(Image Source: CNN)


BY MILA MIMICA
ANCHOR ERICA COGHILL

A new book alleges the White House was a “hostile environment” for women in the early years of the Obama administration -- and it hit shelves this week. 

“All is not perfect for women in the White House, that's according to a new book that was released today. The book called Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington and the Education of a President, includes interviews with female aides who said they felt overpowered by their male colleagues, and claimed men had more access to the president.” (Video source: WPLG)

The book includes a particularly volatile quote from Anita Dunn, who served as White House Communications Director in 2009. In an interview with writer Ron Suskind, Dunn recalled a conversation she had with Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor and one of the President’s closest friends.

“The Washington Post reports, former communications director Anita Dunn says in the book quote, ‘This place would be in court for a hostile workplace, because it actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a generally hostile workplace to women.’” (Fox News)

Dunn told The Post last week she was quoted out of context. In response, Suskind released a taped conversation with Dunn on Monday -- MSNBC’s Chris Matthews has the latest.

“Dunn's exact quote is, ‘If it weren't for the president, this place would be in a court for a hostile workplace, because it fit all the classic legal requirement for a genuinely hostile workplace to women.’ Well, earlier Dunn had said her quote was taken out of context and denied calling the White House a hostile workplace. But the question you have to ask is, why was then Anita Dunn telling Valerie Jarrett there was a problem if there wasn't a problem?”

But this isn’t the first time the Obama administration’s been accused of having a “women problem.”

Back in 2009, The New York Times reported Obama held a high-level basketball game with no female players.

In fact, John Avlon, editor of the Daily Beast, talked to CNN about the male-dominated culture of the American presidency.

“The charge that it's an old boys club, it's compared to what proposition? Was W’s administration an old boys club. The Clinton administration. The Reagan administration? I mean, all previous administrations have been an old boys club to some extent.”

Democratic strategist James Carville also defended the president, citing the increased role women have on the federal level during his administration.

“I do know that the president’s appointed two women to the Supreme Court. I don’t know how many of his cabinet members, from his HHS secretary to his Labor Secretary to Homeland Security to Secretary of State are all women. I know his chief domestic advisor is a woman. I just find this really hard to believe.” (Video source: CNN)

There are currently 7 women in President Obama’s cabinet. 

Transcript by Newsy.