HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut candidate running for a seat in Congress doubled down on his message after facing backlash from a social media post he made about Breast Cancer Awareness Month that included sexist innuendos.
Mike France, a Republican, is a former State Representative and is running for the Second Congressional District against incumbent Joe Courtney in November.
France posted on his campaign page that he "is here to help" during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The post included an image of France's headshot attached to a shirtless, buff upper body holding a sign that says, "Don't know how to check your breasts? I can help."
The post continues "in all seriousness" with statistics on breast cancer and a video link to more information from "an actual expert."
The first post has since been deleted, but "after a few hours of reflection," he doubled down on his message Wednesday afternoon by reposting his message with the original model in the photo and citing it as one of "the six best breast cancer awareness ads of all time," according to a 2017 post to Marketing Mind's website.
"Sexualizing and teasing women who are taking the important steps to ensure their health is shameful," Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said in response to the first post.
State Sen. Martha Marx (D-New London) denounced the behavior by blaming France and his political party for being "misogynists" and tolerating sexist behavior.
"When France was a state Representative, he voted against insurance companies covering 3D mammograms, a measure that saves lives," Marx said. "If he truly cared about women’s health, he would have voted to protect it then. I am outrageously disgusted and insulted by this post and I certainly hope we hear from GOP leadership and candidates about whether conduct like this is acceptable."
Bysiewicz echoed disappointment, by adding, "This post is nothing more than a disgusting attempt at a joke under the guise of 'raising awareness' from one of only three House members who voted against an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill that required health insurance policies to expand coverage for breast cancer susceptibility screenings and additional tests such as breast ultrasounds."
In his new post, France defended his voting record in the state legislature, "taking principled stands against unfunded state mandates and fiscally-questionable policies, even when they sound good."
About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and it's the second leading cause of death from cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society. As many as 42,250 women and 530 men are expected to die from breast cancer in 2024.
Leah Myers is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at LMyers@fox61.com
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