Anger builds as allegations of racism, sexism among NAT senators become public

Scandal overshadows party's historic moment

MAVOCKE – The Nationalist Party (NAT) started the week with celebration as their party’s senators chose a female majority leader for the first time in Grassadellian parliamentary history.

But the celebration quickly faded when allegations of racism and sexism among the party’s senators were leaked to the media.

On Monday, the 46 NAT senators held a closed-door meeting to select their leader. Holding a closed-door meeting for members-only is standard procedure for both parties, which they traditionally do at the beginning of each new legislative term following an election.

The meeting was chaired by Interim Majority Leader Nadan Saralo (Wellington). The senators discussed their agenda for the 2017-2018 term and then heard nominations for the Senate’s most powerful position, Majority Leader.

When former Senate Majority Leader John Morandi (N-Lial) lost his bid for re-election in a close race in the 2016 general election, it left the NAT without a leader. Mr. Saralo, then-Assistant Majority Leader, took over as interim leader until the party could choose a replacement.Seven members, including two women, were nominated for the top post: Jean Chaveau and Debbie Madronas (both from Damoign), Joseph Milhaughley (Mar.), John Yannes (Ona.), Aaron Tobias Griffith (Ver.), Thomas O’Hearn (Wilk.), and Nadan Saralo (Well.)

No one but the members know exactly what happened inside the voting room, since no one else was permitted in the room at the time of the nomination process.

But two NAT senators – both who asked to remain anonymous because they fear reprisal from their colleagues – went to the media following the voting, and they had disturbing accounts of the voting process.

According to the two nameless senators, some of their fellow NAT colleagues reportedly refused to vote for Ms. Madronas and the other female candidate, Jean Chaveau, because they were women.

“There were some male members who point-blank said they would not vote for Debbie Madronas or Jean Chaveau because they don’t believe the majority leader position should be held by a woman. They think the majority leader should be a man. They had reservations about the two female candidates being ‘strong enough’ and ‘tough enough’ for the job,” said the one NAT senator, who added that he was “shocked” and “disgusted” that his colleagues would openly make such misogynistic comments.

And some of those same senators who opposed the female candidates said they didn’t want to vote for Mr. Saralo because he was not White.

“There were a couple members who said they didn’t want Nadan (pronounced “Nuh-Dawn”) to be leader because he’s not white, he’s Middle Eastern and they felt having a Middle Easterner leading the party would be a turn-off to voters. They wanted a Caucasian majority leader, they thought a Caucasian majority leader would be more accepted by the public,” said the other senator.

“I couldn’t believe my ears. This is not something I would expect to hear from Nationalist politicians. Conservatives, maybe. But this is not reflective of the Nationalist Party in 2017. We just don’t believe in the old gentlemen’s club where women have their place and minorities are barred from advancing. This is straight out of the 1950s,” said the same member, also a male.

The allegations, which were first reported by Capitol Hill correspondent Eric Mulven of the Mavocke Capitol newspaper, spread quickly in the traditional media outlets and online through social media.

The topic blew up on Facebook and Twitter, and reporters doggedly pelted NAT leaders with questions about the voting process and the alleged racist and sexist undertones from the unnamed members.

Asked about the matter, newly-selected Majority Leader Debbie Madronas said she believed the process was fair and did not believe racism or sexism played into the vote results.

“Right now, these are anonymous allegations. No names have been mentioned. It’s just hearsay at this point,” Ms. Madronas said in a Wednesday afternoon press appearance.

“Of course, I am deeply troubled by these allegations. If it’s true that some of our members were not voting for a candidate because of their gender or their race, that is extremely disturbing and completely unacceptable. But right now, these are just that: anonymous, unattributed allegations. There is no evidence at this time that this leadership vote was tainted by racism or sexism,” Madronas said.

She added that if evidence does turn up that members “said or expressed racist or sexist sentiment, I will take the necessary action and make sure it is dealt with appropriately and thoroughly.”

“I want to make it clear that the Nationalist Party is the party of diversity, of equality between genders and ethnic groups. One of our core tenets is diversity and inclusion, and if any member of the Nationalist Party expressed this kind of bigotry, whether it was serious or in a joking context, whether in public or private, it is completely unacceptable and we repudiate it and the members will be held to account to the party for their actions if evidence emerges,” she said.

