12-05-2023, 06:33 PM
Quote:Riley Gaines appeared in a House hearing on Tuesday, and she left one Democrat congresswoman infuriated. Gaines was testifying on the dangers of men competing against women in sports, something that caused Rep. Summer Lee to accuse her of being "transphobic," a lazy retort if there ever was one.
During her answer, the activist and swimmer fired back at the congresswoman, saying that she was a misogynist for dismissing the concerns of real women. After another witness started their opening statement, Lee suddenly interrupted, demanding that Gaines' comment be stricken from the record.
A lengthy discussion ensued, with Gaines at one point interrupting to address the fact that Lee had first called her "transphobic." Then, after the huddle was over, Lee leaned forward and moved to withdraw the point of order, i.e. her demand to have Gaines' words removed from the record.
This is another example of Democrats being able to dish it out but not being willing to take it. When someone accuses a woman of being "transphobic" for simply believing that men beating up on women in sports is wrong, they should be fair game to the same level of criticism. If Lee doesn't like that, maybe she should keep her lazy insults to herself.
It is not bigotry to believe that women's sports should be protected, both because they represent a space for women to succeed and earn accolades (and scholarships) and because in some sports, the participation of men is physically dangerous. Gaines has put her reputation on the line to stand up for what she thinks is right. If Democrats like Lee disagree with that, they should be expected to make an actual argument backed by data, not just name-call.
Of course, there isn't really an argument to be made, which is why falling back on shrieks of "transphobia" remains the go-to move for those on the left. Is Gaines scared of men competing against women in sports? I'm sure she is. So what? How does that disqualify the points she made? The answer is that it doesn't. Running to claims of bigotry is weak. Keeping men out of women's sports is an entirely rational position.
Congressional members remain some of the least impressive people on the planet. They have inflated egos, and the moment they get embarrassed, they try to use the rules to protect themselves. Lee's attempt to strike Gaines' words was laughable, as was her questioning.
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