Cathy Malloy rant during DNC: ‘The media just won’t let up’

Connecticut First Lady Cathy Malloy said Wednesday that scrutiny by the media is driving people, including women, from public life.

Malloy’s comments came during a question-and-answer portion of a town hall meeting sponsored by the Democratic pro-choice group EMILY’s List coinciding with the party’s national convention in Charlotte. They were heard — and recorded — by Albany Times Union political reporter Jimmy Vielkind.

Malloy was not part of the on-stage panel, which included the actress Ashley Judd and New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. It was moderated by Cosmpolitan Editor Joanna Coles.

“One of the things about public life, whether they’re Republican or Democrat, is that people do not appreciate people in public life the way they should. They beat their politicians up every day, and this is a huge problem. Not only do we get beat up, our children get beat up. It’s a tough business,” she said.

“In April I drove to work and I forgot to put my seat belt on, and I was pulled over by police. Of course, they had no idea
who I was because I drive this really shitty car, and they didn’t believe that I was the governor’s wife in this shitty car. And I was driving myself, because of course, governor’s wives only get security when we’re with our husbands. We’re pretty second-class without them.”
“National news,” she said. “It’s just so bizarre. We choose to be in public life. We choose to run for office, so nobody should feel sorry for us. This is what we do.

“When people need to make the choice if they want to get into public office or not, they say, wow, do we really want to subject our children to this? Or our wives to this? Or our husbands? It’s a big decision because the media just won’t let up.”

David McCumber, Washington Bureau Chief