Washington • Rep. Mark Walker, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, referred to Republican women as “eye candy” during a news conference Tuesday outside of the Capitol.
While lamenting the lack of progress on important issues like tax reform, health care and border security made by the Republicans in government, Walker said it was incumbent on the RSC to do more.
“We must become more vocal and visible. The accomplished men and women of the RSC and women — if it wasn’t sexist, I would say the RSC eye candy; we’ll leave that out of the record — are not attention-seekers. In fact many of them prefer to work behind the scenes in the process of what we call effective conservatism. However, we have no other alternatives to move in a more pro-active manner,” Walker said.
Walker’s comment came before television cameras and dozens of assembled media.
The RSC is the largest caucus in the House and includes 157 members and 17 of 20 committee chairmen. The group includes Diane Black and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Mia Love of Utah. The women were near Walker when he made his comments.
Walker represents North Carolina’s 6th District, which includes Greensboro. He was a Baptist pastor for nearly two decades before winning his seat in 2014. Walker easily won re-election in 2016.
Opponents quickly jumped on the comment.
Democrat Ryan Watts, who is running in the 6th District in 2018, sent out a fundraising email with Walker’s comments Tuesday afternoon.