If you listen to Democratic elected from local office to federal office, they would tell you that appealing to women voters is critical in winning elections. And, while women can have a lot of varying ideological beliefs, there are a few issues that are overall pretty unifying for one of the largest blocks of voters in America.
You would assume one of those items would be: don’t refer to women as harpies.
But for Kansas State Representative Paul Waggoner (R-Hutchinson) the term seemed A-OK when he was deciding to speak at a Women’s organization in the community he represents.
From the Hutchinson News:
“I have my surgery that morning so I am not likely to do this, but do you think I should ever do this in the future?” Waggoner asked in the April 7 email.
“Since I can speak to liberals and conservatives? Or would this just bring out the Harpies?” Waggoner added.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “harpy” as “a shrewish woman.” The name is based upon a monster from Greek mythology depicted as a bird of prey with a woman’s face.
The organization in question, a Bipartisan group called “Women for Kansas” has said one of their main goals is to recruit women to run for office.