Politician demands apology from male opponent for calling her 'sweetie'

Opponent Tom Patton said: ‘She’s a 30-year-old, you know, mom, mother of two infants'

Jennifer Herold replied to Tom Patton that being a mother was one of her 'greatest strengths' (Ohio senate)

A politician in Ohio has demanded an apology from her male opponent for calling her “sweetie” and attempting to discredit her based on her age, gender and the fact that she is a mother of two young children.

Ohio Senate Majority Leader Tom Patton said in an interview with America’s Work Force Radio that opponent Jennifer Herold is a “young gal” with children.

“The gal that's running against me is a 30-year-old, you know, mom, mother of two infants,” he said in the interview, as reported by Huffington Post.

”And I don't know if anybody explained to her we've got to spend three nights a week in Columbus. So, how does that work out for you? I waited until I was 48 and my kids were raised, and at least adults, before we took the opportunity to try.”

Mr Patton is running against Jennifer Herold in the Republican primary for the 7th district in the Ohio state House.

Ms Herold is married and her children are one and three years old, as reported by Cleveland.com

Mr Patton also called his opponent a “sweetie”.

Ms Herold responded to his comments via her Facebook page, saying that only one man was allowed to call her “sweetie”.

“From now on, I respectfully ask you to refer to me as Jen, Jennifer, Ms. Herold, or your opponent.”

In the reply, Ms Herold wrote that Mr Patton had “questioned her intelligence”.

“The decision to run for State Representative is one that my family and I took very seriously when we made it. We realize the sacrifice that is involved in holding such a position.

”However, Tom Patton has crossed a line by trying to turn the fact that I am a mother of two children, into a negative campaign issue. It’s insulting for my opponent to suggest that “motherhood” is a liability. In fact, my experience as a Mom is perhaps my greatest strength.”

Ms Herold pointed to other examples of high-profile female politicians who are mothers, such as Sarah Palin, Cathy McMorris, Mary Taylor and Christina Hagan.

There are also high-ranking male politicians who have young children. Ohio Governor John Kasich has two teenage daughters, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and his wife had three daughters while he was in Congress.

Mr Patton has since attempted to clarify his comments, and said it was not his intention to suggest a young mother could not do her job in government.

“I used a poor choice of words to express what I know first-hand - raising young children and working is tough,” he said. "Millions of women do just that every day, including my own daughters. I would ask to be judged on my hard work and advocacy for working families."