'A woman can behave as a slut, but you can't CALL her a slut?' Shocking 2012 radio clip of Republican congressman complaining about using a sexist label sparks fury after resurfacing online

  • Representative Jason Lewis, now 62, represents Minnesota's 2nd District and is up for reelection
  • He used to host a nationally syndicated radio show called The Jason Lewis Show
  • This week, audio from a 2012 show resurfaced in which Lewis laments that it is no longer acceptable to call a woman a 'slut'
  • He complained, 'a woman can behave as a slut, but you can't call her a slut?'
  • After the clip resurfaced, Lewis laughed and dismissed it as a 'campaign smear'
  • National Republican Congressional Committee said it would continue to back Lewis in his bid for reelection 

A Republican congressman from Minnesota has come under fire for lamenting that it has become socially unacceptable to call women 'sluts'.

Rep. Jason Lewis, who represents Minnesota's 2nd District, is currently up for reelection — and his race became a particularly contentious one this week when audio from 2012 resurfaced via CNN.

The clip, recorded during a radio show that Lewis used to host, captures the politician complaining: 'A woman can behave as a slut, but you can't call her a slut?' 

Scroll down for audio 

Dirty words: Rep. Jason Lewis, who represents Minnesota's 2nd District has come under fire for comments he made on 2012, which he now says he stands by

Dirty words: Rep. Jason Lewis, who represents Minnesota's 2nd District has come under fire for comments he made on 2012, which he now says he stands by

Before becoming a US representative, Lewis hosted a nationally syndicated radio program called The Jason Lewis Show.

In an episode that aired in March of 2012, he was speaking about Rush Limbaugh, who at the time had caused controversy by calling Georgetown University graduate student Sandra Fluke a 'slut'. 

 In the old days, what we used to call people... that were sexually active, we called them sluts

Fluke had just testified before a congressional group in favor of religious institutions covering the cost of birth control in its healthcare plans. 

'Limbaugh's reasoning was, look, if you're demanding tat the tax payers pay for your contraception you must you a lot of them, and therefore, ergo, youre very sexual active. 

'And in the old days, what we used to call people that were in college, or even graduate school, that were sexually active, we called them sluts.

'Now, obviously that's a stretch. It was meant as an aspect of entertainment radio. But have we really got to the point where you cant refer to Madonna as a slut without being sued? 

Not OK to use derogatory terms? On his old radio show, he complained that women 'can behave as a slut, but you can’t call her a slut'

Not OK to use derogatory terms? On his old radio show, he complained that women 'can behave as a slut, but you can’t call her a slut'

'I mean, Madonna has had a series of lovers, as have many in Hollywood, and in the old days, what did we call them? Madonna dresses up in these sort of prostitute-like outfitys on stage and she goes there and she sings and she shows half of her body.

'What did we call those people 30 years ago, 40 years ago, 50 years ago? You can't do that today, it's too politically incorrect? 

It used to be that women were held to a higher standard... We required modesty from women

'But be that as it may, we are losing the language. 

After arguing that people should be able to use a work because it was used decades ago, he went on to further question whether a woman has 'the right to behave' promiscuously, and if they do, whether it is OK to call them a sexist slur. 

'Well, the thing is, can we call anybody a slut? This is what begs the question. Take this woman out of it, take Rush out of it for a moment. 

'Does a woman now have the right to behave — and I know there’s a double standard between the way men chase women and, you know, running and running around — you know, I’m not going to get there, but you know what I’m talking about. 

Reaction: Voters have expressed outrage on social media

Reaction: Voters have expressed outrage on social media

Reelection: Some have tweeted a call to action, demanding that constituents vote him out of office this year

Reelection: Some have tweeted a call to action, demanding that constituents vote him out of office this year

Called out: Actress Jennifer Esposito tweeted, 'THIS is what we as women are STILL up against,' calling Lewis 'disgusting, ignorant, hateful, [and] fearful'

Called out: Actress Jennifer Esposito tweeted, 'THIS is what we as women are STILL up against,' calling Lewis 'disgusting, ignorant, hateful, [and] fearful'

Bad words: Many are calling him sexist and misogynistic online

Bad words: Many are calling him sexist and misogynistic online

'But it used to be that women were held to a little bit of a higher standard. We required modesty from women. Now, are we beyond those days where a woman can behave as a slut, but you can’t call her a slut?'

