Mississippi gubernatorial candidate and Tea Party Republican Robert Foster is in hot water after refusing to let a local female reporter shadow his campaign unless a male colleague was present.
People immediately began accusing Foster of sexism for denying professional, talented women reporters equal access to his campaign on the basis of their sex.
If the initial event wasn't cringeworthy enough, his explanation only made it worse.
As I anticipated, the liberal left lost their minds over the fact I choose not to be alone with another woman. They… https://t.co/jq5DU438EZ— Robert Foster (@Robert Foster) 1562771515.0
Typical liberal Washington Post is now criticizing me for my Christian beliefs. Not surprising, considering they ar… https://t.co/qP7tlaB0m9— Robert Foster (@Robert Foster) 1562780764.0
Once again, the liberal left is attacking someone for their integrity, professionalism, and Christian beliefs. They… https://t.co/oHrQ9MM58s— Robert Foster (@Robert Foster) 1562774063.0
Foster didn't elaborate on how being alone with a woman goes against Christianity.
He later claimed that the refusal was due to a promise he made to his wife.
Before our decision to run, my wife and I made a commitment to follow the “Billy Graham Rule”, which is to avoid an… https://t.co/Jkrlcbt24n— Robert Foster (@Robert Foster) 1562728153.0
Representatives for Foster's campaign said that the optics were too risky; that Foster's opponents could accuse him of having an extramarital affair.
Foster is a fervent supporter of President Donald Trump, whose own extramarital affairs are well-documented.
None of the explanations Foster gave spared him from a roast for the ages.
@RobertFoster4MS 1. You are exercising discrimination. 2. If you can’t trust yourself around women in a professiona… https://t.co/6QNUMRLhzD— Kathleen Schmidt (@Kathleen Schmidt) 1562774885.0
@RobertFoster4MS Shorter version, "I cannot be trusted and I'm emotionally immature so I blame others for my failur… https://t.co/iMc6kAz1EN— Major Havoc, human scum✌ 🆘️ (@Major Havoc, human scum✌ 🆘️) 1562777430.0
@RobertFoster4MS If you have to advertise you are a sexual predator, why shouldn't we point that out?— Elizabeth Rogers (@Elizabeth Rogers) 1562781287.0
@RobertFoster4MS The "liberal left" doesn't have a problem with you loving your wife or following your faith. We ju… https://t.co/7CrgZUASEO— Jeanie Headley (@Jeanie Headley) 1562774021.0
@RobertFoster4MS If your wife doesn’t trust you, why should voters? (Thanks to @AlexandraErin ).— BLUE Weather Tiger (@BLUE Weather Tiger) 1562771690.0
@RobertFoster4MS Why is your marriage so weak that this is necessary?— Kyle 🌱 (@Kyle 🌱) 1562772858.0
@RobertFoster4MS Hell, Franklin Graham doesn't follow Billy Graham Rule, but nice try. https://t.co/n10cBqHYOa— Private Joker, USMC (@Private Joker, USMC) 1562780691.0
Yikes.