Your Sexism Is Showing
Maybe New Mexico State Senator Eric Griego isn’t aware of his latent sexism, but his complete disregard for the legitimacy of one of his female primary challengers is sexist, plain and simple. In advocating for his candidacy, Griego tells The New Mexico Telegram:
“If you’re a conservative and you want a Democrat who is really kind of conservative, [Martin Chavez] is your guy…In my case, if you want someone who’s progressive, who stands for the Democratic Party, I’m your guy. But at least you know what you get; you know what you’re voting for. Michelle [Lujan-Grisham], she’s just this enigma, she’s a real enigma. And I think that’s the tricky part for voters.”
So the conservative Democrat is legitimate because he’s more conservative than Griego, but Lujan-Grisham, well she’s just uncertain. Never mind her years of public service. Lujan-Grisham was appointed by two governors to head the New Mexico State Agency of Aging, served as the first Secretary of Aging and Long Term Services, led the New Mexico Department of Health and served as Bernalillo County Commissioner. She essentially has devoted her career to health care, specifically for the elderly, but Griego says she’s an “enigma.” By these standards, women like Elizabeth Warren or Hillary Clinton would have “no record” as they kicked off their run for U.S. Senate. By ignoring Lujan-Grisham’s long record in New Mexico and instead calling her a mystery, Griego is not only being dishonest, he is denying her accomplishments and her legitimacy as a candidate. That’s sexist.
Published by Kate McCarthy on 03/26/2012