Doug Gansler Says "Whether You Have a Boy or Girl" Makes a Difference for Teen Drinking // Del. Mizeur Condemns Remark

The Baltimore Sun's Erin Cox today published more commentary from Maryland gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler regarding his Beach Week teen drinking controversy. In her article, Cox flags some inadvisable remarks from Attorney General Gansler stating that whether you have a "boy or a girl" makes a difference for teen drinking (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN:  At a Silver Spring diner last week, as Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler sat with reporters and considered a photo of himself standing amid a teenage party, one of the diner’s owners approached the table....

He took the opportunity to draw the woman into the discussion, asking whether she had children, and whether she would have intervened.... “You know, I might actually make that phone call.” Gansler shrugged, and before he resumed arguing that he had no moral responsibility for other people’s children, remarked: “It also has to do with whether you have a boy or a girl.”

HEATHER MIZEUR WEIGHS IN & GANSLER CAMPAIGN RESPONDS: The Washington Post's John Wagner published a rebuke from rival gubernatorial candidate Delegate Heather Mizeur, as well as a response from the Gansler campaign (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: In newly reported comments Monday, Maryland gubernatorial candidate Douglas F. Gansler said parents might view underage drinking differently depending on the gender of their child, a sentiment that drew a sharp rebuke from one of his rivals....

Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery), who is also seeking the Democratic nomination in June, said she was “deeply troubled” by Gansler’s comments..... Gansler campaign spokesman Bob Wheelock later said “some people are trying to twist Doug’s words. Doug believes that as parents, we need to commit ourselves to preventing underage drinking for all of our children, boys and girls,” Wheelock said. “Period....”

Below you can read the full press release from Heather Mizeur slamming Doug Gansler's latest Beach Week commentary and asking him to clarify his remarks:

PRESS RELEASE 

Mizeur on Gansler’s ‘Boy or a Girl’ Comment

SILVER SPRING, Maryland — Today, a Baltimore Sun article reported disturbing new comments from Attorney General Doug Gansler regarding a party that included underage drinking. The Sun reported that, after discussing the issue with another parent who said she might have called police to shut the party down if her daughter had been involved, ‘Gansler shrugged, and before he resumed arguing that he had no moral responsibility for other people's children, remarked: 'It also has to do with whether you have a boy or a girl.’"

Delegate Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery) released the following statement:

"The safety of each and every child is paramount. I am deeply troubled that Attorney General Gansler appears to be saying that the safety of some children is more important than that of others, or that young girls need guidance and protection from their parents and other trusted adults that boys do not. Adults have a responsibility to look out for kids regardless of gender. The dangers of underage and binge drinking have been well-documented, and for the Attorney General to suggest that it's only a problem for young women, as he appears to be doing, is tragically wrong and indicates that he doesn't understand the larger issues at stake here. I hope Doug will clarify his remarks with respect to this issue, as this is not the example any responsible adult ought to be setting for young people."

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