Republican John Kasich Applauds Wives’ Role In Doing Politicians’ Laundry

Republican Gov. John Kasich is deeply in tune with the struggles of women, and he doesn’t want you to forget that while their husbands are out making speeches, shaking hands and kissing babies, political wives are doing the really important work — like laundry.

Kasich, of Ohio, was attempting to give props to the wives of many prominent Republicans in the game right now — but like many of the GOP’s efforts to appeal to women this election cycle, his attempt fell a bit flat in its execution and actually managed to offend some females who like to think that if they were involved in politics, it would be interfacing with the electorate and not laundering socks.

Not that laundry isn’t an important job, there’s just a bit of “get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich … why do you look so annoyed, are we out of bread or something?” male privilege inherent in Kasich’s remark about wives and laundry. The Ohio governor, in his attempt to big up the wives of politicos, said:

“You know, Jane Portman, Karen Kasich, and Janna Ryan, they operate an awful lot of the time in the shadows … It’s not easy to be a spouse of an elected official … You know, they’re at home, doing the laundry and doing so many things while we’re up here on the stage getting a little bit of applause, right? They don’t often share in it. And it is hard for the spouse to hear the criticism and to put up with the travel schedule and to have to be at home taking care of the kids. And where is the politician? Out on the road.”

Of course, there is always Hillary Clinton. And Elizabeth Warren. And Condoleeza Rice. And Susana Martinez. Imagine how hard it is for them to do all the laundry and still manage a high-powered political career.

Did you find Ohio Gov. Kasich’s remarks to be insulting to women?