Dive Summary:

• At a Washington Post forum on education Tuesday, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant answered a moderator's question of how American education became so mediocre with a response about moms being in the workplace.
• Bryant tried to cover his tracks by saying that today's society challenges both parents, not just mothers, but his "the mom is in the workplace" comment inevitably drew fire, with a spokesman saying some reports took the remark out of context and that it wasn't meant to blame working mothers for problems in education.
• State Democratic Party Chairman Ricky Cole accused Bryant of insulting the state's women and relating public school mediocrity to a "Leave it to Beaver" world nobody has any connection to, but the state's GOP Chairman, Joe Nosef, said the governor was just stressing parents' role in education.

From the article:

... Bryant responded, “Oh, I’m going to get in trouble. You want me to tell the truth? You know, I think both parents started working, and the mom is in the workplace. That’s not a bad thing. I’m going to get in trouble. I can just see the emails tomorrow. But now, both parents are working. They’re pursuing their careers. It’s a great American story now, that women are certainly in the workplace.”

He added:, “In today’s society, parents are so challenged. Not just the mom, but the mom and the dad.” ...