Rachel Maddow SLAMS GOP with FACTS on Equal Pay for Women

Rachel Maddow spent a considerable amount of time on her Monday show defending her argument that men get paid more than woman.

Maddow, who appeared on Sunday's "Meet The Press," severely clashed with Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos on the topic of equal pay. Castellanos continuously interrupted Maddow and disagreed with her point that men earn more money than women. Maddow fired back, calling Castellanos "condescending."

On Monday, Castellanos doubled down on his comments, saying that Maddow "restated an old and discredited liberal myth — that women are paid less than men, only 77%, for the same labor. The fact is women are paid less than men in America — but not for the same work. They are paid less, for other reasons." Castellanos argued that men work more hours per week and work in different professions, like engineering and science, which pay more.

In a rare move, CNN aired a fact-checking package on Maddow and Castellanos' clash on Monday. Reporter Lisa Sylvester used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and confirmed that Maddow was right—men do earn more than women.

Not surprisingly, Maddow dedicated a large portion of her Monday night show to defending her initial argument. She addressed Castellanos' major claim that men get paid more than women for doing different work. Maddow used statistics from the Department of Labor that demonstrated that men earn more money than women for doing the exact same work.

"If you are a driver, men get paid more. If you are a manager, men get paid more. If you are a janitor, men get paid more. if you're a retail sales person, men get paid more. If you're a sales rep, if you're a cook, a chief executive, a security guard, a police officer, a customer service representative, in all of those cases, men get paid more. In 19 of the 20 jobs that are the most common occupations for men in this country, women lag behind what men get paid for doing that same work," Maddow said.

She added that the same was true in the most common jobs that women have in this country. "If you are a secretary, men get paid more. If you are a teacher, men get paid more. If you are a nurse, men get paid more. If you are a cashier, if you are receptionist, a financial manager, if you wait tables. Again, the 19 out 20 that are the most common occupations for women in this country, women lag behind what men get paid for doing the same work," Maddow said.

"Overall," Maddow said, "If you aggregate everybody working in the economy in every job, women get paid 77 cents for every dollar that men get paid. For the same work, dudes get paid more."

-Huffington Post

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[itzahazylife]

I don't think there is more to it. This whole issue arose because of the statistics. But, those statistics are misinterpreted. Thomas Sowell clearly highlights the misinterpretations. For example, he actually found that single women who never had kids or married, earned the same, or even more, than single men. I don't know where people get the idea that a business owner cares more about gender than money. If the woman can generate equal productive output, why would an owner pay her less?

[itzahazylife]

Republicans refuse to support a fair pay policy because women's discrimination is a myth generated by a misinterpretation of the data. It doesn't take into consideration the different career choices women make as opposed to men due to biology, and it doesn't take into consideration that women work less due to the fact that they care for children at home more than men, which causes them to work less.

[aristotle29]

Who is? The bosses that pay men more when they work longer hours than women? Your comment makes no sense..

[genepoolshallow]

Yes, there probably are probably as many female coal miners as there are male day care workers. Eddie Murphy was the last one I've seen... Men are not lining up do day care, but it's possible they just stopped trying due to discrimination.

[Ruby Naranjo]

and why do women work less than men? discrimination...?

[Ruby Naranjo]

were you not paying attention!? they are comparing between the same career choice!

[Ruby Naranjo]

because they are sexist!

[Ruby Naranjo]

if there is no pay gap...why can't they just pass the bill?

[Ruby Naranjo]

obviously you have to compare to someone that is almost the same as you, and she said it in the beginning!

[Ruby Naranjo]

Do women make less than men? YES! they said it! Thomas Sowell himself guarantees it in minute 43 he says, "there is a lot of reasons for that." There it is! technically women DO get paid less then men!