After Claiming Carly Fiorina Went “Full Vagina,” Radio Host Steve Deace Touts Her For Ted Cruz VP

Written by Brendan Karet

Published





Influential radio host and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) media surrogate Steve Deace praised Ted Cruz's decision to select former GOP candidate Carly Fiorina as his running-mate, claiming Fiorina “might be the best messenger for the party.” Deace’s endorsement is a sharp departure from his sexist rhetoric about Fiorina which received heavy criticism from the media and from Fiorina herself.

Appearing at a rally in Indianapolis on April 27, Republican candidate Ted Cruz named Carly Fiorina as his vice presidential running-mate. In a series of tweets after the announcement, Deace lauded Cruz's vice presidential selection, claiming Fiorina “might be the best messenger for the party,” and stating “Her presence is a living, daily reminder of Trump's struggles with women.”

Deace has previously appeared as part of Cruz's Iowa leadership team, in promotional videos for Cruz's campaign, and has been described by the Des Moines Register as having “served as an informal, unpaid consultant” to Cruz.

Deace’s most recent comments are at odds with his prior sexist attacks on Fiorina, including a tweet stating “Fiorina goes full vagina right away” in her opening statement during the December 2015 Republican debate.

Wow...Fiorina goes full vagina right away

— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) December 16, 2015

















Deace initially defended his criticism of Fiorina, tweeting “I think a GOP presidential candidate's opening statement being all about her gender is disgusting.” Deace subsequently apologized for the remarks, claiming his wife told him he had been “too vulgar and need[ed] to apologize.”

Deace received widespread condemnation following his remarks including criticism from Fox News host Megyn Kelly and Fiorina during a December 16 interview on Fox News' The Kelly File. Fiorina rebuked Deace's sexist attacks and position as a prominent campaign surrogate for Ted Cruz, stating “I told my story, just like every other candidate has told their story, [...] it's inexplicable to me why this major surrogate of Ted Cruz thought that was playing the 'V' card.” Fiorina continued, saying Deace “is more than a radio show talk host. He is a major surrogate for Ted Cruz and a major endorser, and this is why Ted Cruz cannot possibly beat Hillary Clinton.”