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“She was surprised by it,” he said.

“She responded accordingly and simply wanted to move on.”

Critics, however, said the premier could have offered a more appropriate answer befitting her office and the message of gender equality, especially in politics, which she has promoted in the past.

There is a variety of responses that could have come up instantly

In June, Clark publicly lambasted British billionaire and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson after he posted on his blog a sexually suggestive invitation to her to go kitesurfing in the nude.

The invitation was accompanied by a picture of a naked woman clinging to his back.

At the time, Clark described Branson’s comments as disrespectful toward her and all women in politics.

Laila Yuile, a blogger and political pundit who has been following the recent story, said Clark could have easily offered a more appropriate answer such as, “Next Question” or “That’s not appropriate for the viewers.”

“There is a variety of responses that could have come up instantly,” she said.

I think it was disrespectful and inappropriate for him to ask it in the first place

“And I think to any woman or girl listening that might be considering going into politics … I mean, it just sets a standard that is kind of ridiculous.”

Communications expert Lesli Boldt, president of Boldt Communications, agreed that the premier could have deflected the question instead of answering it.

But she said Clark did the best she could given the situation she was put in.

Boldt said some of the criticism should be directed toward the radio host.

“I think it was disrespectful and inappropriate for him to ask it in the first place,” said Boldt. Drex, a.k.a. Justin Wil-comes, said he was “not able to comment” when asked by The Province about the interview.

Clark is away on holiday until January, Morton said.