ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd faced heavy backlash for what critics described as a "sexist" attack aimed at Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.
Stefanik was one of several Republicans who spoke out against the Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Trump during its first public hearing Wednesday, but Dowd singled her out on Twitter.
"Elise Stefanik is a perfect example why just electing someone because they are a woman or a millennial doesn't necessarily get you the leaders we need," the self-proclaimed "proud independent" commentator wrote in the now-deleted tweet.
Dowd later doubled down on his assertion, telling one Twitter user the "first order of business should be electing people with integrity" and claiming a critic was "missing the point."
However, that didn't stop the avalanche of criticism that Dowd received -- including from Stefanik's colleague, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C.
"Elise did a great job laying out the facts. And, not least of all, this comment is reprehensible," Meadows wrote.
Other critics piled on Dowd for the tweet, many of them labeling the tweet "sexist."
Mark Meadows ✔ @RepMarkMeadows
Elise did a great job laying out the facts. And, not least of all, this comment is reprehensible. https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/1194703033432567808 …
Kristen Soltis Anderson ✔ @KSoltisAnderson
I do not think she consistently wins NY-21 by double digit margins because her district wants to make a demographic statement; her views align with her district which also went for Trump by double digits.
This is an astonishingly bad statement from an “independent” analyst. https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/1194703033432567808 …
Mark Hemingway ✔ @Heminator
Boy, a lot of people at ABC News wish women weren't so mouthy these days.
If you don't put her in her place, soon Rep. Stefanik will be saying that powerful men involved in underage sex trafficking should be held accountable! https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/1194703033432567808 …
Harry Khachatrian ✔ @Harry1T6
Matthew Dowd vs. Matthew Dowd. Just keep in mind, @matthewjdowd is totally an “objective independent”
