DNC chairwoman Wasserman Schultz compares Gov. Scott Walker to a domestic abuser

On Wednesday, Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz used some fairly graphic language to describe Republican Gov. Scott Walker during a visit to Wisconsin.

"Scott Walker has given women the back of his hand," Wasserman Schultz said at a roundtable discussion in Milwaukee on women's issue, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "I know that is stark. I know that is direct. But that is reality." She added: "What Republican Tea Party extremists like Scott Walker are doing is they are grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back. It is not going to happen on our watch."

In response, Republican Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch said she was "shocked" that Wasserman Schultz used language that would normally describe domestic violence, in reference to Walker: "I think the remarks were absolutely hideous and the motive behind them was despicable."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The campaign of Walker's Democratic opponent, businesswoman Mary Burke — whom Wasserman Schultz was attempting to boost — distanced themselves from the comments. "That's not the type of language that Mary Burke would use, or has used, to point out the clear differences in this contest," said Burke press secretary Stephanie Wilson, who also added: "There is plenty that she and Governor Walker disagree on — but those disagreements can and should be pointed out respectfully."

The poll in this race have been consistently close for the past few months, and a recent survey even showed Burke narrowly leading Walker among likely voters.