Fifty Democratic congresswomen have signed a scathing open letter that calls out President Donald Trump over his âcontinuing derogation of womenâ in his rhetoric and policies.
The members of the Democratic Womenâs Caucus cited some of Trumpâs most troubling comments about women â including his hot-mic boast about sexual assault on the 2005 âAccess Hollywoodâ bus ride â before noting âit is most shameful that the words young girls and boys hear directed at women from the upper echelons of power are dripping with disdain and disrespect.â
âBeyond your public policy choices â stripping away womenâs access to health care, undermining protections for survivors of sexual assault, reversing equal pay efforts and more â your words demonstrate a contempt for women who dare to do their jobs or speak truth to power which reflects poorly on you,â the group wrote, suggesting âit is as if you relish the opportunity to publicly humiliate any woman who fights back, speaks up, or takes up space.â
The lawmakers claimed âthe message being sent to young girls and boys is that women donât matter and their equality is allowable only when convenient,â citing Secretary of State Mike Pompeoâs ridiculing of NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly for asking questions about the Ukraine scandal as a recent case in point.
âMr. President, instead of being the biggest bully on the playground, why donât you set a moral example for our children?â concluded the letter that Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) shared on Twitter:
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) shared the letter with the message, âWords matter.â âThe Occupantâs misogynistic rhetoric is equally as disturbing as the misogynistic, anti-women policies coming out of his administration on a daily basis,â she added.