Senate races

Iowa Senate candidate’s husband called Hillary Clinton a ‘hag’

Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R) husband called Hillary Clinton a “hag” in a May 2013 Facebook post, one of many taking aim at Democrats and liberals.

{mosads}”Truly more of a hag now than when she was 1st lady!” Gail Ernst wrote, sharing a photo criticizing Clinton on Benghazi that has since been removed from his Facebook page. Buzzfeed first reported the post.

Ernst also takes aim at illegal immigration, welfare recipients and Democrats in subsequent posts that are still publicly available as of this posting on his unprotected Facebook page. 

“Here is all I want,” he wrote in March 2012. “Obama: Gone! Borders: Closed! Congress: Obey it’s own laws. Language: English only. Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights! Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before and during Welfare! NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!”

“If you cross the N. Korean border illegally, you get 12 yrs. hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. If you cross the U.S. border illegally you get a job, a driver’s license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing & child benefits, education, & a tax free business for 7 yrs. No wonder we are a country in debt,” he wrote in June 2011.

“5000 years ago, Moses said, ‘Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land.’ When Welfare was introduced , Roosevelt said, ‘Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land.’ Today, the government has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels and mortgaged the Promised Land to China,” he wrote in August 2011.

Democrats have been seeking to paint Ernst as a hard-line Republican outside of Iowa’s mainstream, comparing her to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who she campaigned with during her primary. She may have to answer whether she agrees with her husband’s political views between now and Election Day.

Ernst has led Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) in the first public polls of the race conducted since the primary. Last week, Republicans took aim at Braley for his first TV ad hitting Ernst, charging that using a chicken or “chick” was sexist.