I was at Harvard during this period, and followed the issue quite closely. He was sort of speaking economist-eae, and and used improper phrasing when discussing the various factors contributing to low Female representation in the sciences. We should not treat what he said as a broad indication of his overall respect for women and their abilities. It strikes me as reflexive identity politics to oppose him on these grounds when there are many other substantive reasons to think he would be the wrong pick (including his previous support for deregulation and derivatives, his comments on pollution, etc.). But the biggest concern for me, is his interpersonal style and management style. To put it mildly, he is not a coalition builder. He runs a hardcore, tight shop, and brooks no opposition. He will steamroll any opponent and surround himself with loyalists who will always support his views. This is what he did at Harvard that so alienated the faculty, that ultimately let to his ouster. He is also notoriously awkward to interact with. The idea that someone who is not open to other ideas, and who will bully others into compliance should be at the very center of Obama's economic policy machine disturbs me. Summers would exert too great an influence within Obama's inner circle. I'm all for finding the smartest person out there to do the job - and I'm sure that's why Obama likes Summers (he was, after all, a prodigy who was one of the youngest people ever to get Tenure). But no one person has all the answers. He needs a team of smart people, from different disciplinary backgrounds, who can work together to find solutions. I don't think that Summers fits that mold.
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