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It isnt only Donald Trump tossing out the insults these days.

Racism, sexism and ageism have already raised their ugly heads and the presidential campaigns have barely begun. And, sadly, it seems most of the recent insults and derogatory remarks have been directed at the female candidates.

One of the latest flaps was Don Lemons snarky comment about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on CNN.

Talking about her suggestion that all presidential candidates over the age of 75 should be required to pass a cognition test to make sure their intellectual capacities have not diminished, Lemon said of the 50ish Haley, Nikki Haley isnt in her prime. Sorry. When a woman is considered to be in her prime is her 20s and 30s maybe 40s.

As you can imagine, it all hit the fan.

Lemon later apologized and CNN Chairman Chris Licht told his staff Lemons comments were upsetting, unacceptable and unfair.

Reaction from New Jersey former Gov. Dick Codey, after Republican State Chairman Bob Hugin insulted Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, was a lot stronger.

The language and the attitude are classless and inexcusable. Chairman Hugin should resign immediately, said Codey after Hugin called Sherrill a piece of sh-- congresswoman after she defeated his candidate in Somerset County.

Sherrill shrugged off the insult and Haley used the offense against her to launch a fund-raising campaign.

But it isnt only men picking on the women.

On ABCs The View, host Sunny Hostins comments about Haley were blasted as a racist attack. She went off on a rant about the former UN ambassador, saying she was using a fake name to hide her Indian heritage. Haleys birth name is Nimrata, but shes been known as Nikki since grade school.

Ironically, Hostin also uses a nickname, claiming she calls herself Sunny because undereducated Americans dont know how to pronounce Ascunsion.

Then conservative pundit Ann Coulter weighed in. Nastily, as always. On the Mark Simone podcast, she made several xenophobic comments about Haley. Although the former South Carolina governor was born in the United States to Indian immigrants, Coulter taunted, Why dont you go back to your own country?

Haleys not going to have it easy on the campaign trail. Nor will Kamala Harris, Marianne Williamson or any of the other women considering a run for the White House. But Im certain that wont deter them. After a short time in public life, you build up callouses to prevent your feeling wounded when you are deliberately or inadvertently insulted.

Things have undoubtedly improved for female candidates. There were six major contestants for the White House in 2020 and there may be even more this year. Not long ago Christie Whitman was a sensation as a female governor; now there are 12 in states and a few more in American territories.

However, as an editorial in this newspaper said only a short time ago, New Jersey still lags in electing women. Sometimes it is indeed the old boys network that selects mostly male candidates, but as often it is because women are unable or unwilling to put in the work necessary to climb the political ladder.

Women undoubtedly have the knowledge to seriously address public issues, and Rutgers has a program on navigating the politics of becoming known and trusted by both party decision-makers and voters.

The Institute for Womens Leadership at Rutgers University offers excellent training to potential candidates, and I recommend that any woman interested in public affairs should enroll. Unfortunately, theyll probably need to continue teaching the girls how to ignore an insult for some time to come.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com.

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Insults in the political world continue and theyre aimed at women | Quigley - NJ.com