Global Courant 2023-04-26 00:17:41
FIRST ON FOX: NCAA champion swimmer Riley Gaines took aim at President Biden after announcing he would seek re-election in 2024, saying the president’s speech about equality and fairness goes against protecting women athletes.
“President Biden says he wants to treat people equally, but his administration has almost declared war on Title IX,” Gaines told Fox News Digital in response to Biden’s re-election announcement. “In addition, last week every member of Biden’s political party voted against protecting women’s sports in the United States Congress.”
Gaines’ comments come after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris officially announced their reelection campaign in a video shared on social media early Tuesday morning.
In the video titled “Freedom,” Biden repeated his 2020 campaign message of fighting for the “soul of our nation,” uniting the country and supporting the middle class. Biden — who has celebrated transgender Americans as the “bravest people” he knows – also sworn to “finish the job” began the administration.
RILEY GAINES POINTS OUT DOUBLE STANDARDS IN CRITICISM OF THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTS ACT
“President Biden says he wants to treat people equally, but his administration has pretty much declared war on Title IX,” Gaines told Fox News Digital in response to the announcement of President Biden’s re-election. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Protecting the girls’ and women’s sports category is common sense and shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” Gaines said. “Yet more and more women are realizing that their biological reality is being attacked by politicians pandering to their bases rather than protecting women’s rights.”
Gaines, now a spokeswoman for the Independent Women’s Forum, was known for Lia Thomas, a biological male, taking fifth place in the women’s 200-meter freestyle final at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships last year.
Gaines has worked to promote fairness in women’s sports at speaking engagements across the country since she bonded with Thomas, explaining to attendees or those watching from home how biological women struggle to compete with biological men.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act passed Thursday morning by a vote of 219 to 203, with all “yes” votes coming from Republicans and every “no” vote coming from Democrats.
House passage sends the bill to the Senate, where Democratic leaders are unlikely to pass it, and President Biden has said he would veto the bill if it made it to his desk.
Republicans defended the bill as an attempt to prevent women and girls from having to compete against transgender women and girls — biological males who often dominate these sports and may dissuade some female athletes from making the team. However, several Democrats argued during the debate that the GOP bill is an extension of bullying that transgender students already face in school.
Republicans also accused Democrats of pursuing transgender rights with an illogical purpose that goes against the intent of Title IX, which most say dramatically expands participation in women’s sports.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden applaud at an event at the White House on Feb. 2, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images))
Gaines responded to a criticism from Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., who tweeted Thursday that the bill “would mean the forced inspection of student-athletes, which is a flagrant violation of a student’s personal dignity.”
“Checking birth certificates and/or making sure everyone has a routine physical before participating = flagrant violation of personal dignity,” Gaines replied. “Forcing girls to undress in front of an intact and uncovered man = NOT a blatant violation of personal dignity, but rather kind and inclusive.”
However, Gaines’ comments and those of a similar nature have not had much impact on the thinking of the Biden administration as it continues to honor the transgender community in America.
“I want every member of the trans community to know that we see you. You are all made in the image of God and deserve love, dignity and respect. You make America stronger and we are with you,” Biden said. in March when he recognized Transgender Day of Visibility.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration introduced new Title IX rules to expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity, which would prevent schools and colleges from banning transgender athletes.
Under the proposed rule from the Department of Education, no school or college receiving federal funding would be allowed to enforce a “one-size-fits-all” policy that categorically prohibits transgender students from playing on sports teams in accordance with their gender identity. Such a policy would be considered a violation of Title IX.
Despite the announcement of Biden’s re-election, the president remains immensely unpopular, with an approval rating of around 40 in most polls. His performance rating currently stands at 44% approve versus 56% disapprove, according to Fox News’ latest national survey.
Riley Gaines speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, August 6, 2022. (Reuters/Go Nakamura)
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Fox News polls show the president’s approval rating hovering at an all-time low among several key voting groups, including women (43% now vs. 42% low), voters age 45+ (41% vs. 39% low), suburban voters (41% vs. 39% low), rural voters (31% vs. 30% low), and Democrats (81% vs. 78% low) – Democratic men in particular (79% vs. 78% low).
Biden’s entry into the 2024 contest comes as several Republicans have already joined the race, including former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, radio host Larry Elder, and others .
On the Democratic side, author Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced their intention to seek their party’s nomination.
Lawrence Richard, Ryan Gaydos, and Houston Keene of Fox News contributed to this article.
