You've heard about that Obama girl video, right? Everyone's talking about it. But is it harmless fun or an insult to womanhood's long struggle to be considered equal to men? It's an issue driving a wedge between even the closest of friends—for instance, Huffington Post media critic Rachel Sklar and Star editor-at-large Julia Allison. We've obtained a transcript of a recent (private) clash they had on the subject, and we make it public here because, well, it's very important. Whose side are you on? The answer might surprise you!

Julia Allison: i watched the new Obama Girl video

Julia Allison: i found it totally inappropriate, demeaning to women, and reinforcing of sexual stereotypes

Rachel Sklar: oy. go ahead, gloria steinem

Julia Allison: I cannot believe you didn't have a problem with it!

Rachel Sklar: how exactly is that different from your little photoshoot?????

Rachel Sklar: no problem at all whatsoever. i thought it was hilarious

Julia Allison: because I don't profess to be about politics

Rachel Sklar: so unapologetic, a total spoof. neither does that video

Julia Allison: yeah, the first one i liked

Rachel Sklar: those videos are political HUMOR. big diff

Rachel Sklar: and by the way, you SO DO

Julia Allison: to you I do, but not to millions of teenage girls

Julia Allison: like "this is all women can contribute to politics"

Rachel Sklar: sure you do - anyone watching fox

Rachel Sklar: nah. disagree totally

Rachel Sklar: seriously

Julia Allison: teenage girls do not watch fox, and I don't go on fox in a bikini

Rachel Sklar: o-kay!

Rachel Sklar: go smoke a cigar in a black bra and undies with an old dude!

Rachel Sklar: or, go hop a flight to Milan courtesy of your latest paramour!

Rachel Sklar: if you're not going to stand on ceremony on that stuff, I can't see how you would stand on ceremony on this stuff

Rachel Sklar: just sayin'

Rachel Sklar: it's too bad, you woulda been great in the video

Julia Allison: but seriously, I think the second video really is demeaning

Julia Allison: it's so fucking in your face

Julia Allison: the point is they have these women PRANCING ABOUT LIKE SEX OBJECTS

Rachel Sklar: oh, my god

Julia Allison: as if that's ALL WOMEN CAN CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICS

Rachel Sklar: julia, you are a total fucking hypocrite

Rachel Sklar: sorry, but that is RIDICULOUS

Julia Allison: no i'm not!!! I'm saying there are TIMES TO BE A SEX OBJECT and there are TIMES NOT TO BE A SEX OBJECT

Rachel Sklar: "the point is they have these women PRANCING ABOUT LIKE SEX OBJECTS"

Rachel Sklar: you are hardly an authority on when those times are

Rachel Sklar: it is not for you to arbitrarily set

Julia Allison: just because I like being a sex object occasionally - does that mean that I have to support women being seen as sex objects 100% of the time, otherwise I'm a hypocrite??

Rachel Sklar: why do you get to decide when another hot girl can be in something glancingly political?

Rachel Sklar: ridic

Rachel Sklar: OCCASIONALLY

Rachel Sklar: haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Rachel Sklar: no

Julia Allison: because you know, it's two male candidates

Rachel Sklar: in this case, the spoof elements are so obvious that it's clearly not saying women are incapable of contributing in any other way

Rachel Sklar: it's spoofing the fact that that stuff sells

Rachel Sklar: and also

Rachel Sklar: pairing it with some pretty funny lyrics

Rachel Sklar: and imagery

Rachel Sklar: sorry dude i'm not with you here, in the least

Julia Allison: and it's these ridiculously hot women supporting them - it should have HOT MEN in it as well.

Julia Allison: OR they should have been supporting Hillary

Rachel Sklar: even if you didn't have your, uh, illustrious resume

Rachel Sklar: i would still say that I don't think those videos are sexist

Rachel Sklar: i honestly don't

Rachel Sklar: you are unreal

Julia Allison: That would have made it more fair!

Julia Allison: less offensive

Rachel Sklar: so the Hott4Hill vid is good in your books then?

Julia Allison: Yes.

Rachel Sklar: totally derivative, empty confection?

Rachel Sklar: dude that is ridiculous

Julia Allison: I'll tell you why. Because then it's not the TYPICAL "I'm a sexy woman cheerleading my big man political candidate"

Rachel Sklar: it is SO MUCH MORE SEXIST to say that a woman should support hillary because she's a woman

Julia Allison: No, I didn't say that.

Rachel Sklar: like women aren't capable of making those choices without your imposing them

Rachel Sklar: oh, well, as long as it's typical it's okay

Julia Allison: I just said that I have a problem with "sexy young women" supporting two male candidates

Rachel Sklar: dude, it is OBVIOUSLY A SPOOF

Rachel Sklar: it is OBVIOUSLY A JOKE

Rachel Sklar: and btw you LOOOOOVED the first video

Julia Allison: Yeah, and why did I like the first one, and felt really uncomfortable with the second?

Julia Allison: it must have GONE TOO FAR

Rachel Sklar: oh that's it! you are the unerring barometer!

Rachel Sklar: it was an escalation of the themes of the first

Rachel Sklar: think about it: Obama Girl loves Obama. What does that mean she will do when threatened?

Rachel Sklar: Stick up for her man.

Julia Allison: Why can we not draw a line and say "this is harmful to our girls"

Julia Allison: no, she doesn't!

Julia Allison: she didn't even know who he was!

Rachel Sklar: We can, if it's harmful

Rachel Sklar: i happen not to agree

Julia Allison: SHE'S AN ACTRESS/MODEL

Rachel Sklar: who cares?

Julia Allison: I DO

Rachel Sklar: you were a dating columnist talking about politics

Julia Allison: BEFORE I WAS EVER A DATING COLUMNIST I WORKED ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, I WORKED ON THE HILL!

Rachel Sklar: you prance around in a fucking cheerleading outfit, just because

Rachel Sklar: dude

Rachel Sklar: who cares? sorry.

Julia Allison: BEFORE!

Rachel Sklar: okay then

Rachel Sklar: how often does that come up in ANYTHING YOU DO NOW?

Rachel Sklar: in any bio you have?

Rachel Sklar: I bet Star was totally all over that for your current job, which is talking about the stories other people write and report!

Rachel Sklar: becuase you're pretty and good on TV!

Rachel Sklar: like, come ON here Jules.

Rachel Sklar: do NOT get up on this high horse, it won't support you.

Rachel Sklar: this is not to say that you don't have PLENTY to offer

Rachel Sklar: as it happens, Amber does too - she's a fucking pro, first of all

Rachel Sklar: so obvious in those vids

Rachel Sklar: and she's super nice and sweet

Julia Allison: So wait - just because I have on occasion been a sex object and enjoyed it, I forever forfeit my right to have a problem when other women do things that I believe may be inappropriate?

Rachel Sklar: not at all - but that does mean you may be called out for hypocrisy

Rachel Sklar: Keep it about the work. And what that work is. Don't blast someone for not bringing X to the table when they were hired for Y.

Rachel Sklar: I have WAY less of a problem with Amber than I do with FoxNews, which has no qualms about slapping you with the title "political expert"

Rachel Sklar: Amber's not holding herself out as an expert

Rachel Sklar: She's holding herself out as what she is - the actress/model who plays Obama girl

Julia Allison: My point isn't that. My point is that I think three hot chicks in small outfits going against three other hot chicks in small outfits, over TWO MALE CANDIDATES sends the wrong message.

Rachel Sklar: added bonus: she's nice and has a sense of humor and is good on TV

Julia Allison: it says women can only be involved in politics if they're sex objects supporting men

Rachel Sklar: oooh, sends the wrong message!

Julia Allison: Yes!!

Rachel Sklar: better watch out, america - you'll be FOOLED!

Rachel Sklar: it does NOT say that

Julia Allison: TO THE YOUNG GIRLS!!

Rachel Sklar: oy

Julia Allison: IT SAYS THAT WOMEN CAN ONLY CONTRIBUTE INSOFAR AS THEY ARE OBJECTS FOR A FUCKING PARODY!

Rachel Sklar: dude, if you want to be a fucking role model to the young girls then password-protect your blog so it's available only to people 18 or over

Rachel Sklar: "Dana Vachon is the kind of guy you wanna fuck!"

Julia Allison: I'm half of a good role model

Rachel Sklar: "Off to Milan!"

Julia Allison: WHAT IS WRONG WITH GOING TO MILAN?

Rachel Sklar: well, I'm calling out your other half for hypocrisy

Rachel Sklar: absolutely nothing

Rachel Sklar: to me

Julia Allison: huh? it was with a guy I was seeing!!! I don't think there's anything wrong with that

Julia Allison: and this is a public video here

Rachel Sklar: but there is NO QUESTION that there are a lot of people who would sniff disapprovingly about you letting a guy pay your way to Milan

Rachel Sklar: one of many guys you were seeing

Rachel Sklar: dude, we are now talking about the sliding scale of social mores

Rachel Sklar: you can't seriously be this deluded

Julia Allison: I'm not deluded at all!

Julia Allison: I just think there are lines to be drawn, and I'm drawing them.

Rachel Sklar: as to not see what might be looked askance at with your various trips with various men to various places on various planes

Julia Allison: I actually don't see the problem with trips at all

Rachel Sklar: draw away

Rachel Sklar: i am drawing 'em different

Rachel Sklar: and then scribbling "hypocrite!!!" all over your picture

Rachel Sklar: one of them cleavy ones from feb. 14, 2007

Rachel Sklar: i think the one in the bra when you're looking in the mirror?

Rachel Sklar: so you can see your ass in the panties too? how 'bout that one?

Rachel Sklar: CHAMPION FOR WOMEN!

Julia Allison: but I wasn't endorsing a political candidate

Rachel Sklar: POWER TO THE SISTAHOOD!

Julia Allison: I never said women couldn't be sexy

Julia Allison: you're making a huge logical fallacy here

Rachel Sklar: okay so I'll wait to smack you down when you do

Rachel Sklar: SHE'S ENDORSING CLINTON! THAT SLUT!

Julia Allison: I wasn't wearing "OBAMA" butt underwear

Julia Allison: seriously, make a distinction

Rachel Sklar: HOW DARE SHE ENDORSE A CANDIDATE AFTER POSING IN HER BRA!

Rachel Sklar: You would wear Obama butt underwear in a HEARTBEAT

Rachel Sklar: and feminism does not stop at campaigning

Julia Allison: I think you're missing the crucial difference. I'm NOT saying that women can't be sexy or pose in sexy ways

Rachel Sklar: heaven forfend!

Rachel Sklar: btw

Rachel Sklar: i'm going to bring the discussion back up top

Julia Allison: I AM saying that having six sexy women fight over two male political candidates strikes me as a blow to feminism

Julia Allison: why don't we have HOT MEN fighting for Hillary???

Rachel Sklar: why should we?

Julia Allison: where's THAT video?!?!?!

Rachel Sklar: but anyway, if you want that, go make that video

Julia Allison: maybe I will.

Rachel Sklar: go crazy

Rachel Sklar: i will review it on my blog!

And that's where the conversation ended. We don't know about you, but it left us sweaty and wanting more. We're gonna go smoke a cigarette, calm ourselves down for a minute.