* Press release…
On the 45th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, State Rep. Dwight Kay continued his long-standing attacks on women. After publicly suggesting women who use birth control are immoral, Dwight Kay’s latest attack on women suggests his opponent, educator Katie Stuart, isn’t even capable of driving a car. Kay’s piece portrays Stuart as a smiling passenger helping “navigate” while a man drives the vehicle.
“Dwight Kay continues to treat women like second-class citizens,” Stuart said. “Dwight Kay has repeatedly failed to stand up for women’s rights, putting corporate profits over equality in the workplace by voting against equal pay protections, voting against requiring insurance companies to cover birth control, and failing to support programs that protect women and their health, such as life-saving breast cancer screenings, domestic violence shelters and services for victims of sexual assault. So his latest stunt is just a continuation of his pattern of disrespect and outright scorn for women.”
Kay’s attacks on women date all the way back to his first year in office, when he voted against holding corporations accountable for failing to pay women equal pay for equal work, and reached a highpoint earlier this year when Kay made radically out of touch comments when debating a bill requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of birth control. “I seriously question how much promiscuity should an insurance company pay (for),” Kay said during debate on the bill in April.
Soon after, Kay voted multiple times against critical funding for life-saving breast cancer screenings, domestic violence shelters and victims of sexual assault. Continuing to show his lack of respect for women, Kay voted three times against a bill allowing women who are victims of domestic violence to take additional time off work to seek medical care, legal assistance and put their lives back together.
“On the 45th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, Representative Kay continued his unrelenting attack on women,” Stuart said. “The people of the 112th district deserve better than having a misogynist representing them in Springfield.”
* The mailer…
* React…
Kay said there was no sexist intent in the ad — only a goal of showing that Madigan’s tenure has hurt downstate and the rest of Illinois, and that Stuart would be beholden to Madigan. Kay said he wonders if Stuart would be happy if the ad depicted Stuart serving as Madigan’s driver.
“If it would make her feel better to switch drivers, we could certainly do that,” Kay said. “Would she prefer to have the places switched? And have her chauffeuring around Speaker Madigan, who certainly is supporting her? Maybe that’s something we should do; maybe that’s a good thought.” […]
Kay said Sunday he will be issuing a challenge to Stuart, asking her to sign a pledge that she won’t vote for Madigan to serve as the House speaker if she’s elected.
Kay said Stuart’s criticism of the mailer is an attempt to “gin up interest in a campaign that’s failing.”
“I care about and respect all women, men and children I serve as state representative. For my opponent to say otherwise is wrong,” Kay said.
That’s a pretty good pivot by Kay (who is advertising on the fairly expensive St. Louis radio station KMOX at last check). Your thoughts?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 10:55 am:
===“If it would make her feel better to switch drivers, we could certainly do that,” Kay said. “Would she prefer to have the places switched? And have her chauffeuring around Speaker Madigan, who certainly is supporting her? Maybe that’s something we should do; maybe that’s a good thought…===
“And have her chauffeuring around Speaker Madigan, who certainly is supporting her?”
If this was a Kay that thought of this pivot, yikes that wicked good.
If a Staffer gave Kay this pivot, the Staffer won the day.
That’s probably as good as can be done with that, probably the best that could be done.
Restaurant-Quality doesn’t do it justice.
- Anon - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 10:57 am:
Maybe Stuart should put out a mailer that shows a very tall person walking away with a big pile of money on the nightstand.
- Birdseed - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 10:58 am:
Stuart’s long-winded press release is a real stretch.
- illini - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:03 am:
This is only the beginning —- keep a close look at the Griffin - Bryant race as well!
- Touré's Latte - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:05 am:
Ms. Stuart managed to hit several “Turn Off” buttons for me, all in the opening paragraph. So, from my cheap seat it looks like a Kay D-/F+ hit piece that turns off voters, and a Stuart boilerplate response to turn off even more.
- Very fed up - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:08 am:
Should be a pretty easy pledge for Stuart to sign if she is running to represent the wishes of her district.
- walker - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:09 am:
Those criticisms of Kay’s record might be legit in some message, but using this ad as your launching point was stupid. Advantage Kay.
- SOIL M - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:09 am:
Perhaps all Dems in this end of the State could honor the 45th anniversay of Womens Equality Day and distance themselves from anyone who is abusive to women by refusing campaign donations and returning donations made by people who assault women. But that wont happen.
- x ace - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:15 am:
Putting “Madigan” Label on the “Metro East Machine” is an Insult to the Real Madison/St. Clair Power Brokers.
- Jackie - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:17 am:
Stuart’s attack would be comical if it weren’t so pathetic.
- Belle - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Wow.
