A panel on MSNBC came under fire over the weekend for belittling Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida.
The panelists, including former Republican Rep. David Jolly and Tara Setmayer, a member of the Lincoln Project, resorted to name-calling and derogatory remarks instead of engaging with the political themes presented in a new DeSantis campaign ad.
Jolly referred to Casey DeSantis as "America's Karen," a term used to describe a specific type of middle-class white woman who exhibits behaviors stemming from privilege. Setmayer, on the other hand, compared her to a character from Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale," suggesting that she was a "Serena Waterford wannabe."
The insults hurled at Casey DeSantis were met with swift backlash from Gov. Ron DeSantis, Megyn Kelly, and others who criticized the panelists for their intolerance towards strong conservative women. They argued that the attacks on Casey DeSantis were not only disrespectful but also indicative of a fear of her effectiveness as a mother, a wife, and a politician.
In response to the criticism, Gov. DeSantis defended his wife, stating that she is an incredibly strong first lady who advocates for families and children. He emphasized that the attacks from MSNBC only serve to highlight the threat that Casey DeSantis poses to the left, as her message resonates with parents across the political spectrum.
Megyn Kelly also weighed in on the controversy, pointing out the hypocrisy of the panelists and the media's treatment of Republican wives. She argued that if similar insults were directed at a left-leaning woman, the commentators would be outraged by the rampant misogyny. Kelly suggested that the reason for the vitriol towards Casey DeSantis is that she is perceived as a threat.
The attacks on Casey DeSantis are not isolated incidents. Last month, the executive editor of the Daily Beast targeted her in a deranged rant, calling her "the Walmart Melania" and suggesting that she could never embody the class and elegance of Michelle Obama or Dr. Jill Biden. These insults, along with the recent comments from the MSNBC panel, highlight a pattern of mistreatment towards conservative women in the media and political establishment.
The backlash against the MSNBC panelists' insults has been widespread. Sen. Mike Lee criticized their behavior as classless and consistent with the network's mistreatment of former first lady Melania Trump. He argued that MSNBC has become the unscrupulous media arm of the Democratic Party.
While MSNBC recently provided tips on countering misogyny, their own panelists' behavior towards Casey DeSantis demonstrates a lack of respect for women based on their political affiliation. The attacks on her character and accomplishments are not only unfair but also undermine the progress toward gender equality.
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