Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is facing fierce criticism after comparing Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens to a “used condom” because she endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
In vulgar comments made Sunday, Carville argued that Stevens had effectively sacrificed her political future by breaking with Democrats shortly before Election Day and backing Rogers. He also mocked her as having “sold her soul” to Republicans for “two cheeseburgers.”
“Your political career is over … if you think these Republicans are going to treat you as anything other than what they see you as, and let me just break the news to you: a used condom,” Carville said during an episode of the Politicon podcast.
“The Democrats don’t even think you’re worth a used condom, but that’s about where you are,” added the 82-year-old strategist.
Carville concluded his tirade by suggesting that Stevens open a cheeseburger restaurant with Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat who has also drawn attention for breaking with members of his party.
Carville’s remarks came after Stevens endorsed Rogers two days before the midterm election. The endorsement followed a public dispute with El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, who had defeated her by one percentage point.
The comments quickly prompted backlash from Republicans and other critics on social media after video clips of the podcast appearance began circulating online.
“Never seen anything like the anti-woman crash out going on rn. Wow,” conservative commentator and strategist Scott Jennings wrote on X.
SEE ALSO: Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens Ousted by Democrats After Endorsement
“Where is GRAHAM PLATNER when we need him? This old bag of bones needs to be put away,” actor Michael Rapaport wrote.
Another social media user said Stevens’ motives could be questioned, but condemned the “sexist vitriol” directed at her for supporting the wrong candidate.
At the same time, Democratic leaders sharply criticized Stevens over her last-minute endorsement of Rogers in the closely watched Michigan Senate contest.
“Mike Rogers is Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate for Senate, a rubber stamp for Trump’s toxic agenda, and a corrupt politician looking out only for himself,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said in a statement.
“The Michigan Democratic Party stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed, a proven, committed fighter for Michigan’s working families,” Hertel added.
Hertel also accused Stevens of abandoning the values she claims to support by campaigning alongside Rogers, whom he described as a politician who has repeatedly failed Michigan’s working class, supports a national abortion ban and has promised to advance Trump’s agenda in the Senate. “We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party,” he said.
El-Sayed currently holds a four-point lead over Rogers in polling compiled by RealClearPolitics, while Rogers’ campaign maintains that its internal surveys show the Republican ahead.
