It's really hard to fathom this degree of sexism still residing in a public servant in 2019. But then, this is a Virginia Republican state senator we're talking about. In a radio interview, Sen. Bryce Reeves said of his Democratic opponent Amy Laufer: "Last time I looked my opponent's not working day to day. She stays at home. And you know she's lucky enough she has a husband that provides all that stuff. But I’m working everyday. And I work hard for the money that we earn." In other words, she's a lazy gold-digger sponging off her husband and eating bon-bons while watching soap operas all day.
It got worse, because of course it did. He ranted on about how this is the "same philosophy" that "a government that's big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have." He said her not working is "that mentality right there. What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine." The reality is that Laufer is a former middle school teacher and school board member who is now campaigning full-time. She's also served with the Peace Corps and founded Virginia's List, a state version of EMILYs List. That is quite a lot of work for the public good!
What's fascinating about this is the window it provides into the narrowly controlled Virginia legislature, which was embroiled in one of its biggest fights of the past year and is now facing an election next week. Virginia is on the precipice of being the 38th state to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment. One more state and it can finally happen: A prohibition on sex-based discrimination could be enshrined in the Constitution.
Passage of the ERA is supported by Virginians across party lines, a recent poll from The Washington Post/Schar School found. More than 80% of Virginians are in favor, with 78% of Republicans supporting it. It's so close: "If we flip the House of Delegates, it will probably be ratified in the first week we're back," said state Sen. Scott Surovell, a northern Virginia Democrat and longtime sponsor of ERA-ratification measures. "I say let's just do this," said Carol Jenkins, co-president and CEO of the nationwide ERA Coalition. "We can continue to argue. We will. But let's just make discrimination illegal." And move Virginia into the 21st century.
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