Scott Fitzgerald is a longtime Republican State Senator from Juneau, Wisconsin. Known as "Big Fitz," he's one of the politicians who's been most active in moving Governor Scott Walker's awful agenda through the legislature, and as a result he's facing a recall election. His opponent is 41-year-old Lori Compas, a freelance photographer and writer who hails from from Fort Atkinson. Understandably, Fitzgerald is not happy to be faced with losing his seat, but instead of fighting to prove he's worthy of continuing to represent the people of his district, he's spending his time being a whiny, sexist pig by insulting his Compas's motives for running.
Fitzgerald almost didn't find himself in this position. The Democrats hadn't originally planned on challenging him because his seat looked too solid, but Compas stepped in and decided to do it more or less on her own because she was so disgusted with Fitzgerald's actions and his alliance with Walker. She's facing an uphill battle; he's leading her 54 percent to 40 percent, according to the latest poll. Still, Compas is working hard and fighting the good fight. She has a friendly, open personality, and her husband, Eric, is a professor at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. They hardly seem dangerously liberal or evil in any way, yet Fitzgerald is doing his best to undermine Compas's wholesome, capable persona. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, this what he thinks of Compas's campaign:
Fitzgerald said he doesn't buy Compas' Pollyanna image. He knows some people are painting the race as a David-vs.-Goliath contest. But Fitzgerald said he thinks her husband is one of the main forces behind her campaign, as well as unions and protest groups.
"I don't for one minute believe she is the organizing force behind this whole thing," he said.
Oh, lord. Yes, because no woman would ever decide to run on her own. She'd definitely need a big strong man behind her, using her as a cute little puppet to perpetrate his evil, socialist agenda. Spare us, Big Fitz.
Compas, for her part, was "audibly stunned" when she was told what Fitzgerald had said—and rightly so because this is 2012, after all, when we're at least supposed pretend that we think women are fully-functioning adults. Compas said,
That is pretty insulting, but it does seem in keeping with his general views on women. He doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for them. That's OK; he can keep underestimating me.
She also added that if Fitzgerald really thinks she's such a joke, he shouldn't be too scared to face her in a debate.
I have challenged him to five debates. If he thinks I can't handle myself, he should come out and face me.
Your move, big guy.
Senate recall challenge by Compas is giving 'Fitz' fits [Wisconsin State Journal]