It's that time of year, people! The heat is on in the 2012 election, which means attack dogs are out in droves, ready to pounce and rile up the crowds. President Obama and Mitt Romney aren't the only ones at each other's throats. Plenty of senators and congresspeople running for re-election this year are using tough talk to appeal to their constituents. But there's a big difference between strong words and completely inappropriate expressions.
That was made very clear by a total foot-in-mouth moment that played out on Facebook earlier this week, when Jay Townsend, a longtime GOP communications director and the spokesman for Rep. Nan Hayworth's (R-NY) re-election campaign, suggested that the constituents "hurl some acid" at female Democratic senators for wanting to enforce equal pay laws, like the Lilly Ledbetter Act.
Townsend was responding to comments made by a commenter named "Tom" during an online debate over gas prices. Townsend wrote:
Listen to Tom. What a little bee he has in his bonnet. Buzz Buzz. My question today ... when is Tommy boy going to weigh in on all the Lilly Ledbetter hypocrites who claim to be fighting the War on Women? Let's hurl some acid at those female democratic Senators who won't abide the mandates they want to impose on the private sector.
Wow. Now, I'm never one to champion walking on eggshells in an effort to be overly PC, but sometimes, political correctness is a necessity ... like when you're representing someone who is running for re-election and don't want to come off as an insensitive, hateful jerk! And this remark completely crossed the line.
As ThinkProgress.com points out, hurling acid is a major form of gender-based violence ... a form we've sadly seen used as recently as four days ago, when two women and a 2-year-old were injured in Pakistan in an attack. And 72 percent of the time, victims of acid-throwing are women.
There's simply no good excuse for employing such a graphic, violent, vile concept in this context. It's unacceptable in every way. Townsend should be ashamed of himself, but beyond that, it's a shock that he still remains Rep. Hayworth's spokesman. (If only because he's totally tainted her campaign with this unprofessional move!) And until she denounces the remark, I guess voters will have to assume Rep. Hayworth has no problem relying on violent, inappropriate rhetoric to intimidate and belittle her opponents.
How do you feel about this remark? Do you think Townsend should be fired?
Image via Medill DC/Flickr
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Comments 15
Jay Townsend was clearly wrong to say what he said, but he clearly was NOT calling for violence against women. He should be ashamed of saying such a stupid thing, but that doesn't make the candidate he represents part of the Taliban. Talk about hysteria. Is there anyone on the left capable of seeing this for what it is? Stupidity, not an call to violence.
ROFLMA @ Maressa - you have to be the biggest hypocrite I've read!!!!!
I think he should be fired. I think the phrase of "throwing acid" was more figurative in defense to all the graphic, violent, vile concepts that are thrown at conservative women than literal, but he still should be fired. In his position, stupid shouldn't be allowed. Oh. Wait. Then there would be no spokesman for any Congressperson.
I also think that instead of coming up with legitimate reasons why the Female Congress ACTUALLY DOES PAY THEIR FEMALE EMPLOYEES LESS, it is much easier to zoom in on this offensive statement and cry how the sky is falling.
I knew the conservative commenters would either A) find a way to defend these words, or B) wine about how the Left did it first. You're all so predictable.
That being said, yes I think he should be fired. Whether he was speaking figuratively or literally this was a horrible thing to say. What does talking like this accomplish? Other than making it clear how these GOPers really feel about women?
I'm a conservative. What he said was wrong.
Short and Sweet, Floridamom. Love it! Can we please just stop lumping groups of people together? My God, you all sound like a bunch of 4 year olds "But he started it!" Can we all just grow up already!