No Room
For Insults.
Elaine Pelino is the clear front-runner in the Republican primary for Governor - leading 42% to 17% in the recent UNH poll. But when that lead came up on the Tara Granahan show, Aaron Guckian didn't respond with policy - he responded with insults about her age and her looks. Even the host warned him he was veering into sexism. Rhode Island Republicans should win on ideas, not by demeaning a woman. Tell RIGOP Chairman Allyn Meyers to condemn these ageist and sexist remarks.
Hear It For Yourself
Aaron Guckian's own on-air remarks about Elaine Pelino, from the Tara Granahan show. Tap play.
Email Chairman Allyn Meyers
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“ In His Own Words
From Aaron Guckian's July appearance on the Tara Granahan show, when the discussion turned to Elaine Pelino:
“She's 72 years old and she goes on Facebook and it's like the curious case of Benjamin Button… She's trying to show that she looks like she's 35 or 40.” - Aaron Guckian
“Uh, oh - be careful now. You're gonna get… the sexism… Oh, boy.” - Host Tara Granahan, warning him on air
“Look, she's 72 … and she was a beauty queen and that was great and I give her a lot of credit for that, but…” - Aaron Guckian
Asked about a candidate who is leading the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, this is what Aaron Guckian chose to talk about - not jobs, not taxes, not Rhode Island. Her age. Her Facebook photos. Her looks.
⚑ Why This Matters
Elaine Pelino is the front-runner in the Republican primary for Governor - leading 42% to 17% in the recent UNH poll. When that lead came up on the Tara Granahan show, Aaron Guckian didn't make his case to voters. He mocked her age, compared her Facebook photos to "the curious case of Benjamin Button," and brought up her looks. The host herself stopped him to warn he was sliding into sexism.
That is not the conservative movement. Our party stands for merit, respect, and ideas - not cheap personal attacks on a woman running to serve. When the RIGOP nominee resorts to ageist and sexist insults against a fellow Republican, party leadership has a duty to say so.
President Trump is older than Elaine Pelino and sharp as a tack. Age is not a disqualification - and it should never be used as a weapon inside our own party.
- Condemn Aaron Guckian's ageist and sexist remarks
- Keep the RIGOP focused on issues, not insults
- Respect the women who lead and build our party
- Hold every candidate to a standard of merit and decency
Elaine Pelino here