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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSorry but I'm jumping into this primary.
Rhode Island Democrats are in an uproar after the party endorsed a Donald Trump-voting male candidate over a sitting female lawmaker known for championing liberal causes, in a district and a state that voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton.
The decision to endorse Michael Earnheart over Providence state Rep. Moira Walsh unleashed the frustration of many liberal women who say concerns about issues including abortion rights and sexual harassment are not being addressed by the state's Democratic leaders. The chairwoman of the party's women's caucus called last week's endorsement unacceptable and said Tuesday they were demanding an explanation.
State Rep. Joe McNamara, the party's chairman, told The Associated Press he didn't know Earnheart supported Trump when they endorsed him, saying it was "difficult to do a complete history" of the candidate. He said he believed Earnheart no longer supports Trump, although said "we didn't get into it when we spoke with him.
He blamed Walsh for not seeking the endorsement.
"It's not rocket science," he said.
Walsh, 27. disputed that and said the party told her it was not endorsing anyone. She said she and other liberal women were being targeted by House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, who controls Rhode Island's Democratic party.
Rather than listen to women about issues important to them, she said, "their solution has been instead, 'Why don't we get rid of these women, and they won't ask for this stuff anymore.'"
Earnheart, 31, declined an interview but answered some questions by email, confirming he voted for Trump. He called Walsh at the "fringe" of the General Assembly.
Mattiello's spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Sulina Mohanty, chairwoman of the women's caucus, said she believes party leadership is blatantly disrespecting women and fearful that they will have to cede power to newly energized women.
"There are women stepping up at all levels, from running for office, to speaking at hearings. I know so many women who were at the statehouse multiple times a week this session," she said.
Mohanty said the leadership failed to pass legislation women were most focused on, including bills involving sexual harassment, guns in schools and pay equity.
Mattiello angered many people in May when, in a radio interview , he dismissed calls to codify abortion rights in the state in case Roe v. Wade is overturned. He called the concern "not founded in reality."
Then came the endorsements, which included not only Earnheart but a former Providence lawmaker endorsed by local Democrats even though he has a history of being charged with crimes including sexual assault and perjury. He has denied wrongdoing.
The state chapter of the National Organization for Women last week said women are ignored in the state's political environment.
"It is no surprise that men believe they can treat women criminally, and still be considered democratic leaders," they said.
Walsh and her supporters say Earnheart is out of step with the district, which has a large immigrant population.
They point to a photograph of Earnheart holding a Make America Great Again sign at a Trump rally last year and to his now-deleted Twitter feed. He recently retweeted conservative figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and pizzagate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich. In May, he posted that "illegal aliens are self-entitled lawbreakers and thieves, stealing jobs and government benefits meant for our own people."
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/rhode-island-liberals-blast-dems-backing-trump-supporter-56345235
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Especially House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello!
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)faux concern for protecting women from the harshness of political life.
Now that women have a huge voice, more power and strong platforms, the hate, fear and insecurity is in ugly, plain site.
It will get uglier. Everywhere.
They no longer have to pretend to be civil.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)RandySF
(58,722 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)SharonClark
(10,014 posts)State Rep. Joe McNamara, the party's chairman, should resign and take his cronies with him.
Cha
(297,100 posts)Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)The other two remain in effect:
. . . .
Endorsed candidates appear first on the ballot with a star next to their name and get free access to the voter database maintained by the party. [Source:"Rhode Island Democrats rescind endorsements following backlash"]
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)This can't be allowed to stand. Those of you that use social media, can you spread this around the country?
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. (The only Black woman)
Rep. Jeanine Calkin
My guess is this person also needs help, she is progressive and has pushed back against the Democratic Party leadership of the state:
Sen. Gayle Goldin
The democratic house speaker in Rhode Island has a 100% right to life rating (opposes choice) and an A rating from the NRA. His Senate counterpart may not be any better.