Behind every strong man is an even stronger woman–especially if she is conservative.

Combine true empowerment, feminine virtue, ambition, maternal instincts, sass, and intelligence–and what do you get? A force to be reckoned.

How do most people respond to strong conservative women? Women, despite our competitive nature, like seeing other women succeed. We elevate our fellow females who are gutsy, smart, principled, and serious. Alternatively, men have a more mixed view of strong conservative women. If a man is insecure with himself, he despises them, trashes their character, and seeks to put them down. If a man is confident with himself, he recognizes their talents, beauty, charm, hard work ethic, and desires to surround himself with them.

Before suggesting our sector of the female gender is just as man-hating, delusional, or gender-driven as our counterparts comprising the female establishment, I suggest noting the differences. We respect difference of opinion, we believe women can chart their own course (career, motherhood, or both), we believe men complement us, and we wholly reject big government dictating our lives. More importantly, we don’t allow women OR men to bully us into submission, complacency, or gutter politics.

One man who isn’t afraid of strong conservative women is Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who expressed his admiration for strong women at last night’s CNN GOP Townhall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I particularly enjoyed what he said about strong women when answering a question on how he has made his campaign palatable to women.

“Listen, when you’re married to a strong woman professional, you see the nonsense that women deal with in the business environment. You see the garbage they put up with. And, it makes you mad. I’ve been blessed my whole life to be surrounded by strong women,” said Cruz.

He added, “I believe every issue is a women’s issue”

Below is the link to the full clip:

I have been blessed to be surrounded by strong women my entire life. https://t.co/q37kfueOtQ #GOPTownHall — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 30, 2016

Alternatively, who fears strong conservative women? Arguably Donald Trump and those entrenched in party politics on both sides of the aisle. Take into account Donald Trump’s attacks on Megyn Kelly, Carly Fiorina, Heidi Cruz, Amanda Carpenter, and Michelle Fields, just to name a few.

First, his attacks on Megyn Kelly came after she pressed him at the Fox News debate in August about his disparaging comments towards women–where she rightfully questioned his temperament as unpresidential. In typical Trump fashion, he lashed out at her and suggested she unfairly attacked him. (How dare someone challenge Il Trumpo? The horror, the horror!) He then disparaged Kelly by suggesting she had “blood coming out of her wherever” and has relentlessly attacked her integrity ever since. Then he proceeded to attack Carly Fiorina’s face. Not surprising for a guy who’s a notorious philanderer, has been thrice-married, and judges women on their appearance. Next came Trump’s attack on Heidi Cruz. How did Trump respond to an anti-Trump PAC with no clear affiliation to his competitor Ted Cruz? He threatened to “spill the beans” on Mrs. Cruz and proceeded to disparage her marriage to Cruz by coordinating a hit piece in National Enquirer suggesting the senator is unfaithful to her. (An insinuation of infidelity by Cruz, who is loyal and faithful to his wife, is pure hogwash and garbage.) Shortly after, conservative commentator and CNN contributor Amanda Carpenter was attacked by the Trump machine as one of Cruz’s “alleged mistresses” for speaking boldly against their antics. She immediately fired back and maintained her credibility as she always does. And then comes Trump’s attack on Michelle Fields, who was manhandled by Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Yesterday, he was charged with simple battery. And what does Trump proceed to do in response to this? He defames Fields’ character, calls her a liar, and openly mocks her for exposing his campaign’s violent tendencies.

All these women have not succumbed to attacks from the Trump machine. They, like many others out there, have stood their ground despite internet trolls, creeps, and malcontents hurling threats toward them and their families.

For someone who boldly claims “women love me” and “I take great care of women”, Trump has demonstrated the opposite with his blatant sexist, piggish attacks–behavior best exhibited by a petulant 5-year old child. Trump is threatened by people–including strong women–who don’t kiss his ring or fall in line with his bully tactics.

Similarly, powerful men at the helms of party politics in both Republican and Democrat circles fear strong conservative women but better conceal their discontent with them than Trump does.

Conservative women working in politics are unfairly castigated by those who fear them–especially if a woman is strong in her faith, has a good reputation, is cultured, is sharp, and refuses to engage in petty politics or gossip. Regardless if you live in D.C., L.A., or Chicago, if you are a strong conservative woman in politics, someone–usually an insecure man–will try to tear them down to feel better about themselves. They hurl insults, question one’s moral character, or suggest you’re sleazy if your career is taking off or if people are offering you praise. I’ve certainly experienced this unfair treatment as a college student and as a young professional, as have countless other women who are also political operatives. Unlike these brutes, we just don’t let this boorish behavior consume us or bother us. We take the moral high ground and press on.

The good ol’ boys in politics, regardless of party, fear strong conservative women–and they should. We’re a force to be reckoned with. Like our male counterparts who desire to reform politics with policies emboldening limited government, accountability, freedom, and anti-cronyism, strong conservative females are willing to stand up for what’s right when party officials renege on their responsibilities or when fake Republicans hijack our cause.