AZGOP spokesman references women by a derogatory epithet, and says it is OK

Aren't spokespeople supposed to talk their employers out of, not into, controversies?

From Channel 3 (KTVK), written by Dennis Welch -

The top spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party didn't like a column published recently in the state's largest newspaper.

So on Monday he slammed the female reporter and another woman quoted in the piece for having what he called a, "bitch session."

Shane Wikfors, the communications director for the state GOP, said there's nothing wrong with using the derogatory term when referring to women.

Wikfors used the term in his response to the column that he disliked, a response posted at Sonoran Alliance, a blog that he created.

From that response (with enough of the text so that Mr. Wikfors and any of his associates can't truthfully complain that it was taken out of context) -

As the spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party, I would have at least expected Ms. Roberts to call and ask a few simple questions about Kathy Petsas’ assertions before going to print, but she didn’t.

And Kathy Petsas never made any attempt to provide any constructive criticism to the State Party. Not surprisingly, I’ve never seen her come to the office to volunteer. Instead, Ms. Petsas ran off to Laurie Roberts and engaged her in a “bitch session.”

Frankly, I’m getting a little tired of people like Kathy Petsas and even some of the political consultants who don’t do a damn thing for their Republican Party. They prefer to stand off in the corner and whine, complain, backstab and do absolutely nothing constructive.

In Welch's article, Wikfors is quoted as defending his use of the term as saying that it is completely acceptable in any corporate boardroom in America.

The fact that the GOP follows the behavioral and moral standards of corporate America isn't surprising; the shamelessly offhanded admission of that by a GOP spokesman is a huge surprise.

They usually aren't that honest, and with this incident, they were honest twice -

First, in expressing their official attitude toward women, particularly those who don't toe the establishment line.

Second, in letting folks officially know from where they draw their behavioral cues.