"This kind of sexist attack is an affront to all women, and I won't stand for it,” NOW spokesman Terry O’Neill said in a statement.
The story, published by Gawker online described a supposed randon sexual encounter with O'Donnell when she was 25 years old.
And there's more: The Smoking Gun is reporting that Gawker paid for the story and it appears as if the author may now have been identified.
The following is from O'Donnell Communications Director Doug Sachtleben regarding the story:
"This story is just another example of the sexism and slander that female candidates are forced to deal with. From Secretary Clinton, to Governor Palin, to soon-to-be Governor Haley, Christine's political opponents have been willing to engage in appalling and baseless attacks — all with the aim of distracting the press from covering the real issues in this race. Even the National Organization for Women gets it, but Christine's opponent disturbingly does not. As Chris Coons said on September 16th he would not condone personal attacks against Christine. Classless Coons goons have proven yet again to have no sense of common decency or common sense with their desperate attacks to get another rubber stamp for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda. Such attacks are truly shameful, but they will not distract us from making our case to Delaware voters — and keeping the focus on Chris Coons' record of higher taxes, increased spending, and as he has done again here, breaking his promises to the voters."
The National Organization for Women (NOW) on Thursday condemned the tabloid website Gawker for publishing an anonymous account: NOW issued a statement late Thursday stating that "sexist, misogynist attacks against women have no place in the electoral process, regardless of a particular candidate's political ideology."
"NOW repudiates Gawker's decision to run this piece. It operates as public sexual harassment. And like all sexual harassment, it targets not only O'Donnell, but all women contemplating stepping into the public sphere," said NOW president Terry O'Neill.
1 comment:
I agree that the Gawker piece, even if true, was gratuitous and in very poor taste. If you are for Chris Coons, or even just against Christine O'Donnell, there is enough to legitimately criticize O'Donnell about already. You don't need to share sordid details of an alleged one-night stand.
That being said, dirty tricks have been going on in politics forever, from both sides. Whichever side is on the losing end of the main issue(s) of the day usually do it. Republicans did it in 2006 and 2008 when Democrats had the political upper hand, just as Democrats are doing it now when the roles are reversed.
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