Walz is now #tampontim according to Republicans. LOL
Another day, another dumb thing Republicans are mad about. It looks like they’re running out of things to pin against Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
After Harris named Walz as her vice presidential pick, Republicans went looking through his record to find something they could go after him for. What they settled on, apparently, was a law Walz signed that made sanitary products available to “all menstruating students” in public schools.
Now, they’ve nicknamed the vice presidential hopeful “Tampon Tim.” It’s the kind of insult that makes the entire GOP look foolish and immature. Honestly, I’m not sure they realize it’s a compliment.
Who is Tim Walz?Harris VP pick gives progressives what they want.
Tim Walz’s biggest sin seems to be he helped students
The language in the Minnesota law is purposefully broad so that trans students would be included. Bill author Rep. Sandra Feist said she heard from actual transgender students who asked for the language to be inclusionary.
Because the law dared to acknowledge that trans people exist, conservatives have lost their minds over it. Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt brought the law up on Fox News, calling it a “radical” policy and a “threat to (women’s) health.”
Midwest dad takes on MAGA:Trump’s about to learn voters like Walz’s ‘progressive’ policies
On X, Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik posted a photo of a tampon box with Walz’s face on it and the caption “#TamponTim.” Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller said: “There is no universe where a man who gives tampons to teenage boys is going to be next in line to be president.”
I can’t believe this is what right-wing activists are going with. Not only are they mischaracterizing a law that benefits thousands of Minnesota students, but they’re further stigmatizing menstruation by acting like it’s inappropriate for teenage boys to know what a tampon looks like.
That’s pretty ridiculous, considering it’s something that affects nearly 2 billion people worldwide each month. The level of insecurity is staggering.
It’s clear Republicans are struggling to find insults
It’s not the only thing Republicans are attacking Walz for. He’s been accused of changing the Minnesota flag to resemble Somalia’s, something he did not do. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance accused him of “stolen valor.”
To me, this signals that the Republican Party has very little to criticize Walz for, aside from the fact that he’s a Democrat. Meanwhile, the folksy governor has begun winning over voters who are just now learning about his record.
With their new “Tampon Tim” attack, all the right wing is doing is giving Democrats more things to be excited about. It’s embarrassing that they think it’ll deter people.
Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno
