There are often times when Democrats reach for their #WarOnWomen card for almost anything. They run around, flailing their arms and shouting over any perceived slight. Most of the time, such nonsense is waved off as it should be. But there are times when candidates say stupid, offensive things and should be called out on it.
Republican Congressional candidate Richard May is running in Ohio’s 9th Congressional district against long time Ohio Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur.
May has been considered a very long shot to win this race but he recently had a Facebook post up where he wrote the following:
Remember this….Do not fall in love with a politician just like one does not fall in love with a slut. Both the politician and the slut will cheat on you with some Democrat.
This is exactly what the Republican Party does not need, even in a race where the candidate doesn’t have much of chance of winning.
Tom Haren, who is running for the state Senate in Ohio’s 23rd district issued a press release, calling out May for what he said:
I was stunned to read Richard May’s recent comments as covered by the Northeast Ohio Media Group. The misogyny he espoused has demeaned the privilege that he was given by the voters in the 9th Congressional District to serve as a candidate for elected office.
While our political parties may determine party platforms and official endorsements, candidates control the tenor and tone of political campaigns. As a candidate, I believe that we should focus on putting forward a platform to grow the middle class. Unfortunately, Richard May has chosen instead to further the culture of political division that I’m fighting to change.
The Republican Party is, at its heart, a party of inclusion. Republicans strive to afford every person, regardless of creed, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion, an equal opportunity to succeed. With the 2016 Republican National Convention coming to Cleveland, we have a unique opportunity to showcase our diverse community and the GOP’s commitment to broadening the Party’s reach. Richard May’s recent comments take away from that message and they damage his own credibility as a candidate.
As a father, husband, son, and brother, I am personally and deeply offended by Richard’s language. His very presence on the ballot has now become an unnecessary distraction – he must offer a genuine and sincere apology immediately so that we can bring our focus back to the issues Ohioans care about.
He’s exactly right. We used to live in an age where “all politics was local” but things have changed. With 24 hours news channels, the Internet and social media, it’s very easy for members of the press to pounce on distractions such as this.
Tom made a good decision in getting out in front of this right away, instead of waiting for the inevitable backlash.