Reporter says Ron DeSantis' 'pale pastels' remarks during debate with Nikki Haley 'could start to ring a little sexist'

Ali Vitali, who indicates on Instagram that she is an NBC News and MSNBC correspondent, suggested that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' references to "pale pastels" during a GOP presidential primary debate against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley could be perceived as "sexist."

"A color scheme, 'pale pastel' or otherwise, is not the way you attack a presidential candidate. None of the men who’ve been on these debate stages have had their clothes used to criticize their policies," Vitali tweeted.

"DeSantis slamming the 'pale pastels' of Haley’s policies…as she stands there in a pale pastel pink dress," Vitali wrote on an NBC News blog during the debate. "At a certain point, the 'pale pastels' commentary could start to ring a little sexist. None of the male candidates are being taken to task for their bright red ties' somehow being akin to their policy stances," Vitali opined.

In what seemed to be an apparent attempt to hearken back to terminology that had been used by Ronald Reagan, DeSantis repeatedly used the "pale pastels" language while debating Haley on Wednesday night.

"We need to fly a flag of bold colors ... not the pale pastels of the warmed-over corporatism of people like Nikki Haley," DeSantis declared.

During remarks at the 1976 Republican National Convention, Reagan said, "I believe the Republican Party has a platform that is a banner of bold, unmistakable colors with no pale pastel shades." He used the figure of speech during remarks at the 1984 Repubican National Convention, saying, "Four years ago, we raised a banner of bold colors, no pale pastels."

Reagan lost the 1976 GOP presidential nomination to then-President Gerald Ford. But the actor-turned-politician ultimately ended up winning the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Reagan, who won the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, served as president from early 1981 until early 1989.

People on social media responded to Vitali's tweet.

"This reporter thinks this old quote is about clothes. Please tell me this is a parody account," Dana Loesch tweeted.

"Ron DeSantis has used this line quite a bit on the campaign trail, and it stems from Ronald Reagan's 1976 speech at the Republican convention in which he called for leading with bold colors vs. pale pastels. Has nothing to do with clothes..." DeSantis campaign spokesperson Carly Atchison tweeted.

"Lots of folks — rightly so— pointing out that this was a famous Reagan line. Also worth noting Santorum used it all the time in 2012," Jonah Goldberg wrote.

Vitali is the author of a book titled, "ELECTABLE: Why America Hasn't Put A Woman In the White House...Yet."

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