The campaign of Rob Simmons, one of Linda McMahon’s Republican rivals, found her campaign literature targeting women voters somewhat ironic in light of World Wrestling Entertainment skits such as this.
“There may be individuals who find this entertaining, but is there anyone who upon witnessing this increasingly vile and troubling programming still believes that the person who produced, profited from, and defends it should be our representative in the U.S. Senate?” Simmons spokesman Raj Shah said in an email.
Simmons sent out an email reminding reporters of another side of former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO McMahon’s record regarding women.
“Common images and themes portrayed on WWE programs include extreme violence without the expected negative consequences occurring, a lack of morality (the bad guy wins), racist stereotypes, sexism, use of sex, the degradation of women (women are referred to as bitches, whores [Hos], and sluts), extreme verbal intimidation and abuse, and beer consumption. omen wrestlers and nonwrestler women are victims of severe violence from men and are also the perpetrators of violence,” according to a study published by the Southern Medical Journal in February, 2008, and cited the Simmons’ campaign. “A common theme is that violence against women by men is morally acceptable.”