By Alex Gangitano, CQ/Roll Call
Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for Senate in Tennessee, snapped back at music superstar Taylor Swift for criticizing her record.
The congresswoman went on “Fox & Friends First” Wednesday to outline the ways that she has worked for women after Ms. Swift said on social medial that Ms. Blackburn’s “voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies” her.
Ms. Blackburn said she had a ”good record” on certain women’s issues.
“Of course I support women and I want violence to end against women. I have been very active in abuse shelters and in child advocacy centers, I’ve been advocating for women and equal pay since I was 19 years old and making certain that women have the opportunity for maximum pay,” Ms. Blackburn said.
Ms. Blackburn is running against former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Ms. Swift wrote on Instagram on Sunday that she would like to continue voting for women, but “cannot support Marsha Blackburn” and would be voting for Mr. Bredesen.
The musician said Ms. Blackburn voted against equal pay for women and against the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, supported a business’s right to refuse service to gay couples and believes gay couples shouldn’t have the right to marry.
As a result, nearly 71,000 people ages 18-24 registered to vote between Sunday and Tuesday, 45 percent of the roughly 159,000 voters who registered in that three-day period. A spike like that is unprecedented, a Vote.org spokesperson told Roll Call.
Ms. Swift continued her push on Tuesday night. While accepting the award for Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards, she encouraged people to “get out and vote.”
“This award and every single award given out tonight were voted on by the people, and you know what else is voted on by the people,” she said, “the midterm elections on November 6.”
When Ms. Swift explained to her 112 million Instagram followers why, for the first time in her life, she’s publicly voicing her political opinions — and voting against the Republican candidates running for Congress in her state — some in the GOP were seen as having experienced a meltdown.
The right-wing think tank Institute for Policy Innovation issued a statement Tuesday saying Ms. Swift had bought into the policy views of “lefties” because, according to them, the gender gap doesn’t exist.
And President Donald Trump’s reaction? He resisted attacking Ms. Swift on his customary medium, Twitter, where she has about 28 million more followers than him. The president only weighed in when reporters asked Monday for his response.
“Well, Marsha Blackburn is doing a very good job in Tennessee,” Mr. Trump said. “She’s leading now substantially, which she should. She’s a tremendous woman. I’m sure Taylor Swift has nothing — or doesn’t know anything about her.”
He continued, jokingly, “Let’s say that I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now. OK?”