Hi Daily Kos Community!
This week, Barbara announced her running mate, Milly Silva. We are proud to add Milly to Team Buono. Milly has lifted herself out of poverty to oversee an organization of thousands of workers where she negotiates multimillion dollar contracts and continues her life-long fight for working people. Leaders across New Jersey praised our choice.
That’s because they know what Barbara knows. Milly has dedicated her life to being a voice for the voiceless. Barbara was looking for a running mate who would stand up and speak out for all of New Jersey… and she found Milly Silva.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for New Jersey republicans to make outrageously inappropriate, sexist and discriminatory remarks. Hudson County Republican Chair Jose Arango said of the pick,
“Poor thing,” Arango said of SEIU 1199 Executive Vice President Milly Silva. “It’s like picking my secretary.”
In this day and age it is long past time for two women to share a ticket. And they should be treated with the respect any woman deserves. But Mr. Arango’s repulsive comments went on.
“She’s a very nice person. The union likes her, but even in the union she’s vice president. She hasn’t been a committeewoman. It’s like the guy in CVS with no expertise who suddenly gets promoted to pharmacist. It’s like the guy saying, ‘I work at CVS, I can be the pharmacist.’”
Mr. Arango’s comments are an insult to accomplished women everywhere who deserve to be treated with respect. As Barbara said, “The next time Mr. Arango thinks about demeaning a woman's achievement, maybe he'll remember the mothers and sisters and daughters across New Jersey who deserve better than his condescension and disrespect.”
We are calling on Gov. Christie to demand Mr. Arango resign and send a clear message that women in New Jersey deserve as much respect as their male counterparts.
Mr. Arango’s rhetoric exemplifies how out-of-touch the Republican Party is with women in New Jersey. Despite the outcry, Governor Christie still has not called for Mr. Arango's resignation or denounced his comments. Will Chris Christie allow leaders of his party to level these outrageous attacks on his behalf?
It's wrong - and Barbara and Milly are standing up.
Thanks for reading - leave questions for us in the comments and I will try to answer them.
- Jonathan
PS: Here are a few quotes from New Jersey's leaders about our pick.
Senator Robert Menendez: “I think she’s a great choice...Milly obviously has a background in government (as a labor leader), but from the outside. She has worked on numerous state issues and I have worked with her on federal issues. She’s a great organizer and will serve the ticket well.” (Politicker NJ, 7/26/2013)
Newark Mayor Cory Booker: "@CoryBooker: I know her well. She is a pretty amazing person in all respects RT@dgolabek: Any thoughts on senator buono's selection of milly silva as LG" (Twitter, 7/29/2013)
Daniel Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Silva looked like a raw, but real, political talent." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/30/2013)