For weeks I have wanted to write about Republican women and I couldn’t merge my scattered thoughts in a way that made any sense. Enter former HP CEO Carly Fiorina and her comments directed towards her GOP primary opponent, Assemblyman Chuck Devore. I’ll get to her comments in a moment, but first I must say that Republican women in politics often behave similarly to Democratic women when it comes to gender identity politics and, in doing so, they do Republican women a disservice.

In case you missed it, on November 23rd, Carly Fiorina, who is running in the GOP primary for US Senate in California, said in reference to Senator Barbara Boxer, “With all due respect and deep affection for white men — I’m married to one — but [Boxer] knows how to beat them. She’s done it over and over and over.”  Aside from the fact that Senator Boxer’s last opponent was an Asian-American, this comment made all my fellow conservative female friends shout collectively: Why does that matter, Carly?

Gender identity politics have become apparent in the Republican party. and not to our advantage.  Strong conservative women see the inherent strength that comes from being a woman. We also see a cheap ploy in female politicians trying to bring male opponents down for their gender alone to inflate themselves.  It cheapens the issues and tries to excuse away the natural strength that we possess.

The reality is, women are viable candidates without bringing our gender into the campaign.  We don’t need to run a female candidate just because the opponent is female in order to win. Men can represent the values of women just as women can represent the values of men, as a candidate and a politician. Republican women don’t feel the need to blindly support a woman merely because we are of the same gender.  If you seek to protect our families, country and constitution, we will support you. 

I personally find it to be insulting to my sensibilities when politicians try to trap me into gender identity politics. Fiorina’s comments yesterday reminded me why; they result in attacks based on irrelevant premises and are tricks of the left and we, conservative women, can’t stand it.

We are simple: We stand for values and the founding principles of this country and we will stand with you, irrespective of gender.