When it comes to racist behavior and sexual assault, there’s a difference in how Democrats and Republicans handle scandal: Republicans tolerate it.
That’s according to 2020 candidate Pete Buttigieg, who was asked during a stop in Ankeny, Iowa, on Friday about the turmoil engulfing top Democrats in Virginia.
“I don’t mean to congratulate ourselves because we’ve got our issues to work through too, but I would point to the contrast between how the Democratic Party handled allegations of sexual mistreatment among people in our ranks … and what’s going on on the other side of the aisle,” the 37-year-old Indiana mayor said.
“Or when it comes to these disturbing racial relations. The difference between the conversation the Democratic Party is having about the governor of Virginia and the conversation, if any, that the Republican Party is having about people like Steve King. How much will we tolerate?”
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, came under fire last month for racism over statements he made to the New York Times.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, and Attorney General Mark Herring — all Democrats — are facing intense pressure to resign over scandals that emerged in the last week.
Northam and Herring separately admitted to wearing blackface decades ago. After it appeared Northam would give in to calls to resign, Fairfax appeared set to take the reins — until two women accused him of sexual misconduct.
All three Democrats have since been asked to step down, facing the most pressure from those within their own party.
Buttigieg said Democrats, such as former Sen. Al Franken who was accused of groping and kissing women without their permission, have caved to pressure, while Republicans have not forced members to resign.
He pointed to King still being in Congress. Though King faced calls to resign over his remarks on white supremacy, Republicans did vote to remove him from his committee assignments, citing a pattern of inflammatory comments.
“People of conscience need to look at the right thing to do, that will resolve some of these issues, too,” Buttigieg said.
