A U.S. congresswoman has called out a local television station for being 'outrageously sexist' after they aired a report Friday analyzing how the legislator becoming a mother would impact her ability to lead.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY 21st District), 37, who is expecting her first child this fall, took to Twitter calling out WCAX Anchor-Reporter Darren Perron over his segment questioning how her pregnancy and anticipated maternity leave would 'impact her role in representing New York's 21st District'.
'Wow. It's 2021. This is a real TV clip aired in #NY21 this evening. A local news station (@wcax) thinks it's appropriate for two male 'journalists/analysts' to question whether a pregnant woman or new mother can effectively legislate in elected office,' she tweeted, including a link to the report.
Stefanik's frustrations were met with support from a colleague.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, pictured last week at a news conference at the Capitol, has called out local news outlet WCAX for being 'outrageously sexist' in a Friday night report analyzing her ability to lead while pregnant and on maternity leave
WCAX Achor-Reporter Darren Perron (left) interviewed SUNY Plattsburgh Political Scientist Harvey Schantz in the report
In the report, Perron interviewed SUNY Plattsburgh Political Scientist Harvey Schantz, asking questions about the logistics of her role in Congress while on leave.
According to Schantz, Stefanik would be able to utilize proxy voting, a process in which members of Congress tell their colleagues how they would vote on a bill and the colleagues announces that to the full House, and attend remote committee hearings and meetings while on leave.
'The people of New York 21 will benefit while she's not at full energy on her job by a Congressional staff. The staff still work to help the district with their district needs,' he said.
Perron also questioned if Stefanik's pregnancy could 'hurt her role' within the Republican party.
Perron (left) asked Schantz questions about the logistics of Stefanik's role in Congress while on leave and if her pregnancy could 'hurt her role' within the Republican party
'At the personal level there's always talking and backstabbing and coalition formation among members of the party,' Schantz argued. 'But it really shouldn't interrupt Stefanik's standing within the party.'
He also cited a situation with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA 5th District), who previously held the House GOP Conference Chair position that Stefanik currently holds, saying that she had three children while in office and 'and she kept that position.'
He also shared that Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) had a child during her first term in office and that her 'margin of victory grew much higher' when she was re-elected to her second term.
Stefanik took to Twitter quoting the report and calling Perron's coverage 'outrageously sexist'
Stefanik argued that the report was 'outrageously sexist', specifically calling out the following verbiage used in the coverage:
- 'as someone who wants to be scarce after having a child and also in the short run up before'
- 'someone who is not up to full time engagement on the floor of the House or the office buildings and committee meetings do their job'
- 'While she's not at full energy at her job'
- 'Her physical absence on Capitol Hill'
'What an outrageous disgrace from two sexist male commentators. Women viewers deserve a full apology from @wcax,' she wrote. 'This is sadly why more women choose not to run for office.'
Stefanik's colleague, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) echoed her claims saying, 'It’s absurd that Elise has to deal with this. Elise continues to show women that they can run, win, and do the job better than anyone as a working mom.'
DailyMail.com has contacted Darren Perron and WCAX for comment.
Rep. Ashley Hinson took to Stefanik's defense saying, 'Elise continues to show women that they can run, win, and do the job better than anyone as a working mom'
Stefanik has served as representative for New York's 21st District since 2015.
In 2014, then-age 30, Stefanik became the youngest woman elected to Congress in history, ABC News reported. She was also the first Republican to win her district.
Prior to becoming a congresswoman, she held several roles in U.S. government including serving on the Domestic Policy Council under George W. Bush's administration and overseeing economic and domestic policy in the chief of staff's office for Josh Bolten.
Stefanik and her husband, Matthew Manda, announced their pregnancy in June.
'We’re absolutely overjoyed to announce that our small family of two will soon be three. We're so excited to share that we are expecting a baby this fall and we cannot wait to meet our precious bundle of joy. Thank you for the warm wishes and prayers from so many. We are truly blessed. - Elise and Matt,' Manda posted on Instagram.
Manda has actively expressed his support for Stefanik on his social media platforms. When she was re-elected last year he called her quote 'the hardest worker I know'.
Stefanik's husband, Matthew Manda, has routinely issued his support for his wife on social media. He announced their pregnancy on Instagram in June (left) and wrote a post calling her the 'hardest worker I know' (right) after she was re-elected in 2020
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