It’s barely been 24 hours since Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and the two have already raised over $40 million together. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his gaggle of internet trolls continue to circle the drain.
Shortly after Walz was revealed as Harris’ VP pick, right wingnuts started referring to him as “Tampon Tim” on social media. Pretty soon, #TamponTim was trending on Twitter X.
But the schoolyard insult is not quite the flex MAGA thinks it is.
Politics, but make it gay!
Stay woke with our briefing while staying informed on all things LGBTQ+ entertainment, life, and more!
Turns out, last year Walz signed a law that requires Minnesota public schools to provide free menstrual products in all student bathrooms. (Emphasis on the word “all.”) Republicans tried to block the bill, saying it should only apply to bathrooms with a 🚺 sign posted on the outside of the door, but they ultimately failed in their efforts.
The law, which went into effect on January 1, mandates menstrual products, including pads, tampons and other hygiene necessities, “must be available to all menstruating students in restrooms regularly used by students in grades 4 to 12 according to a plan developed by the school district.”
Suddenly, #TamponTim sounds less like an insult and more like… a badge of honor!
In addition to signing the law making menstrual products available to students who need them, Walz also issued an executive order last year establishing the state of Minnesota as a safe haven for trans minors wishing to obtain gender-affirming health care, as well as a refuge for individuals seeking an abortion, doctors, and their families.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the conservative Supreme Court in 2022, Republicans have struggled with women voters (and voters who support women and don’t want to see them mistreated, maligned, or marginalized). Their latest attack on Walz will surely only further alienate that voting block they desperately need. As many have pointed out, “Tampon Tim” is only an insult if you think menstruating is shameful.
It also doesn’t help that the GOP is running a 34-time convicted felon who cheated on his third wife with a porn star (who he’s repeatedly called a liar) and was found liable for sexual assault (against a woman who he’s also repeatedly called a liar… and been ordered to pay nearly $90 million for defaming) at their top of ticket, or that his running mate has a long history of slamming “childless cat ladies” and telling women they need to have more babies while also vowing to ban all abortions nationwide, even in the case of rape and incest (which he has labeled an “inconvenience”), and dodging rumors that he once had sex with a couch.
Honestly, “weird” doesn’t even begin to describe the right’s strategies for trying to appeal to women voters (and women-supporting voters) and take back the White House.
Related*
#BigDadEnergy is trending thanks to Tim Walz & conservatives are absolutely losing their minds
There’s no denying vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz exhibits major #BigDadEnergy.
abfab
Scared. Worried and guilty.
Publication of a book with ties to Project 2025 and a foreword written by JD Vance is delayed until after the election.
RIGay
I listened to Vance attacking Walz military record. Well… that will certainly play well, too.
graphicjack
Gotta hand it to Harris… this was a smart and progressive pick and the Right have nothing to attack him on other than ‘radical left’ ‘commie’ and some other tired old fascist tropes for anyone sane. Yah, the guy who made sure girls had menstrual products and kids got breakfast and lunch at school is a monster… beware the Leftie commie agenda. What the Right won’t tell you is Walz’s platform is mainstream and what the majority of the country wants, including a large chuck of Republican voters (as long as you don’t tell them the policy coming from the Democrats). The Left, even Progressives like Bernie, Walz and AOC, are not ‘radical’… this is typical Republican projection of their OWN radicalness. They not only want to ban abortion completely, but they want to get rid of IVF, contraception, even pornography… now explain that to Joe Average Alabama white due and he’d say, hell no. I don’t want to worry about knocking up my weekend hookup and paying 18 years of child support, and I sure as hell don’t want PornHub, OnlyFans and Chaturbate to be shut down. Just how far back do the Republican weirdos want to go? Do they know contraception was around in the Middle Ages, in Roman times? So before then, even… like caveman times, maybe? Hunting and gathering in a nomadic lifestyle? And this is the ‘small government’ party… sure, Jan….
Eternal.Cowboy
Uh… yeah…. this will totally help shake that whole “weird” perception.
abfab
Hours earlier, I had been at a South Philly venue where Vance spoke briefly to about 200 supporters and a group of bored journalists. Vance’s event was small, mean, and yes, weird, featuring the unjustified sarcasm of the candidate and a desperate feeling reminiscent of the mood at a strip mall shot bar at 2 AM on “ladies’ night.”
Amanda Marcotte-SALON
abfab
Tampons are also great for bad nose bleeds.
abfab
Vance accused Harris of hiding from the press with a “basement campaign.” Never mind that Harris is now the young and spry candidate who can keep up with an aggressive schedule, while Trump is the tired old man who can barely campaign between naps.
War On Free Speech
Stolen Valor
abfab
Stolen. LOL
War On Free Speech
17 days and no answering questions from the press, no policy proposals on her website, no press conferences, everything is scripted – what is she afraid of?
inbama
U may remember, neither did O.
And he won 2 terms.
Bosch
If only “war” would look at drumpf with the same level of critique.
RIGay
Oh! Forbid they question Orange Twittler!
Jim
MAGA’s leaders are floundering
Kangol2
W a r loves his Rumpy+Oddfellow
abfab
War is over
If you want it
Yoko Ono