Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) invited a radio host who argued years ago that wives should “consent to at least some form of sexual relations as much as possible” to co-host a fundraiser for him on Wednesday in Camarillo, CA.
Dennis Prager will be hosting the $15,200-a-head fundraiser alongside radio host Hugh Hewitt, California insurance executive John Nelson, and CEO of Salem Communications Edward Astinger. The fundraiser was first reported by The Washington Examiner.
In a December 2008 op-ed for National Review and a November 2011 pice for TownHall.com, Prager argued that feminism has created an “awful legacy” for women. He’s also said that one of the “mutual obligation[s]” for a wife is to have sexual relations with her husband.
“Why would a loving, wise woman allow mood to determine whether or not she will give her husband one of the most important expressions of love she can show him? What else in life, of such significance, do we allow to be governed by mood,” Prager wrote in TownHall.com. “What if your husband woke up one day and announced that he was not in the mood to go to work?”
TPM has previously noted that McConnell’s campaign has touted his support for the Violence Against Women Act even though McConnell has repeatedly voted against the legislation.
McConnell’s campaign brushed off questions about Prager co-hosting the fundraiser.
“Sen. McConnell has a long and distinguished record of defending and empowering Kentucky women and he’s proud to run on that record. No one stands stronger for [Kentucky] women than Sen. McConnell,” McConnell spokeswoman Allison Moore said in a statement according to The Hill in response to questions about Prager.
McConnell, should he survive his primary challenge against tea party candidate Matt Bevin, will likely a female candidate in the general election, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D).
Here’s a statement from Grimes campaign spokeswoman Charly Norton on the fundraiser:
Unlike Mitch McConnell who is programmed to vote against women’s interests at every turn, the women of Kentucky are not programmed – they are hardworking people with families who deserve an advocate in Washington. The McConnell campaign is clearly struggling to defend Mitch McConnell’s failed 30-year record against Kentucky women and families. McConnell’s unabashed votes against closing the gender pay gap, raising wages for over 250,000 Kentucky women and the Violence Against Women Act reveal McConnell’s true attitude on the Commonwealth’s women and families.
This post was updated.
