[syriacus]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20021031_852.html

O'Brien Backers Rip Rival Romney

In Mass. Gov. Race, Supporters of Shannon O'Brien Accuse Rival Mitt Romney of Gender-Stereotyping

The Associated Press
— Supporters of Shannon O'Brien, the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor, accused Republican opponent Mitt Romney of gender-stereotyping when he called her attacks during a debate "unbecoming."

U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton led the chorus of condemnation Wednesday at an O'Brien fund-raiser, saying that years ago women who wanted to run for office were called "unbecoming."

Romney, a businessman and former Salt Lake City Olympic chief, used the word Tuesday when O'Brien questioned his promise not to change the state's abortion laws.

"Your effort to continue to try and create fear and deception here is unbecoming," he said.

[syriacus]

From

http://www.gazettenet.com/10312002/politics/1376.htm

Romney's campaign cited numerous other political references to the word, including one by former New York congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, who in 1998 said it was ``unbecoming to see grown men whine'' after Republicans wanted her removed from CNN's ``Crossfire''

[Unam Sanctam]

In Mass. Gov. Race, Supporters of Shannon O'Brien Accuse Rival Mitt Romney of Gender-Stereotyping

I think it's O'Brien that's stereotyping by assuming that Romney's use of this gender-neutral word is automatically meant to be a sexist slur!