Oregon Congressional Candidate Under Fire For Insulting FLOTUS

SALEM, OR — Mark Roberts, one of two Oregon congressional candidates running against incumbent Rep. Greg Walden for Oregon's District 2 House seat, provoked the ire of conservatives across the nation last week when he implied first lady Melania Trump was a prostitute. Roberts, a self-described "independent conservative," made the comment in a tweet reply to Turning Point USA-founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk originally tweeted a factoid noting that Trump retains a staff of five individuals while former First Lady Michelle Obama retained a staff of 44. In response, Roberts wrote, "Did you know the First Lady works by the hour? #thinkdirty #hoebag."

Many GOP leaders and conservative figureheads immediately spoke out against Roberts' comment, with several asking Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to intervene.

Fox News host Laura Ingraham and NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch were among those to quickly speak out in the first lady's defense, which is a little surprising, considering remarks they've made in the past about former U.S. presidents, celebrities, politicians, and journalists.

In an interview with Glamour magazine Aug. 1, two days after Roberts made his comment, the first lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said, "This is just more hypocritical intolerance from those who oppose her husband’s administration. To say such ugly words about a mother, wife, and our First Lady is not just a pathetic attempt at getting himself in the news; it is disturbing and despicable."

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Additionally, Roberts' presumptive constituency in Oregon also responded with disgust and repudiation.

Roberts told Patch in an email Monday night that he intends to address the controversial comment next week during a scheduled radio interview with KMED radio personality Bill Meyer. But beyond the comment, Roberts said he hopes his message to Oregon voters remains clear.

"The message I would like to send to Oregon voters is the same message I've been speaking about since I registered as a candidate on Sept. 4, 2017 and one that's clearly visible on the front page of my website: That I am Pro Oregon and not interested in the DC power divide, partisan politics or being a proxy vote," Roberts said. "My goal is to provide the people of the 2nd Congressional District with representation and produce opportunity they deserve that has been absent for the last 18 years."

In his email, Roberts addressed the perceived legislative failures of his political opponents and discussed specific legislative remarks and choices both have recently made, from Walden's effort "to establish a blue ribbon panel to decide whether smoke is bad" to Democratic nominee Jamie McLeod-Skinner's stance on gun rights and healthcare woes.

Roberts accuses Walden of plagiarizing solutions to Oregon's forest management issues by lifting information straight from Roberts' website, shakeamillionhands.com. And he said McLeod-Skinner "has some problems of her own when it comes to reality," with specific regard to her understanding of rural healthcare and the second amendment.

Lastly, Roberts noted his desire to be a part of the conversation when (and if) Walden agrees to debate McLeod-Skinner.

McLeod-Skinner made headlines in Eastern Oregon last month when she stopped the Chief Joseph Days Parade on July 28 and walked right up to Walden's vehicle to shake his hand and challenge him to at least three debates in EO counties before November. Walden at the time said he would be willing, but nothing has yet come to pass.

Regardless, Roberts wants to be there when it happens — though he doesn't really think it will.

"Although I don't believe Congressman Walden is man enough to live up to his promise to debate Ms. Mcleod, I think it would be a disservice to the voters if a debate were to occur without me in it so the voters could make their own educated opinion on who they choose to hire or fire on election day," he said.

Image via Chris McGrath/Getty, Mark Roberts