Rep. Hayworth adviser who suggested hurling acid at Dems resigns

The campaign adviser who suggested that opponents "hurl some acid at those female Democratic senators" has resigned from the congressional campaign of Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.).

“Jay Townsend has offered, and I have accepted, his resignation from his position with my campaign," Hayworth said in a statement. "Now let's return to talking about issues that really matter to families: job creation, spending restraint and economic development.”

Hayworth's Democratic opponent, cardiologist Richard Becker, quickly seized upon the remark, which Townsend made during a series of exchanges with Democratic activists on Facebook.

"When is Tommy boy going to weigh in on all the Lilly Ledbetter hypocrites who claim to be fighting the War on Women? Let’s hurl some acid at those female democratic Senators who won’t abide the mandates they want to impose on the private sector," Townshend wrote.

Townshend later took to the social network to apologize.

"I posted a stupid, thoughtless and insensitive comment on a Facebook page. It was stupid because my words were easily misconstrued; thoughtless because my choice of words obscured a point I was trying to make, and insensitive because some have interpreted the comment as advocating a violent act," Townshend wrote. "To friends, associates and clients I have offered my apology for the embarrassment I have caused, and do hereby offer it to the many who rightly found fault with my incendiary choice of words. The mistake was mine, and mine only and the post in no way was intended to represent the views of anyone for whom I have worked or represented."

But Becker continued to hammer Hayworth over the comments, denouncing Townshend's language as "uniquely violent" and "simply unacceptable" in a letter Monday morning demanding his firing.

By Monday afternoon, Townshend was gone.

"Nan Hayworth finally listened to us, listened to reason, and listened to the tens of thousands of people across this country who were justifiably outraged at Mr. Townsend's remarks," Becker said in a statement Monday.

"The timing of this announcement, coming one hour after we completed a press conference outside of Hayworth's office calling on her to take exactly this step, was not coincidental. Our campaign broke this story, and for five days we've been leading the charge to hold Mr. Townsend and Rep. Hayworth accountable for the horrendous comments made on her behalf. This kind of language is unbecoming of a Congressional spokesman and unworthy of the Hudson Valley, and we're pleased Nan Hayworth belated realized what most of us saw last week."

The Hill's House ratings give the congresswoman the advantage in retaining her seat, ranking the race as "lean Republican."

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