Rep. Tammy Baldwin attacked for dancing at gay pride parade

The political director for her opponent implied it didn't reflect "heartland values"

Published September 7, 2012 10:01PM (EDT)

Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., could become the first openly gay U.S. senator if she wins the election against former Gov. Tommy Thompson. But Thompson's political director implied that a seat filled by Baldwin might not reflect "heartland values."

Baldwin had used the term "heartland values" to describe the contents of her DNC speech, which she delivered Thursday night. Beforehand, Mike Juley of the Milkwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports, Thompson political director Brian Nemoir sent out an email with a video of Baldwin dancing at a gay pride parade in 2010, alongside a fake Wonder Woman. "Clearly, there's no one better positioned to talk ‘heartland values’ than Tammy,” Nemoir wrote in the email.

Here's the video in question:

The Journal-Sentinel asked Nemoir about the email, and he replied: “I think there are issues in this race that are extremely significant that will be generated on a day-to-day basis and I look forward to coverage of those issues.”


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2012 Elections Democratic National Convention Tammy Baldwin Tommy Thompson Wisconsin