Chi Sun-Times Lynn Sweet: Kasich Told Student ‘Watch Your Drinking’ to Avoid Sexual Assault

Chicago Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet accused GOP presidential candidate Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) for telling a female student to “watch your drinking at a party” to avoid sexual assault” in response to his answer to a question from a female student at a New York town hall earlier in the week about how he would help her “feel safer and more secure regarding sexual violence, harassment and rape” as president.

Kasich responded to the student with, “We are in a process of making sure that all higher education in our state, and this ought to be done in the country, that our coeds know exactly what the rules are, what the opportunities are, what the confidential policies are, so that you are not vulnerable, at risk, and can be preyed upon. … I’d also give you one bit of advice. Don’t go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol. OK? Don’t do that.”

After this remark by Kasich was played, Sweet reacted to Kasich’s comments, accusing the Ohio Governor of telling the student to “watch your drinking at a party” to avoid sexual assault.

“The Obama White House has a campaign against sexual assault on campus. It’s called the ‘It’s on Us Campaign’ and it’s aimed at men and women. Vice President [Joe] Biden is very involved in it. Just like maybe a few years ago you wouldn’t have thought student loans would be something presidential candidates and the Obama administration are talking about. There are policies from the White House that matter and I suppose that shows that Governor Kasich probably could have had a little more of a response given that it’s a program ongoing now in the White House to comment other than, well, ‘watch your drinking at a party.'”