And Idaho state representative had to apologize today after saying that he was against accepting federal funds for Kindergarten preparation programs because it might free up moms to step foot outside of the house now and again.
Advertisement
Hide
The representative, Charlie Shepherd, is of course a Republican, and is giving people serious “barefoot and pregnant” kind of conservative vibes.
Advertisement
Hide
“I don’t think anybody does a better job than mothers in the home, and any bill that makes it easier or more convenient for mothers to come out of the home and let others raise their child, I don’t think that’s a good direction for us to be going,” he said.
Shepherd is now saying that he meant this as a compliment. He claims that he was simply trying to say that mothers are the best at raising children, and therefore voted against accepting $6 million in federal grants that would give more moms the option of accessing early education programs.
Advertisement
Hide
Of course, as a Republican, we’re guessing that Shepherd would not support mandatory paid maternity leave or anything else that would actually help moms care for their children.
It’s also curious that he apparently thinks that Kindergarten prep programs are akin to letting someone else raise your child, but is against closing public schools during a deadly pandemic. In February, Shepherd voted in favor of a bill that “prohibits public health districts from closing schools or programs as relating to COVID-19.”
Even Shepherd had to admit that his statement on the Kindergarten prep bill sounded offensive and “even sexist.”
Advertisement
Hide
“I stand before you now to admit that I failed miserably,” he said. “After hearing my remarks played back, I recognize how my remarks sounded derogatory or offensive and even sexist towards the mothers of this state. In no way, I in no way meant to insult, in no way meant to insinuate that mothers that work outside the home were at any fault in any way.”
The bill to accept the grant money failed 34-36, with opposition leaders claiming that the bill was somehow about “social justice” rather than giving kids from poor families a fighting chance.
Advertisement
Hide
“I think we need to talk about social justice ideology — that’s what you’re voting for, you’re voting for social justice ideology to be given, through grant money, to our little ones,” said Republican Rep. Priscilla Giddings.
Make her apologize, too.
*First Published: March 3, 2021, 2:39 pm
0 Comments