In an unusual act of chivalry, male Washington reporters, strategists and high-level political aides are coming to the defense of Lis Smith, the newly outed girlfriend of Eliot Spitzer, of Mayflower Hotel fame. They are particularly irate over a New York Post column today that has sites like Gothamist accusing the writer of “slut shaming.” In her column, Andrea Peyser takes Smith to task for having a “fetish” for balding men and black knee socks. If those weren’t amusing enough “fetishes” the author refers to Smith as a “cookie” and “a bimbo” for dating the technically still married Spitzer. Ouch!
Alexis Grenell, a media strategist, also defends Smith. She writes in the New York Daily News that Smith is being demonized for having a brain and wanting sex: “In reality, Smith is just another casualty of the persistent cultural sexism that slut-shames women for having a sex life and being smart, too.”
The question remains, can she sleep with a balding, black knee sock-wearing Spitzer and still have a brain? (Yes, I’m joking a little.)

OK, I’m late to this but I’m appalled. Lis Smith is great, fun, professional, good at what she does. Leave her alone. http://t.co/jk5hpxb7rv
— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) December 24, 2013
Really nasty Andrea Peyser piece on @Lis_Smith & Eliot Spitzer. So what if single woman is dating a separated man? http://t.co/CZkbN8oEmV — Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) December 24, 2013
On top of absurd caricature of @Lis_Smith from the classy folks who staked out her mom, NYPost today filled with lies and misinformation. — Ben LaBolt (@BenLaBolt) December 24, 2013
.@Lis_Smith is a dear friend & amazing flak. Stay strong!
— Ryan Rudominer (@rrudominer) December 24, 2013
Twitter has put a judgmental world on steroids. If you don’t know Lis Smith, worry about something else. Keep your head up @Lis_Smith
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) December 24, 2013
.@agrenell Well done. Whoever she chooses to date, @Lis_Smith is one of the most talented political professionals I have dealt with.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) December 24, 2013