Posted on Oct 1, 2023
Christie’s jab at Jill Biden spotlights GOP problems with women
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Chris Christie’s jab at First Lady Jill Biden during Wednesday night’s debate has sparked bipartisan condemnation and spotlighted the GOP’s messaging problem with women.
Christie, the former Republican New Jersey governor, was bashing teachers unions when he made a snide side comment, saying they are not advocating for children and that President Biden is “sleeping with a member.”
“They have an advocate inside the White House every day for the worst of their teachers, not for their students to be the best they can be,” Christie said.
The first lady is part of the National Education Association and has been a classroom teacher for more than 30 years.
The remark drew criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans, who called it distasteful and unsurprising from the party that’s still dominated by white men and struggling to shake its poor perception of advocating for women.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has sustained frequent gender attacks from the right, was among the loudest voices in opposition to what she saw as overt sexism, calling his comments “disgusting” and “misogynistic.”
Christie, the former Republican New Jersey governor, was bashing teachers unions when he made a snide side comment, saying they are not advocating for children and that President Biden is “sleeping with a member.”
“They have an advocate inside the White House every day for the worst of their teachers, not for their students to be the best they can be,” Christie said.
The first lady is part of the National Education Association and has been a classroom teacher for more than 30 years.
The remark drew criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans, who called it distasteful and unsurprising from the party that’s still dominated by white men and struggling to shake its poor perception of advocating for women.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has sustained frequent gender attacks from the right, was among the loudest voices in opposition to what she saw as overt sexism, calling his comments “disgusting” and “misogynistic.”
Christie’s jab at Jill Biden spotlights GOP problems with women
Posted from thehill.com
Republicans
Teaching
Gender
Public Speaking
Posted 8 mo ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Republicans have made it clear that they’d like the fall general election to be fought over culture wars — and education and labor play into that strategy. Women comprise a big part of the teaching sector and many belong to unions across the country, fighting for fairer wages to support themselves and their families.
And even in the nation’s highest public office, there’s precedent for female union involvement — from former first lady Laura Bush, a literacy activist, dating back to former first lady Grace Coolidge, who was a teacher.
“It’s particularly striking when there have been other examples of women… who have been First Ladies and been in unions,” said Katherine Sibley, director of the American Studies Program at St. Joseph’s University.
Sibley shrugged off Christie’s comments as part of the primary zeitgeist, where a handful of lesser-known Republicans want to outshine Trump for the nomination.
“I think he’s probably tried to appeal to this cultural … kind of ‘shocking’ truth thing that’s been so popular now.”
..."Republicans have made it clear that they’d like the fall general election to be fought over culture wars — and education and labor play into that strategy. Women comprise a big part of the teaching sector and many belong to unions across the country, fighting for fairer wages to support themselves and their families.
And even in the nation’s highest public office, there’s precedent for female union involvement — from former first lady Laura Bush, a literacy activist, dating back to former first lady Grace Coolidge, who was a teacher.
“It’s particularly striking when there have been other examples of women… who have been First Ladies and been in unions,” said Katherine Sibley, director of the American Studies Program at St. Joseph’s University.
Sibley shrugged off Christie’s comments as part of the primary zeitgeist, where a handful of lesser-known Republicans want to outshine Trump for the nomination.
“I think he’s probably tried to appeal to this cultural … kind of ‘shocking’ truth thing that’s been so popular now.”
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