Story highlights Peggy Drexler: Chris Matthews comments praising Melania Trump's looks are creepy

But his comments point up reality about power of beauty, she says

Drexler: Key point: It shouldn't affect our view of her husband's fitness as presidential prospect

Peggy Drexler is the author of "Our Fathers, Ourselves: Daughters, Fathers, and the Changing American Family" and "Raising Boys Without Men." She is an assistant professor of psychology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and a former gender scholar at Stanford University. The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers.

(CNN) Viewers of Donald Trump's victory speech in Indiana on Tuesday night may have noticed the GOP candidate's subtle, undoubtedly intentional, foregrounding of wife Melania as the pair approached the podium, her smile as gleaming white as her impeccably fitted dress.

For months now, Trump has not been shy about pointing out his wife's beauty, already plain to see. After all, she spent many years working as a successful model, and certainly called on that background as she stood, poised and perfect, on the Indiana stage.

It was Chris Matthews who ran into trouble when he couldn't help but assess Melania Trump's appearance Tuesday night during MSNBC's coverage of the primary, apparently — and awkwardly -- unaware his microphone was live. "Did you see her walk? Runway walk," he said as she crossed the stage. "My God is that good. I could watch that runway show."

Unsavory, sure, perhaps a little creepy, yes, especially since it's not the first time Matthews has weighed in on a woman's appearance on air. Sexist? Some will insist it is, but this is hard to say. What his comments do provide is clear evidence that, no matter how much we may try to focus these days, especially in the political context, on anything but a woman's looks, it's all but impossible to ignore a beautiful woman.

But, then, why should we?

Read More