Virginia congressional candidate Krystal Ball called the use of racy photos from her past "sexist and wrong." (Photo Credit: CC BY/Nicholas Beaudrot/Flickr)
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Democrat and 1st Congressional District candidate Krystal Ball, 28, has “an image problem.” Widespread Krystal Ball photos of her dressed as a bad Santa are apparently too much for incumbent Republican opponent Robert Wittman to ignore. Wittman claims his camp had nothing to do with releasing the photos.
Krystal Ball photos include Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The Krystal Ball photos, which are approximately six years old, show the candidate at a college Halloween party with her then-husband. Ball’s husband is dressed as a reindeer with collar and small pet chain, and Ball is wearing a Santa hat. The scandal surrounding the Krystal Ball photos stems from the nose on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which resembles a sex toy, and photos of Ball and a friend interacting with it.
Wittman has asked that the photos be taken down
Whether it is because he doesn’t believe in dirty politics or believes that the damage has already been done, The Times-Dispatch reports that Wittman has requested that the Krystal Ball photos be taken down from the conservative blog where they first appeared. That hasn’t stopped Ball from taking matters into her own hands, however. She has released a YouTube video in which she lashes back at the release of the racy photos. Ball has not denied that the bad Santa in the photos is her and has expressed her embarrassment over the photos’ appearance.
Krystal Ball is angry
In her YouTube response (see below), Krystal Ball discusses important issues pertaining to the midterm election. Unemployment, budget deficits and school systems in need of repair are key themes. But Ball doesn’t sign off without firing back at the “crass political operatives (who) will resort to the politics of personal destruction when they can’t talk about the issues.” She calls the revelation of the Krystal Ball photos to be “sexist and wrong.” Ball also encourages young women with political aspirations – even those who may have done something embarrassing in front of a camera – to run for office and continue to fight.
Sources
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Ball takes ownership, calls out dirty politics
