Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke offered a demure response to reprehensible comments from DNC chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.), who summoned imagery of domestic violence to attack Burke's opponent, Gov. Scott Walker (R.).
"Scott Walker has given women the back of his hand," Wasserman Schultz said. "I know that is stark. I know that is direct. But that is reality."
"What Republican tea party extremists like Scott Walker are doing is they are grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back," she continued. "It is not going to happen on our watch."
Once Wasserman Schultz’s comments went public, Republican Lieutenant Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch called on Burke to denounce Wasserman Schultz’s tasteless and offensive attacks.
I'm calling on @Burke4WI to denounce the sick and disgusting comments of @dwstweets http://t.co/0Pp7xQJpmO
— Rebecca Kleefisch (@RebeccaforReal) September 3, 2014
Via the Journal-Sentinel:
Stephanie Wilson, Burke's press secretary, suggested in a statement that Wasserman Schultz's comments went too far.
"That's not the type of language that Mary Burke would use, or has used, to point out the clear differences in this contest," Wilson said.
Wilson added, "There is plenty that she and Governor Walker disagree on — but those disagreements can and should be pointed out respectfully."
The DNC was left to clean up the mess the mistake-prone congresswoman left behind.
Lily Adams, DNC deputy communications director, said in a statement, "Domestic violence is an incredibly serious issue and the Congresswoman (Wasserman Schultz) was by no means belittling the very real pain survivors experience."