Reporter Calls Candidate's View 'Antiquated' After She Was Denied Access Without Male Colleague
*By Rebecca Heilweil*
Mississippi Today reporter Larrison Campbell had a lot of questions for gubernatorial candidate Robert Foster. So she reached out to his campaign staff requesting a standard ride-along to learn more about the Republican candidate, who currently sits in the state's House of Representatives.
But she didn't get any answers. That's because Foster's staff said she'd need a male colleague to accompany her throughout the day. Campbell rejected the request, as she explained in [Mississippi Today] (https://mississippitoday.org/2019/07/09/robert-foster-gop-governor-candidate-denies-woman-reporter-access-because-of-her-gender/).
"As a woman who reports on politics, sure, I get treated differently from my male colleagues. But nothing this blatant," Campbell told Cheddar Friday. "I really didn't think they were going to draw this line."
The campaign maintains that Foster didn't want to provide any perception that he was cheating, and has since said he had agreed to the "Billy Graham" rule with his wife, promising that he would not spend time alone with another woman.
The "rule" is generally associated with the late evangelical Christian leader Billy Graham.
But denying Campbell the chance to do the ride-along — a decision Foster has continued to defend — has been widely condemned as sexist.
Now the journalist says there's even more to ask about: couldn't being alone with a male reporter also be construed as cheating? Why was it her responsibility, not the campaign's, to find a third person to sit in the ride-along? What if a female candidate had instituted the same rule?
Campbell also says that the Foster campaign has changed its story.
"The first thing that I heard from his campaign director was that they were concerned about opposition research from other campaigns, you know, one of his opponents having someone take a photo that could paint him in a compromising position by being on the campaign trail with a woman. It was about, sort of, this idea of perception," Campbell told Cheddar. "Since the story fell apart, they've sort of been selling it as this thing he calls the 'Billy Graham' rule."
Cheddar had not heard back from the Foster campaign by the time of publication.
"You cannot govern a state if you cannot be alone in a room with half of your constituents," said Campbell. "It's about men who have that point of view, who see women this way, not wanting to do the work that they need to do to change their antiquated point of view of what a woman in the work setting is."
But Campbell said that Foster has gained support from the outrage.
"There are a ton of people who are thrilled that he's taken this position," she said. "I think there's this perception among a certain sect of the population that men are under attack right now, and they have to protect themselves from women and all these false accusations. And the Billy Graham rule is just something he's doing to honor his wife and to keep himself safe."
In a fundraising email sent to supporters earlier this week, [as reported by Time] (https://time.com/5624143/mississippi-governor-candidate-woman-reporter-chaperone/), Foster wrote, "I am sorry the liberal media doesn't share our views, but their attack on us is all the more reason we need a conservative that will protect these values we share."
Liana Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, joins Cheddar News to discuss the company launching billboards across the country in response to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Angel Cornelius, Founder & CEO of Maison 276, joins ChedHER to discuss how she created her own beauty solutions right from her kitchen using plant-based, sustainable ingredients and why it's important to celebrate women of all ages and races.
On this episode of ChedHER:PWR WMN Co-Founders discuss how they are building an apparel brand to make women feel confident and powerful; Founder & CEO of Jack & Annie's breaks down the benefits to jackfruit, and how our meat consumption impacts the environment; Founder & CEO of Maison 276 explains how she created her own beauty solutions right from her kitchen using plant-based, sustainable ingredients and why it's important to celebrate women of all ages and races.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 18, 2022, with Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian city of Lviv killing seven, mass shootings in South Carolina and Pittsburgh, Lucky Charms cereal under official investigation by the FDA, and more.
Lisa Whalen, Automotive and Mobility Analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down the famed auto show's emphasis on electric vehicles this year, reflecting a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry.
On this episode of ChedHER, Amira Rasool, CEO and Founder of The Folklore, discusses her $1.7 million pre-seed funding round and why she's being intentional about the investors she's working with; Brittany Merrill-Yeng, co-founder Skrewball Whiskey, reveals the origins of Skrewball Whisky, experiencing a period of rapid growth, and navigating a male-dominated industry; Suz Hernandez, Owner of MamaP, breaks down how her company is combining eco-friendly and sustainable products with a mission to donate to non-profits that help people and the planet.
On this episode of ChedHER: Founder and CEO of IvyWise discusses how the higher education industry has evolved over the past 20 years; CEO and Founder of Stax Payments breaks down how to get more female founders to break $1 million in revenue; Chief Impact Officer & SVP at The Minneapolis Foundation explains how the foundation is driving action for the greatest civic, social, and economic needs.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: President of The Pillow Bar breaks down how everyone can benefit from a pillow customized to their unique way of sleeping; CEO of H2Pro explains how to bring environmentally friendly hydrogen to scale; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Suppressed Science.'
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Andrea Swift, Chair of NYFA Documentary Department, discusses the documentary filmmaking process and why they remain so important in 2022; Nina Gilden Seavey, Founding Director, The Documentary Center Research at George Washington University, dissects the evolution of documentaries in the streaming age; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Nature Through Her Eyes.'
On this episode of ChedHER: Founder and CEO at Allara Health discusses how she's creating a platform for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS; General Manager of the Run/Train Business Unit at Puma breaks down how Puma is approaching a hybrid work model, and ways to empower women in the workplace; Founder and CEO of Mi Golondrina explains how she's empowering over 600 artisans from Mexico.
