Sen. Rand Paul says the Biden administration’s nominee for education secretary has a stance on transgender athletes in women’s sports that would make most of America ask: “What planet are you from?”
The Kentucky Republican tried to glean Connecticut education commissioner Miguel Cardona’s feelings about the fairness of having biological males who identify as female participating in women’s sports.
“Do you think it’s fair to have boys running in the girls’ track meet?” Mr. Paul asked Wednesday.
“I think it’s the legal responsibility of schools to provide opportunities for students to participate in activities and this includes students who are transgender,” Mr. Cardona replied.
The men sparred for nearly four minutes on the issue.
Mr. Cardona focused on his legal responsibilities if confirmed while the senator concentrated on the physiological differences between an athlete that undergoes male puberty versus one who undergoes female puberty.
“The girls are being pushed out. They don’t make the finals in the state meet,” Mr. Paul continued. Do you worry about having boys run in girls’ track meets?”
“I recognize and appreciate the concerns and the frustrations that are expressed,” Mr. Cardona replied. “As commissioner of education [in Connecticut], I’ve had conversations with families who have felt the way you just described it, and families of students who are transgender. So I understand that this is a challenge. I look forward to working with you and others. … Respectfully, senator, I think I answered the question. I believe schools should offer the opportunity for students to engage in extracurricular activities — even if they’re transgender. I think that’s their right.”
The answer stunned Mr. Paul.
“Well, a lot of us think that that’s bizarre, you know? Not very fair,” he said. “You know, I come from a family that has a lot of girls who have competed in college athletics, who have been state champions and, frankly, you know, some boy that’s 6’2” competing against my 5’4” doesn’t sound very fair. I think most people in the country think it’s bizarre. You know? That it’s just completely bizarre and unfair that people — and you’re gonna run the education? You’ve got no problem with it? That concerns me, and I think this kind of thing is gonna lead to, really, just the vast majority of America just wondering ’Who are these people who think it’s OK? From what planet are you from?
“I mean, to think it’s OK that boys would compete with girls in a track meet, and that somehow would be fair. I wonder where feminists are on this. I wonder where the people who supported women’s sports are on this. I mean, are we all going to be OK with hulking, 6’4” guys, you know, wrestling against girls? It just makes no sense whatsoever. And so, I think the fact that you seem to be afraid to answer the question, or you basically do answer the question by saying it’s OK without saying it’s OK really a statement to a real problem we have and a disconnect between middle America and what most Americans actually believe. I even think most Democrats don’t believe girls should run in the boys’ track meet, you know, boys should run in the girls’ track meet. So, I’m disappointed in the answer and I just can’t imagine that we’re gonna have a policy like that nationally.”
The exchange also comes in the wake of President Biden’s Jan. 20 Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.
.@RandPaul: “Do you think it’s fair to have boys running in the girls track meet?”
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 3, 2021
Sec. @usedgov Nominee Cardona: “I think it’s the legal responsibility of schools to provide opportunities for students to participate in activities and this includes students who are transgender.” pic.twitter.com/XxHqPYyB2E
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.