Candidate for Governor Backtracks After Saying Educated Women Not Susceptible to Sexual Abuse

It probably should have been the moment of the debate. Oregon's Governor, the most powerful woman in the state, had just admitted that she had once been the victim of domestic violence.

The debate, sponsored by the City Club of Portland, was the second meeting between Governor Kate Brown, the Democrat, and Dr. Bud Pierce, her Republican challenger.

The question came from the audience. A woman cited the recent report from the Women's Foundation of Oregon that stated more than half of all women and girls in Oregon have been the victim of sexual or domestic violence.

"I know what it feels like to be a victim of domestic violence," Brown said. "I know what it feels like to represent clients who can’t get restraining orders on abusive partners."

It was then Pierce's turn.

"A woman that has great education and training and a great job is not susceptible to this kind of abuse by men, women or anyone," he said, causing some in the audience to boo while others seemed to be sucking the oxygen from the room as they gasped.

But Pierce was not done.

"Okay, so," he said. "Powerful women have access to lawyers and courts and go at it. But the women who are most vulnerable are poor women who don't have a place to turn, because they don't have shelter or family around them. So I would argue that in addition to strong laws and going after every sexual predator and every abuser, the way we can make every woman ... less susceptible to being harmed is to make them powerful."

Brown asked for a moment to respond.

"I'm honestly not sure where to start," she said. "I grew up in a middle-class family. I went to law school. I know what it feels like to be paid less — substantially less — than the male lawyer in the office next to me. This is not just about power.

"It's about making sure that people are not discriminated against because of their gender, because of their race and because of their sexual orientation."

Late, Friday - hours after the debate - Pierce's campaign issued an apology.

"As a physician who began in medical school almost 40 years ago, and has seen many patients including women of domestic violence, I know that any women, regardless of economic status, can be subject to domestic violence and sexual abuse," he said. "Sexual abuse is morally wrong, is against the law and must be opposed with all efforts."

The two still have three debates scheduled.

On October 6th, they will head to Eugene for a debate co-sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting and the League of Women Voters.

A week later, on October 13th, they will be in Medford for a debate co-sponsored by KOBI-TV and KOTI-TV.

Then, on October 20th, back to Portland for the last debate - sponsored by KGW-TV and The Oregonian.