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'Hurl some acid'

<p>I'm hard pressed to imagine what possesses someone to even think of language like this.A spokesman for Rep.</p>
Republican communications \"expert\" Jay Townsend.
Republican communications \"expert\" Jay Townsend.

I'm hard pressed to imagine what possesses someone to even think of language like this.

A spokesman for Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.) is facing criticism after advocating violence against female Democratic senators in a Facebook post.Jay Townsend, the official campaign spokesman for the freshman representative, went on a vicious online rant on Saturday, which he began by taunting a constituent who voiced criticism about an earlier post on gas prices. "Listen to Tom. What a little bee he has in his bonnet. Buzz Buzz," Townsend wrote."My question today ... when is Tommy boy going to weigh in on all the Lilly Ledbetter hypocrites who claim to be fighting the War on Women? Let's hurl some acid at those female democratic Senators who won't abide the mandates they want to impose on the private sector."

Townsend is not some careless rookie; he's a long-time Republican communications aide. On his bio page, he boasts of having "worked in more than 300 different campaigns in more than 25 different states" over the last three decades.

To be sure, if Townsend wants to make an argument about pay inequities and lawmakers' offices, he's certainly encouraged to do so. But I'd love to know what made him think it was a good idea to publish a thought about hurling acid at women senators he disagrees with.

Indeed, as Annie-Rose Strasser explained, "Acid throwing is not a joke. It is a serious and horrific form of gender-based violence. Seventy two percent of the time, victims of acid throwing are women. In fact, an attack occurred in Pakistan just four days ago– two women and one two year-old child were injured."

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.) is now facing pressure to fire Townsend. As of this morning, he remains on the Republican's campaign staff and the congresswoman has not commented on her spokesperson's online tirade.