Liberals are abuzz right now over an alleged gaffe made by John Kasich while campaigning in New York today.
The Ohio governor — who is a father to twin 16-year-old daughters — was asked how he would combat sexual assault on campus as president and ended his answer with: “I’d also give you one bit of advice. Don’t go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol.”
Here’s the video:
Cosmopolitan and the DNC called Kasich’s answer “victim blaming” . To Salon, it was “problematic.” Think Progress wrote that it “perpetuates the disproved myth that there is a direct link between alcohol consumption and rape.”
Claire McCaskill weighed in as well:
Omg. Next he will say it is the way young women dress. Please stop with the victim blaming. https://t.co/LeM9dWfUPG
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) April 16, 2016
But here’s the thing … Kasich isn’t wrong:
Seriously, Kasich's "gaffe" is the first advice my alma mater gives in rape prevention guidelines. https://t.co/Pwd8SPJUdz
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) April 15, 2016
From Northwestern’s guide to “Protect Yourself from Sexual Assault“:
- Be careful about when and where you decide to drink.
- It has been estimated that over 75% of acquaintance rapes involve alcohol and drugs. *
- Use a buddy system for mutual support when you attend parties.
- Watch your drinks at all times.
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Hey, if it’s good enough advice at Northwestern, it’s good enough for us!
@daveweigel People confuse blame with minimizing risk. I tend to think they do so deliberately, when it suits their political convenience.
— Barton Jacka (@bljacka) April 15, 2016
Kasich later took to Twitter to expand on his answer:
Only one person is at fault in a sexual assault, and that's the assailant. 1/3
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 15, 2016
That's why John Kasich has worked so hard to provide campuses with the tools they need to make sure victims have the necessary support. 2/3
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 15, 2016
Victims needs to know we're doing everything we can to have their backs, and that's happening in Ohio under John Kasich's leadership. 3/3
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 15, 2016
OH Alliance to End Sexual Violence thanked Gov. Kasich for providing 1st-ever state funding for rape-crisis centers. https://t.co/pBPITTXf3e
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 15, 2016
And thank you to the Washington Post’s Dave Weigel for pushing back against the narrative:
You are very brave, Dave (serious). You are the first person I have seen push back against the narrative @daveweigel https://t.co/zBXvvvtoyk
— lobsterstyle (@lobsterstyle) April 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/neosween/status/721113439742111747
I'm far from a fan of Kasich, but the TV talking heads are misquoting him unfairly. Looking at you, @hardball https://t.co/6199wcnpKG
— Thomas Farrell (@tomfarrell) April 15, 2016
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Editor’s note: An additional tweet was added to this post.
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