FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2020
MERMELL STATEMENT ON AUCHINCLOSS’S SEXISM IN MA-04 DEBATE
BROOKLINE – Jesse Mermell, candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ Fourth District, issued the following statement in response to Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss’s sexist comments in last night’s debate:
“Another day, another privileged man trying to diminish the accomplishments of a woman. I may be used to this type of demeaning sexism, but I’m sure not going to be silent about it. Yes, I’m proud to be a good communicator and Tweeter. But I’m also proud to have been a twice elected local official, a nonprofit executive, a senior leader in the Governor’s Office and at Planned Parenthood, and a frontline advocate for more than 20 years. I asked a tough and fair policy question in the middle of a debate, and was met with a complete dismissal of my professional record. I’m not going to stand for it, in last night’s debate or in Congress.
“And, by the way, Jake still hasn’t answered my questions about not standing with working people who deserve a higher minimum wage and for supporting one of the most anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+ elected officials in the state. The voters deserve answers and I won’t stop asking tough questions, ever.”
BACKGROUND
- Video of exchange (edited for length) [7/29/20]
- Full debate video [7/29/20]
- Auchincloss opposed a $15/hour minimum wage in Masachusetts, saying higher minimum wages “tend to disproportionately hurt small businesses and help wealthy teenagers.” [Progressive Newton 2017 Municipal Candidate Questionnaire, 2017]. Now that he is running for Congress, he now says he supports the $15/hour minimum wage [2020 Progressive Massachusetts Candidate Questionnaire].
- Auchincloss Donated to Anti-Immigrant, Anti-LGBTQ Republican Sheriff & Mass Republican Party. Auchincloss contributed the maximum amount allowed at the time, $500, to Republican candidate for Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelides in 2014 as well as $85 to the Massachusetts Republican Party in the same year. The donations came after Evangelides took several controversial stands on immigration issues, including supporting the Secure Communities program in opposition to then-Governor Deval Patrick. In 2014, before Auchincloss’ donation, Evangelides also took a well-publicized fact-finding trip to the Mexican border with fellow Republican Sheriff Tom Hodgson that year which was funded by the Federation of American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which has been labeled a hate group with ties to white supremacists by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Massachusetts Republican Party at the time of this donation was leading local efforts to fight Obamacare, promoting ‘traditional marriage’ and opposing access to reproductive health services, including abortion.