GOP Candidate’s Photo Depicts Rep. Wasserman Schultz in Dog Collar

As if the Republican Party didn’t have enough female troubles already, a GOP congressional candidate might have added to them by posting a photo on his website that depicts Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz wearing a dog collar. “Stop Barack Obama’s Biggest Attack Dog,” a large caption next to the picture reads. The website was put up by businessman Ozzie deFaria, who is running in the GOP primary in Florida’s 20th Congressional District for the chance to take on Wasserman Schultz in November.

The manipulated photo touched off heated discussion over how it may fit into the national narrative of the Republican war against women.

NBC 6 Miami:

Barry University political science professor Sean Foreman said it doesn’t do much for the Republican effort to woo women voters.

“There’s this so-called war on women. It’s probably made up in the media, and both parties want to exploit it. Little things like this don’t help,” he said.

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The Huffington Post:

DeFaria’s Republican primary opponent Karen Harrington, condemned his depiction of Wasserman Schultz in a dog collar.

“This adds to Obama’s narrative that there is a phony war on women. There is no place for this in the Republican party, and there’s no place for this in politics. America deserves better,” she told NBC 6 Miami.

When asked by NBC 6 whether his photo manipulation “crossed the line into poor taste,” deFaria replied, “Well, I mean, what do you mean, when she’s calling Tea Party racists, people that she doesn’t know.”

DeFaria has the endorsement of Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), as well as Herman Cain, the former presidential candidate.

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