SALEM, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- She's a 30-year old four term Republican state representative in New Hampshire, a graduate of Tufts, the New England Conservatory and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Now State Representative Marilinda Garcia is running for Congress in new Hampshire. Just a week ago, right after she announced, another state rep, Democrat Peter Sullivan took to Twitter, and compared her to Kim Kardashian.
"Yeah, I would say I don't deserve being compared to an airhead," she told FOX 25 political reporter Sharman Sacchetti.
It gets worse.
After that, he compared her to another Republican state representative, "in stiletto heels" and then called her a "lightweight."
Finally, refusing to say he was sorry, Sullivan wrote this:"I want to apologize to Kim Kardashian for comparing her to a right wing extremist like Marilinda Garcia.
"Is he being sexist?," Sacchetti asked. "I think that has been said and I think his comments would support that," Garcia responded.
Sullivan refused to speak with FOX 25 on camera. On the phone, he told us his comparison to Kim Kardashian had nothing to do with the way Garcia looks but rather because she's a "celebrity for no reason," arguing Garcia hasn't done anything during her time in office. When we asked him about the stiletto heels comment, he told us, "that's how she dresses," and "that's how she portrays herself."
"I've always tried to dress very professionally to befit someone holding public office in this state or anywhere else. And I would say he has been probably the unprofessional one in this situation," Garcia said.
Sullivan sent us a statement that called the whole thing "politically motivated nonsense," and that he is the one under attack here.
It reads in part, "for the last week, Marilinda Garcia's supporters have subjected my family and friends to some of the most vile attacks I have ever seen in my years in politics."
He goes on to say, "I have not received a single complaint from a constituent, I have not received a single complaint from the activists who advocate on behalf of New Hampshire's women."
And that, perhaps, raises another question: Why not?
Garcia tells us an unfortunate consequence "of these types of comments is that it would discourage other women from getting involved in public service or running for office."
I asked Garcia if she wanted an apology, and she told me she thinks all women deserve an apology.
Garcia is running for the seat currently held by Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster.
"Derogatory comments like these are completely inappropriate and have no place in our politics, regardless of which party they come from," Kuster said.
We reached out to the New Hampshire State Democratic Party, which said Rep. Sullivan should apologize.