Mr. Saralo, whose defeat surprised many colleagues and pundits, refused to say if he felt racist feelings may have caused some of his colleagues to vote against him.

“I think the vote has taken place, the members have spoken, they chose Debbie as their leader, and it’s time to move on. I think the men and women who comprise the NAT Senate caucus are incredible people and are incredibly accepting, good-hearted people who reject racism and misogyny.”Saralo added that “there’s always a little drama every time the senators vote for a new majority or minority leader. There’s always internal drama among the ranks, I don’t think it’s really a newsworthy story.”

Meanwhile, despite playing it cool in public and casting doubt on the accusations, NAT sources close to the situation say Mr. Saralo does believe some members voted against him because of his ethnicity. And Debbie Madronas is said to be privately furious, both at the nature of the allegations and also at the leaks to the press about the party’s hidden drama.

“When she spoke to the press, she was very calm, she acted like these allegations are just hearsay, gossip, drama drummed up by the media. But behind closed doors, she was livid and demanding to know who leaked this information and if the allegations were true,” said an NAT Senate staff member, who works closely with the majority leader’s staff.

Madronas, age 55, is an ardent feminist, and she has championed pro-women causes since the inception of her political career 25 years ago. She was the first female senator elected from the state of Damoign, and is one of the most influential senators in the chamber, having been so even before her promotion to majority leader.

She’s said to abhor misogyny, and has spoken publicly in the past about male politicians, even from her own party, treating her disdainfully, telling her to wear a skirt instead of pants, making sexual comments, and excluding her from key negotiations because she was a woman.

“I’ve had male congressmen just smile at me and tell me it’s a “gentlemen only” meeting and close the door in my face when I’ve tried to walk in to committee hearings. One male colleague touched my leg inappropriately. I’ve had male colleagues tell me I’m just a pretty face to make the party more appealing to women. I’ve seen this kind of rampant sexism in the world of politics first-hand, and I’m determined to eradicate it,” she said in a 1997 appearance on the Steve Quinn television show.

While the majority of the NAT’s lawmakers are progressive and forward-thinking on race and gender, there are some members, particularly those from conservative and rural states, who tend to be more traditional in their views and their voting records. But political positions and viewpoints do not make a member guilty of sexism or racism.

It’s unclear which specific senators made the alleged comments, but many Nationalists want the witch-hunt to end.

“We don’t want to point the finger at certain members and tar and feather them without any evidence,” said Madronas’ chief of staff, Josh Lindaugh. “So we are going to leave the matter where it is right now, reiterate that this kind of behavior and dialogue is not acceptable in the Nationalist Party and is repudiated and rejected in the most serious of terms, and we will move on to the important task of governing.”

Lindaugh added that NAT leaders would address the issue if more evidence emerges.

“Of course we are investigating it thoroughly, we don’t want even a hint of racism or sexism in our party,” he said.

The Conservative Party reacted to the scandal with mixed commentary.

Newly-elected Senate Minority Leader Jon Ralston (C-Ansleigha) issued a statement saying “regardless of party, this kind of sexist and racist conduct should not be tolerated in the Senate.”

“If these allegations are true,” Mr. Ralston said, “They should be condemned in the strongest of terms and the guilty parties should apologize and come forward and renounce their behavior and let us move past this.”

Ralston added that the alleged conduct is “beneath the decorum of the position we all hold.”

He also got a jab in about the apparent hypocrisy of the NAT Party.

“I hope the Nationalists condemn this sexism and racism as much and as forcefully as they condemn so-called ‘sexist and racist’ comments from Conservatives,” he said.

The senator elaborated, saying the NAT has “crucified” Conservative politicians for similar comments and behaviors.

“Let’s hope their indignation is equal when it involves their own members,” he quipped.

Conservative female senators also responded, expressing solidarity with their NAT female colleagues.

“We’ve all battled sexism in politics, & that’s why we continue today (both parties) to fight these kinds of attitudes that limit & disrespect women,” tweeted Kalnier Senator Shannon McCann, who was serving as Interim Minority Leader for the Conservatives, until Mr. Ralston was voted into the top spot.

The National Women's Coalition called the alleged behavior "indefensible," while the Arab League of Grassadellia said it as "deeply concerned xenophobia has infiltrated the highest ranks of the NAT party."

Majority Leader Madronas said she would address the issue in a special press conference later this week.