Scary.
It’s very disappointing to consider that a political representative in IL would harbor this kind of disrespect for people.
- AC - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:19 am:
I always wondered what the machine was, now I know, it’s a red Nissan Versa. Good on Madigan for not driving a flashy car, and for carpooling. From both of their expressions, Madigan appears to be telling a rather funny joke, delivered deadpan, Bob Newheart style.
Seriously, I have to wonder how effective these mailers are, and if they have the intended effect.
- JS Mill - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:23 am:
Will Kay sign a pledge not to take money directly of indirectly from Rauner?
Or a pledge not to vote lockstep with Rauner? Will the entire ILGOP do this?
Pretty easy pledges to sign if Kay is representing the wishes and people of his district.
Kay set his own trap if Stuart campaign is savvy enough, but it does not look that way.
- Anon - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:31 am:
I can send you a picture of an identical mailer that the Republicans sent in 115th race.
If it was intended to be misogynist or represents misogyny, it’s at a higher level than Kay (who for some reason is defending a mailer that was likely sent by the state party)
- Collinsville Kevin - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:36 am:
It’s my district, and I’d vote for a yellow dog over the pathetic Mr. Kay. But once again it looks like the Dems have fielded a weak candidate.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:54 am:
==- AC - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:19 am:==
Mike Madigan and the 31 MPG he controls.
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:57 am:
The problem is any attack ad talking about her will be played as an attack on women. The playbook is set very simply. Women account for 50+% of the electorate and saying that a man hates women will resonate.
The hit against Kay was too long and most won’t read the whole hit. Should dial it down to three sentences and end it there. Much more effective.
Kay’s response was perfect, considering anything or any attack he makes will be played as sexist no matter what. Be ready Rep. Kay this is how it will go for the next 70 days. You hate women, real or not real, that’s where the entire game begins and ends. That’s what’s going to be said against you, everyday all day.
- Annonin' - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 11:57 am:
Easiest way to help Dwight keep his pledge is to send him back to that little desk at the truckin’ company full time.
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
that car piece is a visual dog whistle. between that and “she doesn’t look presidential” my day is not going well.
- Get a Job!! - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 12:03 pm:
I’m sure this press release & the previous ads are all just painting the picture of Kay as a misogynist. That’ll make the ad about Kay accosting a female house staffer even more affective by tying all 3 ideas together in the voters minds.
- BIG R. Ph - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
I have gotten about 15 mailers from Ms. Stuart and funny how none of them mention the fact that she is a DEMOCRAT.
If you are too ashamed to even mention that then this is not even a issue.
- Deft Wing - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 12:26 pm:
Would a ringing endorsement from Rep Ives satisfy everyone that Rep Kay is cool with women?
- GA Watcher - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
BIG R. Ph: I’ts very common place these days that candidates don’t mention their party affiliations. Saw a couple of commercials over the weekend for Seth Lewis who is running for State Senate. The commercials don’t mention which party he belongs to or for which Senate district he is running.
- Honeybear - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 1:26 pm:
Good clean hit Kay, good clean hit. Although we’ve already said yard signs don’t vote, I’d like to point out that Glen Carbon is AWASH in Stuart signs. I’m not sure if all the money for the signs and staff is coming from Madigan or maybe (pinky to the corner of the mouth) it’s Labor, or SIUE folks, or social service people…..who could it be? Kay has a long list of enemies at this point. A long list of people that Rauner has hurt. Rauner is writing Kay big checks. Sure he’s gonna outspend Stuart. But I have yet to see Kay or any of his people out here on the streets or driveways of his district. I’ve seen 2 cheap KAY signs so far. He might be a silver tongued politician and score the verbal points. But with all the people Rauners hurt and Kay voting in perfect lock step. Well….we shall see.
- AlfondoGonz - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 1:28 pm:
Kay may have won the day, but he is most certainly a misogynist.
- Deft Wing - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
Kay “might be a silver tongued politician…”
Huh? You must have missed every single example of Kay’s awful oration “skills” on the House floor, Honeybear. Kay is a human gaffe machine.
- Honeybear - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
I was speaking of the times heard him speak in his district.
- Highland Il - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
As a Republican, I for one am glad to know that Rep. Kay has signed the pledge and will NOT be voting for Mike Madigan as Speaker of the House. /s
- NoNews - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
If I was Stuart, this is not the way I would have used the ample ammunition that Kay has provided on women’s issues. Or rather, not the way I would have wasted that ammo. Bungled!
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Aug 29, 16 @ 4:55 pm:
Nissan Versa? Madigan drives a foreign car? Scandalous!
I would have tweaked the piece just a bit by having Chuck Goudie in the background chasing the car.