Clinton supporters cite sexist reports

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NEW YORK, June 13 (UPI) -- Many women who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., are reported crying foul over perceived sexist news coverage.

These are charges that have split critics and news executives as many others see nothing wrong with the coverage of Clinton campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for president coverage or "mistakes" that were corrected, The New York Times says.

But many women and erstwhile Clinton supporters are proposing boycotts of the cable networks, starting a national conversation about sexism and pushing Clinton's rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. to address the matter.

Katie Couric of CBS News, who faced harsh criticism as the first woman to be the solo anchor of an evening news broadcast, said, "Like her or not, one of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued -- and accepted -- role of sexism in American life, particularly in the media."

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said the media's "very sexist approach" to Clinton's campaign was "pretty appalling."

In some examples that the Times cited was its own mention of Clinton's "cackle." The Washington Post mentioned her cleavage. Cable television came under the most criticism where Chris Matthews, a host on MSNBC, called Clinton a "she-devil."