Silly Season for McSally

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Did you know that the age old phrase "a recipe for disaster" is sexist? Neither did I.

The apparent theory is that if this age old phrase is applied to a woman, in this case Tea-Publican candidate for CD2 Martha McSally, that it somehow conjurs up a sexist stereotype of Betty Crocker, a homemaker cooking in the kitchen for her family.

I thought Tea-Publicans were pro-family who value stay-at-home moms and treat homemakers with the dignity and respect they deserve for their contributions to society?

Somehow Martha McSally finds them offensive and "sexist." It doesn't fit the "leader" and fighter pilot "warrior" image she wants to portray to the public.  "I was too busy shooting at al-Qaida with my 30 mm (attached to her A-10 jet) and eating at the chow hall to be spending time in the kitchen," said McSally. Stay-at-home moms should take note of the condescension dripping from that statement. AZ/DC Blog - McSally calls ad targeting her "sexist": 

The ad from House Majority PAC features photos of cooking and recipes, calling McSally's positions a "recipe for disaster." The political action group supports the re-election of Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Barber in southern Arizona's District 2.

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House Majority PAC spokesman Andy Stone disputed McSally's claim that the ad is sexist. He said no one has asked the group to retract the ad.

"While House Majority PAC has the utmost respect for McSally, her service and sacrifice, the bottom line is McSally holds positions that are way out of touch with southern Arizona and would be disastrous for families, seniors and the middle class," Stone said.

The ad that McSally finds "sexist" is below the fold. Just out of curiosity, if this same ad was made for a male candidate, as it probably is elsewhere in the country, is it still sexist? This is the "silly season" in which losing campaigns focus on distraction issues like this rather than on the substance of their losing positions.

The Arizona Democratic Party has been sending out what they call the "Martha McKelly Report" comparing Martha McSally to Tea Party darling Jesse Kelly (this attempt to be clever is too cute by half). Whatever. Volume I of the "Martha McKelly Report" contains the facts supporting the ad.

The Martha McKelly Report, Volume I: Gutting Medicare

PHOENIX, AZ—Welcome to the first volume of The Martha McKelly Report, a new resource from the Arizona Democratic Party. In the ensuing reports, we will demonstrate that Martha McSally’s views are out of step with voters on every major issue important to Southern Arizonans, and in lockstep with Tea Party darling Jesse Kelly.

Martha McSally herself put it best in a debate earlier this year with Jesse Kelly: “When it comes to the issues… [We] have very similar philosophies… We’re preaching to the choir here.” [SaddleBrooke Debate, 3/14/12]

As we kick off the general election campaign for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, this inaugural edition of The Martha McKelly Report looks at Jesse Kelly’s and Martha McSally’s support for the Paul Ryan Budget Plan that would gut Medicare and force seniors to pay more for health care.

Kelly wanted to work toward eliminating Medicare. Tucson Weekly asked Jesse Kelly if he would look to eliminate Medicare over time so that people would be responsible for their own health care. Kelly responded, “Yes.” [Tucson Weekly, 12/02/09]

In 2010, Kelly said he supported the Ryan Budget Plan “100%.” Kelly stated his support for the 2010 Ryan Roadmap, saying, “Rep. Paul Ryan’s Roadmap for America’s Future has excellent ideas…I back it 100%.” [The Arizona Daily Star, 8/03/10 / Tucson Meet and Greet, 8/17/10]

McSally called the 2012 Paul Ryan Budget Plan a “good step.” McSally said she “would have voted for” Ryan’s plan, and later described it as a “good step” for the country. [KGUN, 4/9/12 Green Valley Republican Club Debate, 4/12/12]

The plan that McSally supports would gut Medicare and raise costs for seniors. According to the Wall Street Journal, the 2012 Ryan budget plan would “essentially end Medicare” and could force seniors to pay up to $6,400 more for health care. [Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11 / Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/7/11] 

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Rep. Paul Ryan was also the source of George W. Bush's drive to privatize social security that the public rejected by electing large majorites of Democrats to Congress in 2006 ans 2008. Support for Rep. Paul Ryan is support for the privatization of social security and "vouchers" to end Medicare as we know it.

UPDATE: House Majority PAC launched the "recipe" ad Tuesday as part of a $150,000 television buy. The DCCC canceled advertisement buys in three House races where the party’s nominee is on a clear path to victory. DCCC Cancels Three Weeks of Buys in Seats It Feels Are Safe. In Arizona’s 2nd district, the DCCC canceled $85,000 worth of  Tucson broadcast television. Rep. Ron Barber (D) faces retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally (R) in this district, which Roll Call rates as Likely Democratic.

UPDATE: The NRCC has decided to piss away its money on this CD2 race. The Tucson Weekly reports, Air War: NRCC Will Spend a Quarter-Million Bucks To Boost McSally Against Barber: National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Daniel Scarpinato
confirms that the NRCC has reserved $255,000 in air time to boost
McSally's Southern Arizona campaign. The TV campaign begins Friday, Oct.
5 and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 18.

Note: Reserved time is not the same thing as actual ad buys. This is a head fake. The NRCC will quickly move its money to districts where it has an actual chance to win.