
(CNN) - A top aide to John McCain said Monday she thought comedian Tina Fey's impersonation of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin on NBC's Saturday Night Live over the weekend was sexist because it portrayed the Alaska governor as lacking in substance.
The NBC comedy show's season premiere began with a "nonpartisan message" during which Fey's Palin and Amy Poehler's depiction of Hillary Clinton called for an end to sexism in the presidential race.
"The portrait was very dismissive of the substance of Sarah Palin, and so in that sense, they were defining Hillary Clinton as very substantive, and Sarah Palin as totally superficial," Fiorina told MSNBC earlier Monday. "I think that continues the line of argument that is disrespectful in the extreme, and yes, I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance."
Watch: 'Palin' makes SNL debut
The former Hewlett-Packard CEO is among McCain's most high profile surrogates and earlier this month was the first member of the Arizona senator's campaign to suggest Democrats were launching sexist attacks at the Republican VP candidate.
"I am appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin’s experience,” Fiorina said then. “The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a Mayor and Governor than Barack Obama has made in his life."
Fiorina, along with other high-profile female backers of McCain, held a press conference at the Republican National Convention criticizing the Obama campaign and the media for what they said were sexist comments about Palin.
"I think one of the things Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency did is attune women's ears to sexist attacks…. Many people have demeaned or belittled [Palin's] experience — and as women, we all know how frequently that happens. This is a well qualified candidate for the vice presidency," she said.


Tell Fiorina to suck it up and put on her big girl sense of humor underwear. How uptight and out of touch is this woman?!
Oh geez, here we go!! Give it up lady – nobody likes you – and it's not because you're a woman, it's because you're an idiot. You're going to blow the chance to pull the "sexist" card later by wasting them all now. This had nothing to do with the Obama campaign. This had to do with an intelligent woman making an intelligent parody of your candidate.
Any criticism of Palin = Sexism
Campaigning against Palin = Sexism
Voting against Palin = Sexism
Thinking negative thoughts about Palin = Sexism
The "sexist card" again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again......
Wow. This is pretty pathetic. The skit wasn't very good, but it was in no way sexist.
First of all, it's COMEDY. Get it? COMEDY.
Secondly, how can a skit written by two women, and performed by two women, be "sexist"? Ok, I get it, they're making fun of Sarah, but that's not sexist.
Oh shutup Florina. You are a disgrace to women!!!!!
Not even worth a comment so instead this from Mark Halperin: McCain today - Goes on to criticize Obama’s record: “And when you look at some of the planetariums and other foolishness that he asked for, he shouldn’t be saying anything about Governor Palin.” Planetariums? My kids (who are now both in nyc g&t programs) learned a lot about science at the Rose Space center. School trips go there by the thousands. Hello???
well, if the substance-less shoe fits....
PALIN CRYING SEXISM TO AVOID Q & A
SCARED OF Q & A PALIN?
PALIN IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUGBLICANS, NOT FOR AMERICA.
Palin should not have given the writers so much ammunition to work with! I am so sorry I missed the show!
making fun of one's lack of experience is not sexist. it is the truth the republicans want to hide behind once again.
Wow, what WON'T the GOP whine about.
Now two women lampooning two other women is "sexist".
hahahah
You call it Sexist... I call it HILARIOUS.
Yes, I am 100% convinced that Tina Fey is sexist against Sarah Palin. This is absurd.
No one cares what you have to say Carly!
ok.....first of all...have a sense of humor. Second.....how could he say this was sexist re: Palin, but not Clinton? What did Shakespere say.....we thinks thou doth protest too much!
"The portrait was very dismissive of the substance of Sarah Palin, and so in that sense, they were defining Hillary Clinton as very substantive, and Sarah Palin as totally superficial," Fiorina told MSNBC...
And, the argument is "sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance."
So, one woman has substance, the other does not.
How, again, is that SEXIST?
Carly needs to get a life. Carly, iron maiden, laugh a little. Sarah did.
These comments coming from someone that took HP to nowhere. What qualification does Fiorina have to comment that defines the future of this countyry?
People belittle Palin's experience because her experience shows her to be a terrible choice for Vice President. It has nothing to do with her gender. I'm surprised at how quick the McCain campaign is to cry "sexism."
What else is new? Everything is sexist!!!!
Fiorini is appalled? Yikes. Talk about someone with zero sense of humor! Oh! I forgot! The McCain ad about "The One" fit more her sense of humor.
So by Fiorina's claim – when McCain tries to "belittle" Obama's experience... is he being "sexist" to?
Fiorina says EVERYTHING is "sexist"... you can't critique her because she pulls this card every single time.
At least Hillary pushed past it – illustrating strength and how a real WOMAN acts rather than "complain complain whine whine" which SETS WOMEN BACK FIORINA!!
(and btw, SNL is COMEDY... it makes fun of everyone, don't you watch the show?)