Pat McCrory uses anti-trans scare tactics to bash opponent
Gov. McCrory's new ad features a woman telling viewers she's "horrified" about trans students being treated with respect
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) has rolled out a new campaign ad touting his support of anti-transgender legislation, as he seeks to scare voters into letting him keep his job.
The ad itself is pretty horrible, attacking transgender students who want to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, as well as attacking Attorney General Roy Cooper (D), McCrory’s opponent, for supporting the rights of trans people. It relies on classic right-wing scare tactics, portraying trans people as liars who only want to prey on young girls in the shower.
“At nine, I was molested by a teenager,” says Gina Little, who is featured in the ad. “When I found out that President Obama and Roy Cooper want to force school children to share the same locker room, shower and restroom with someone who claims to be the opposite sex, I was horrified.”
The message? Vote for Cooper and your child will be molested by a transgender person. The reality? Gina Little’s story is unfortunately true — she was molested as a child, which is horrible. But as WRAL reports, it was at the hands of family members, not a trans person trying to have a shower or go to the bathroom.
McCrory’s campaign is exploiting her pain to push an anti-transgender agenda, one that — thanks to anti-trans law HB 2 — has already cost the state millions.
“Governor McCrory knows this is not about discrimination, money or politics,” Little continues. “He’s standing up for us under extreme pressure and doing what’s right. Our governor is on our side.”
Unfortunately, the state isn’t on the governor’s side. Polls throughout August have consistently shown Cooper beating McRory by as much as nine points. Voters also disagree that HB 2 has achieved Republican goals of making the state “safer” by banning trans people from public accommodations consistent with their gender identity. Just 32% of people support HB 2, and only 28% think it’s actually helping the state.
“North Carolinians are pretty clear that HB2 is about discrimination and is harming our economy,” said Rep. Chris Sgro (D), executive director of Equality NC. “The governor is resorting to scare tactics as he sees himself trailing on this and other issues.”
Watch the ad below:
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