The comments appear to have flown mostly under-the-radar when they first aired in 2012, when Lewis was yet to hold public office.

Now, however, as he seeks reelection, the clip has come to light and sparked outrage online.

Actress Jennifer Esposito tweeted, 'THIS is what we as women are STILL up against. THIS disgusting, ignorant, hateful, fearful tiny boy who is obviously so scared of women&sexuality. Needs 2call them names & put them in “place” 2feel like a "man."'

'Well, Congressman Jason Lewis, if you need to have a nasty name for women, what do we call men who sleep around? Oh yeah, politicians,' wrote one Twitter user.

A woman chimed in: '#JasonLewis, just so you know, #Sluts also vote, and #Sluts will vote to shut you up & out of office.' 

Lewis is being challenged by Democrat Angie Craig, who also ran against him in 2016 (pictured)

Lewis is being challenged by Democrat Angie Craig, who also ran against him in 2016 (pictured right)

Not a fan: She tweeted this week that she is 'deeply disappointed' by his remarks

Not a fan: She tweeted this week that she is 'deeply disappointed' by his remarks

Votes: Organizations like Emily's List and Planned Parenthood have chimed in

Votes: Organizations like Emily's List and Planned Parenthood have chimed in

Yikes: Lewis has made several other controversial comments about women, minorities, and slavery

Yikes: Lewis has made several other controversial comments about women, minorities, and slavery

Get out there: Chelsea Handler encouraged people to vote for his opponent

Get out there: Chelsea Handler encouraged people to vote for his opponent

The clip has inspired many to speak out in favor of his challenger, Angie Craig. 

Following the re-release of the audio, Lewis himself has responded to the controversy, dismissing the negative reaction.

In an interview with WCCO Radio Thursday, Lewis defended his right to free speech, said he was paid to be provocative and called publicizing the comments a 'campaign smear'. 

'I've had to answer a lot of questions over the years, a lot of good ones and a lot of silly ones. You know what, it comes with the territory. Not only do I like the questions, I enjoy a good debate. That's what politics is all about,' he said.

Jesse Hunt, national communication director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told The Associated Press that it would continue to back Lewis. 

Angie Craig, who narrowly lost to Lewis in 2016 and is running again this year, called it 'deeply disappointing'.

Prepared: This Minnesotan is ready to vote Lewis out of office

Prepared: This Minnesotan is ready to vote Lewis out of office

Condemned: Another Minnesota politician, Robert Bierman, called him 'despciable'

Condemned: Another Minnesota politician, Robert Bierman, called him 'despciable'

Lewis dismissed concerns over his comments and claimed he made them because he was paid to do a radio show

Lewis dismissed concerns over his comments and claimed he made them because he was paid to do a radio show

'Our leaders are role models for our kids and must hold themselves to that standard,' she wrote on Twitter.

When CBS News asked Lewis to address the backlash to the comments, the congressman was seen laughing before asking dismissively, 'They're back with that?'

He said that his comments were taken out of context and changed the subject to talk about his opponent.

When CBS News asked Lewis to address the backlash to the comments, he asked dismissively, 'They're back with that?'

When CBS News asked Lewis to address the backlash to the comments, he asked dismissively, 'They're back with that?'

His non-apologetic response only seems to have outraged his critics further.

'The only thing more despicable than these comments is Lewis’ adamant claim that he is the victim and his comments are being “taken out of context”. @RepJasonLewis what context could ever make these comments okay?' tweeted Minnesota politician Robert Bierman. 

It's not Lewis's first brush with backlash to his career as a conservative commentator. His on-air comments were widely circulated during his first campaign, including a remark that young women were 'non-thinking' for their passion for contraceptive access.    

'I think anybody that's listened to [the show] knows that I have given great thought into the positions I've taken. I've not come at these things in a capricious way,' he said in 2016.

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Minnesota Representative Jason Lewis 2012 radio clip complaining not OK to call women sluts

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