants a new Camaro in 2 years and she told him fat chance.
This is not a job for the over sensitive and she has handled it well. The question will many in the public handle it as well.