Is it stupid to expect more out of Kentucky politics than campaign coordinators who stomp on women’s heads (and then demand apologies from their victims) and congressional candidates who don’t believe sexual discrimination exists?
Sigh. Via TPM:
The question of gender roles in Kentucky came up in an Oct. 11 debate between the 3rd Congressional District candidates on the state’s public television network. The topic was raised by one of those female voters both Tally and Yarmuth will be relying on to win Nov. 2. Here’s [the question]:
It is well known that we are the third-worst state for women to live in the nation. We rank at the bottom third of the nation in terms of health and well-being, equity, political leadership and education. I’d like to ask each gentleman what they have in their platform to address these disparities?
To which GOP candidate Todd Lally, running for Congress in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, said, “I look at women’s issues like any other issue. We have equal rights in this country, we have fought — women have fought very hard for those equal rights. Uh, it’s up to them. I mean my wife is a working woman, she works very, very hard and she’s been very successful. I’ve not seen any barriers in her career and I don’t believe that exists.”
Then, at an October 19 debate, Lally followed up by saying that even though he didn’t believe in gender discrimination—he never saw any signs of it while working for the military—people could choose to believe in it if they wanted, rather like God (only I’m betting Lally believes in God). “I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, it may exist, I mean surely we wouldn’t be talking about this issue if it didn’t exist,” he said. “I just have never seen it in my career and my life.”
How comforting.
white, male, hetero privilege is a bitch.
Ah yes, the classic conservative excuse: “I’ve never experienced it in my life, so I don’t believe it’s a problem.”
Never forget that virtually all of the Deep South is deeply resentful at America ending our long long tradition of having White Men as Presidents.
Now if Sasha ever runs for President and wins, they are going to be really really really upset.
“And because I form all my policy positions based entirely on my own personal anecdotal experiences, I’m going to go on record and say that there is no such thing. Among other things that I also do not believe to exist because I have no personal memory of witnessing them firsthand: Antarctica, “variable rate mortgages,” and magnetism.”
Does this man SPEAK to his wife?
Woah, I just had an ECB flashback.
Certainly not in the military of all places.
Okay. As a card-carrying Kentuckian, I apologize for being the only state with asshole politicians. But, I would like to make a couple of wee corrections. The Stomper was not a “campaign coordinator”, he was just a dickhead who volunteered to show at Paul rallies and be a dickhead.
Plus, Kentucky hasn’t been in the “Deep South” since the last major tectonic plate shift, if ever. For the record, KY was a Union state during the Civil War.
Facts are pesky things. So are some of the assholes who live here.
If it makes anyone feel any better, Lexington’s openly gay Vice Mayor is probably going to beat the incumbent mayor for his job next week. And Jim Gray wasn’t even our first openly gay Vice Mayor.
In case you hadn’t heard, The Stomper dickhead has been charged with assault and with any luck, his case will be heard by our openly gay judge who used to be our openly gat state senator.
Lexington, our motto: “Rock Hudson came here for R&R in the 50’s and 60’s; we all knew why and nobody gave a shit.”
@8 what about South Carolina?
SLOG you’re going to have to try harder.
First you issue one person saying how bad it is.
Then another person says “no, it’s not”.
Neither has any corrobating evidence, but you choose to “editorialize” about how, yeah, see, we told you.
Just because a state doesn’t have a border on salt water, doesn’t mean its just as sophisticated you are.
9
we give up.
what about it?…..
it is comforting to see Slog focused like a laser beam on “Deep South” politics.
while Washington State slips into the Red Zone…..
@2 hit the nail on the head. Wanna bet someone from Fox News accuses this guy of being an elitist?
Perhaps Kentucky has never heard of Justice Scalia. He just told us here in SF during a talk at Hastings that women are not covered by the 14th Amendment and if they want equality they should look to legislators. I’m betting he could with the right case get Thomas, Roberts, and Alito to agree. So he’s probably only one vote away from taking away women’s rights. I have no doubt the new politicians poised to take control would be happy to appoint such a justice. Ladies – bet get yourself an ERA before your rights are set back a hundred years.
Todd Lally is running against a socialist WHO supported the individual mandate: the greatest retreat of personal freedom in our country’s history…..and your talking about what? Have your pity party somewhere else.