If you wonder just how polarized Toronto civic politics has become, a recent tweet from mayoral hopeful Karen Stintz and the reaction to it speaks volumes. Stintz is being flayed on social media for a tweet empathizing with voters “like you.”
The tweet that started it all Thursday morning:
I am like you. I have a mortgage, kids, one car, and soccer games. Lets make it better. #TOconversation #karen4mayor #topoli
— Karen Stintz (@KarenStintz) February 27, 2014
The reaction was swift and furious. It centred mostly on what users viewed as Stintz’s assumptions of lifestyle and level of class:
@KarenStintz I don't have any of those things.
— Branden Wesseling (@BCWesseling) February 27, 2014
As someone with a mortgage, car and kid, please allow me to repudiate nonsense like this. https://t.co/0ccIA9Q0Jk
— Chris Tindal (@christindal) February 27, 2014
@KarenStintz That's not like me. Rent, use public transit, need more affordable child care #TOconversation #topoli @johntoryTO
— Lisa Duncan (@penkill) February 27, 2014
"FINALLY someone to look out for the upper middle class" STINTZ 2014 @KarenStintz #topoli
— Ian MacIntyre (@MrIanMacIntyre) February 27, 2014
.@BCWesseling @KarenStintz Me neither. Thanks for looking out for people who always get looked out for. They need it. #sameTOconversation
— Doppel Danielle (@doppeldanielle) February 27, 2014
.@karenstintz While I have none of those things, I am blonde, watch pro soccer games and I vote. So close enough! #topoli
— Valerie (@valerieinto) February 27, 2014
@KarenStintz 50% of Torontonians don't have mortgages Karen. We're renters bc of skyrocketing property values. You're out of touch #topoli
— Peter Paper (@paperpater) February 27, 2014
@KarenStintz @MaryTylerMog You are not like me at all. I have one kid and live in poverty. A car, soccer lessons and a house are but a dream
— Septembre Anderson (@SeptembreA) February 27, 2014
.@KarenStintz I rent, have no kids, cycle & use transit. Looking for mayor to serve my needs too. Diverse city needs diverse policy #TOPoli
— Alex Naylor (@_alexnaylor) February 27, 2014
I bike but have a mortgage do I fit?! RT @KarenStintz: I am like you. I have a mortgage, kids, 1 car, and soccer games. Lets make it better.
— Lauren Simmons (@laurendorphin) February 27, 2014
.@KarenStintz None of those make you like me. Way to relate to people. #topoli #KarenFord
— August Murphy-King (@august_mk) February 27, 2014
.@KarenStintz This is incoherent. What are you saying? What does "it" refer to? And who's "you"? It certainly isn't me.
— Norm Wilner (@normwilner) February 27, 2014
@KarenStintz I have a mortgage, kids, and car. I want a mayor who doesn't pander to me, who sees that we are already the privileged ones.
— Stephanie Fysh (@stephaniefysh) February 27, 2014
https://twitter.com/russless/statuses/439049978238238721
–@KarenStintz Let's all get a mortgage, car & play sports: that*would*be better. I rent, struggle with daycare costs, bike, and work 3 jobs.
— Glendon Mellow (@FlyingTrilobite) February 27, 2014
.@KarenStintz My rent is over 60% of my take home pay. I'm a single parent who has never been able to afford soccer, let alone a car. wtf.
— Jennie M. (@gwenstyles) February 27, 2014
It was a dumb tweet from Stintz. Although, when you actually get off the sidelines and enter the race, sometimes that happens. #TOpoli
— Jeff Jedras (@jeffjedras) February 27, 2014
Did the v. savvy @JPBoutros get a chance to vet that disastrous "I am like you" tweet before Karen Stintz sent it? Suspect not. #TOpoli
— Adam Barnett (@shallimus) February 27, 2014
@Shawnte @KarenStintz What are odds of someone having a mortgage, kids, a car and soccer? I know NO people with those 4 things. #topoli
— joseph travers (@josephtravers) February 27, 2014
Soccer Moms Support Stintz! #StintzCampaignSlogans #TOpoli
— JoeTory (@True_Tory) February 27, 2014
A few people didn’t jump to the attack. Some tried to explain what they though Stintz meant by the tweet, and others said there was nothing wrong with it:
Stintz's "everywoman" schtick may rile many of us Twitterers, but I'm pretty sure she's not really campaigning for *our* votes, by and large
— Nick W (@nick_wdt) February 27, 2014
I guess I’ll take Stintz’s “I’m your average suburban soccer mom” over Ford’s “I’m your average millionaire substance abuser!” #TOPoli
— Myrna✨ (@SailorSoapbox) February 27, 2014
.@musingsfrom_to It isn't about Stintz being middle class herself, it's the targeting of people with mortgages and children.
— emma woolley (@emmamwoolley) February 27, 2014
I don't have kids or go to soccer games, and I'm not the least bit offended by the Karen Stinz tweet. #topoli
— Julie Wright (@reddogcw) February 27, 2014
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