After Republican John Kasich started a kerfuffle by saying “women left their kitchens” to support him, “straight news anchor” Megyn Kelly helped smooth things over for him. She also conveniently overlooked Kasich’s recent signing of a bill defunding Planned Parenthood in his state that women might have disliked.
At the beginning of her friendly interview with Kasich last night, Kelly played a clip of his town hall remarks that caused a stir.
KASICH: How did I get elected? I didn’t have anybody for me. We just got an army of people who – and many women who left their kitchens to go out and go door to door and put yard signs up for me all the way back when, you know, things were different.
Kelly quickly moved to let Kasich know that she’s a different kind of woman – at the same time that she also let him know that she’s a pal – with a self-deprecating joke. “I can certainly say that if it were my husband, he’d say, ‘For the love of God, get out of the kitchen! No one wants you in here! You do bad things in here!’” she quipped.
The two shared a chummy chuckle.
Kasich then began his explanation. “Back when I started,” he said, town halls were held in homes. “I have to tell you there’s no question a large part of my career was fueled by women who decided to join the effort and help me to get elected."
Kasich continued by flaunting his pro-woman cred. “But let’s be real about this. You know, my campaign manager is a woman, she used to be my chief of staff and if I’m president, who knows? She’ll have one of the highest positions in the country. I have a lieutenant governor who’s a woman. You know, the situation is, I appointed a lady to the Ohio Supreme Court, you know, obviously a woman. And I’ve a number of very influential women cabinet members.”
Kelly interrupted to gently prod Kasich into specifically acknowledging changes since he got into politics: “Back in 1978, when you first ran for office, 70% of women were not working out of the home, full-time. They just weren’t. The vast majority of women were at home in that year, full-time, and things have changed a lot since then. I assume you know that,” she said, pointedly.
“You know, Megyn, I operate on a high wire,” Kasich replied. “I don’t use a net. I’m not scripted, I don’t have a teleprompter and every once in a while you say something and you know, maybe you didn’t say it exactly the way you should but look, I’m not gonna change that. We’ve had a teleprompter and scripted candidates. It’s time to move on and be real.”
Once again, Kelly signaled that she’s totes sympatico. “Listen, as somebody who has said many stupid things on the air, I can relate,” she said. “I understand. I think you get a pass on a couple. Consistently, then the people have to look at you, but we haven’t heard that many.
Later, she played a Kasich campaign ad and closed by saying, “Great to see you, Governor.”
Yet the woman who claims to be a “straight news anchor” and markets herself as someone who “transcends politics” somehow overlooked Kasich’s actions, which came up at the same town hall: his signing of a bill into law that defunds Planned Parenthood.
As Amy Goodman noted today on Democracy Now:
Although the organization isn’t explicitly named in the legislation, the law prohibits the state health department from contracting with organizations that provide any abortions—or work with those who do. The law will strip Planned Parenthood of $1.3 million in state and federal assistance. Planned Parenthood funds a number of services, including breast cancer screenings, STD testing and programs working to prevent violence against women. State and federal laws already prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to fund abortions, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.
… Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards denounced the bill, saying, quote, “This legislation will have devastating consequences for women across Ohio. John Kasich is proudly eliminating care for expectant mothers and newborns; he is leaving [thousands] without vital STD and HIV testing, slashing a program to fight domestic violence, and cutting access to essential, basic health care,” Richards said.
Yet, with all that talk about women, Kelly didn’t say a word about the role Kasich just played in their health and in trying to manage their bodies.
Watch it above, from the February 22 The Kelly File.
Crossposted at News Hounds.
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