Milbank: Republicans kiss votes from women goodbye
McAllister, called the Duck Dynasty congressman because of his defense of the Robertson familys Christian values, issued a statement asking for forgiveness from God, his family, his staff and constituents, and he declared that he still plans to run for reelection. And the woman, a part-timer paid less than $22,000 a year who also received $300 from McAllister to clean out his campaign office? She was terminated as the story broke, the congressmans chief of staff told another Louisiana paper.
It takes chutzpah to observe Equal Pay Day by sacking the low-wage employee youve been snogging.
Thus did Eric Cantor, the House majority leader, find himself fielding a question about McAllister at a news conference that was meant to highlight the partys pro-women efforts. Im glad he issued an apology, Cantor said, reserving further judgment on whether the kissing congressman, who has been in office for less than five months, should quit.
Republicans arent responsible for McAllister any more than Democrats are to blame for Anthony Weiners weirdness. But for Republicans, who have a big disadvantage among unmarried women, this reinforces a perception. The Democrats accusation of a GOP war on women sticks not because of what Democrats say but because of what Republicans do and the big problems arent personal pratfalls but rather public policy.
In his news conference, Cantor repeatedly called on Democrats to put the politics aside and talk with Republicans about things that we can do together, things that disproportionately impact women, without playing politics.
In the Senate, where Democrats were daring Republicans to vote against equal-pay legislation, Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is likely to face a female Democratic challenger in November, told Democrats to drop all the show votes.
Democrats are indeed making partisan attempts to embarrass Republicans on issues important to women. The coordinated actions being taken, including President Obamas signing of executive orders Tuesday to expose pay disparities by gender among federal contractors, are largely symbolic. The disparity is stubborn. According to the American Enterprise Institute, the 229 women who work in the White House are paid 88 cents on the dollar compared with the 232 men who do, a finding not disputed by the administration.
But when one side complains that the other is playing politics, its a safe bet that those doing the complaining are losing. Cantor and McConnell dont seem to grasp that the war-on-women accusations arent made in a vacuum; they gain traction because of proposals Republicans are advancing.
Consider Paul Ryans budget, which the House is debating this week. Among those functions of government the Republican congressman from Wisconsin would cut, many disproportionately benefit women, according to the National Womens Law Center.
For example, Medicaid (about 70 percent of adult recipients are women), food stamps (63 percent of adult recipients are women) and Pell grants (62 percent) would be cut. Then there are programs in categories that would face cuts Ryan hasnt specified: Supplemental Security Income (two-thirds of the poor and elderly recipients are women), welfare (85 percent of adult recipients are women), housing vouchers (82 percent of recipient households headed by women), child-care assistance (75 percent female-headed households) and the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.
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