Presidential Election

Kasich Tells Student Avoiding Alcohol And Parties Prevents Campus Rape

The Ohio governor quickly walked back his comments after he was accused of blaming sexual assault victims.

Kasich Tells Student Avoiding Alcohol And Parties Prevents Campus Rape
Getty Images / Scott Olson
SMS

Ohio governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich is taking heat for how he answered a recent question about sexual violence on campus.

Kasich started by focusing on Ohio's initiatives to improve confidential reporting systems and rape kit accessibility; he also mentioned worrying about his own 16-year-old daughters. So far, so good.

But then Kasich decided to give the female questioner some advice. He said, "I would also give you one bit of advice. Don't go to parties where there's a lot of alcohol."

Kasich's advice was swiftly criticized on the left as blaming sexual assaults on a victim's decision to drink rather than on the assailant. The Ohio Democratic Party released a statement saying, "Rape victims are not responsible for rape. It’s on all of us — men and women — to address campus sexual assault."

Kasich's campaign later tweeted remarks in line with that sentiment, along with more information about Kasich's previous work on combating sexual violence.