Contact: Jennifer Fedor, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, June 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- Joe Scarborough's recent comments about former Senator Fred Thompson's wife, Jeri, reveals the influence of the "pornification" of our culture.  Scarborough said of Mrs. Thompson, "You think she works the pole?"  Poles are used in strip joints and exercise routines patterned from strip dances.

Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, said, "Joe Scarborough's banter reduces an accomplished and respectable woman to a 'bimbo' and reflects attempts to mainstream porn into every day culture.  Pornography shapes people's view of women – and not just the women in the pictures – as objects to be used for sexual pleasure.  The proliferation of pornography and strip clubs does have an effect.  It results in men viewing women as sexual objects instead of capable and intelligent human beings.  Mainstream culture, from TV to clothes, has become saturated not with flirtatious sex, but crass, debasing, dehumanizing porn that encourages judging women by porn standards." 

"Scarborough's comments reflect and reinforce the normalization of porn. Scarborough owes Mrs. Thompson an apology."

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.