According to Merriam-Webster the definition of sweetheart is “a person you love very much.”
Something tells me that was not the meaning Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker was using when addressing a female Fox 25 reporter Tuesday.
After hearing his condescending remark, I expected an apology from Baker and a campaign email from Martha Coakley denouncing this behavior. Baker did make the apology, but Coakley’s email never turned up. She did tell the Herald yesterday it was an “inappropriate” comment, but that’s it.
She’s trying to stay above the fray. But, in my opinion, now is not the time to hold back. It’s game time! With 41 days until the election, Martha Coakley should make sure every woman voting has seen the video.
Democrats in Massachusetts and nationally are trying to demonize Republicans and remind voters there is a war on women. We know in Massachusetts that the female vote will decide the governor’s race. That’s why this flip comment could backfire on Baker. Hopefully, for him, it will fade away.
Martha Coakley should use it as ammo during debates, TV ads and on the campaign trail reminding voters how Baker talks to women who ask tough questions.
This quote should not disqualify him as a candidate, but it does make you wonder, who is the real Charlie Baker? Would he call another male political reporter “sweetheart”? Probably not. As a woman, does it frustrate me that he spoke down to Sharman Sacchetti? It sure does. But, he owned up to his poor choice in words and apologized to Sacchetti. And let’s not forget our then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama used a similar word toward a female reporter when he ran for president. I don’t remember liberals going crazy over his “sweetie” remark.
The only silver lining for Baker is that Democrats are having a MUCH worse week on women’s issues with Gov. Deval Patrick’s decision to remove two members of the Sex Offender Registry Board. The members wanted Patrick’s brother-in-law to register as a Level 1 sex offender because he had raped his then-estranged wife (Patrick’s sister). In the end, the brother-in-law wasn’t forced to register, which has outraged victims advocates.
Baker should call for an ethics investigation and reassure females that he has their back and marital rape shouldn’t be treated any differently than any other sexual assault.
Jaclyn Cashman co-hosts “Morning Meeting” from 9 a.m. to noon on Boston Herald Radio. Follow her on Twitter at @JaclynCashman.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
