Sen. Katie Britt’s Response: A Handmaid’s Tale Moment For Today’s GOP

In a recent opinion piece penned by Sarah Stogner, lawyer, activist, and Republican candidate for D.A. of Texas 143rd District, delves into a scathing critique of a response delivered by Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala,) following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

Stogner wastes no time in pointing out the palpable dissatisfaction among conservative women with Britt’s rebuttal, which she describes as “creepy” and likened to themes from “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“The message is clear: The GOP is looking to put a “pretty face” on a sexist, backward ideology,” Stogner wrote. “And I say this as someone who is running for office in Texas as a Republican.”

This sentiment, she notes, is not isolated but rather resonates widely, indicating a broader trend within the GOP: “Republicans described Britt’s speech as “one of our biggest disasters ever,” “the stuff of nightmares,” “parody-level terrible,” and “comical, like SNL quality.” 

Stogner argues that the party’s avoidance of crucial issues, particularly reproductive rights, is highlighted as a significant failing, especially in the face of Biden’s explicit mention of “reproductive freedom” during his address.

Despite personally identifying as “pro-life,” Stogner emphasizes the importance of keeping the government out of private decisions regarding abortion.

During her response, Britt also used the devastating story of a girl, to gain political weight in the border discussion. Stogner highlighted that she didn’t know any women “who would want such nightmare experiences being used this way.”

Ultimately, Stogner emphasized the need for the Republican party to actually listen to women, and the country as a whole, so they can start putting forward policies that many will actually support.

“Instead, the GOP seems to think that it can distract us by offering up some sort of Stepford Wives imagery, with talk of God and gun rights mixed in,” she continued. “To win over women, you need to actually pay attention to what we have to say.”
In her own local race for District Attorney, Stogner pledges to confront issues important to women directly, positioning herself as a candidate who is unafraid to tackle these pressing matters head-on.

“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it,”  Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale.