Politics

Michigan Gov. Whitmer: I Don't Have Time to Go 'Punch for Punch' with GOP Over Sexist Attacks

April 11, 2021, 12:33 PM


Gov. Whitmer on "Face The Nation"

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she's too busy dealing with Covid and the economy to get it into an ongoing fight with Republican leaders who have made misogynistic attacks against her and other top-level female elected state officials.

"I do think that there is a layer of misogyny here that every woman in leadership has been confronting and dealing with to some extent," Whitmer told CBS moderator Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation" Sunday. "I don't have time, though, to focus on that or go punch for punch.

"I'm not going to do that. I've got a job to do and that is helping get my state through this."

Her comments came after Brennan asked if there should be repercussions for GOP leaders making sexist remarks.

Brennan played a video of Michigan GOP Chairman Ron Weiser referring to Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as "those three witches" who should be burned at the stake. She also mentioned that state Sen. Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said the Senate had spanked Whitmer on the budget.

Brennan mentioned that they've apologized, but Whitmer responded:

"I don't know to whom they've apologized. Because I haven't heard from them. I can tell you this, though, sadly in this moment there have been a lot of death theats. We know there was a plot to kidnap and kill me, threats against me and my family."

Asked if she was willing to mandate Covid vaccines for schoolchildren, as was done to combat past disease, Whitmer said that has not been discussed. Pluys, she noted: "I've got a reduced set of powers because of the antagonism from my own legislature."

She defended her Covid policies as numbers have surged in the state.

On Friday, she asked -- rather than mandated -- for a two-week pause on returning to in-person high school classes after spring break, indoor dining and youth sports.

Some applaude that. Others criticize her for not being tougher and mandating those restrictions.  

Asked about the hesistancy of some Detroiters and other  to get vaccines, she danced around the question.  

"The mayor's done an incredible job. And I think he's been wanting to expand the population to whom he can offer vaccines. And so, we have done that. Michigan was the first to heed the Biden administration's call to drop all of the priority groups and make it accessbile for everyone.. .. We have thousands of partners who are ready to put shots in arms. We just need those vaccines to come into Michigan."

► Watch the full interview

Related:

Lengel: Bring Back That Tough, Covid-Fighting Governor from Michigan, April 8



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