Vic Ryckaert, and Chelsea Schneider

IndyStar

Amid women’s rights marches that drew massive crowds this weekend, two Indiana lawmakers are facing backlash for controversial Facebook posts, including one that described participants as “fat women out walking.”

Sen. Jack Sandlin, R-Indianapolis, took down the message but not before screenshots had been widely shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Sandlin’s post appeared Sunday and showed a photo of protesters, many in pink hats and carrying signs, with the words, “In one day, Trump got more fat women out walking than Michelle Obama did in 8 years” – referencing the former first lady’s fitness campaign.

Another lawmaker, Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, is facing criticism for a Facebook post he shared Sunday that showed a police officer in riot gear pepper spraying a woman in the face, with the words, “Participation trophies, now in liquid form.” Lucas told IndyStar he doesn’t intend to delete the post.

The organizer of the Indianapolis march said the posts are an example of how out-of-touch some politicians are to women's issues. Other political observers say the posts are among the newest indications of lingering divisiveness after last year’s heated presidential race where the treatment of women was a major issue.

An estimated 4,500 people in Indianapolis and 500,000 in Washington, D.C., participated in events over the weekend.

Sandlin, a rookie senator, deleted the photo and posted a new message late Sunday night.

"Apparently there is an offensive post on Facebook that's attributed to me about women in Washington marching," Sandlin wrote. "Not sure how that ended up on my Facebook wall but that certainly does not reflect my opinion of women. People who know me will know that's not my view."

Sandlin's explanation received more than 950 comments by 7 a.m. Monday. About two hours later, the explanation had been deleted from his Facebook page.

In an interview with IndyStar, Sandlin said he spent the weekend in Washington for the presidential inauguration. He spent most of Sunday traveling.

He said he thinks someone else posted the message to his Facebook wall. He deleted the post shortly after someone alerted him about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Screenshots show Sandlin's account sharing the message directly from another Facebook page, not another account sharing to Sandlin's Facebook page.

"I don't believe that I put it there," Sandlin said in response to an IndyStar question. "There's always an outside chance that I could have hit something. I know others that have had stuff show up on their Facebook wall as well."

As for Lucas, he said he regrets “how out of proportion this has been blown.”

“It wasn’t directed at women in particular,” Lucas said. “Some people are trying to make it a women’s issue. It has absolutely nothing to do with women’s issues. It absolutely has nothing to do with the march.”

Lucas, the House Republicans’ assistant majority whip, said feedback on the post “caught him flat-footed,” but he doesn’t plan to delete it.

“If I were to take it down, that means I’m … allowing myself to be bullied in something that there was no intent or harm meant, and I’m trying to reason with these people,” Lucas said. “If you find it offensive, I get that. I will be more cautious and sensitive moving forward.”

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, declined comment through a spokesman when asked about his thoughts on the post and whether Sandlin would face any discipline.

However, House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, called the post by Lucas “inadvisable.” Bosma said he had spoken with Lucas about it.

“He didn’t intend to insult anyone, but I personally found it to be inappropriate,” Bosma said.

The organizer of the Indianapolis rally said the posts show it’s time for a new generation of leaders.

“There are a lot of lawmakers that seem to be of a certain age that still believe that women should be seen and not heard” said Terri Siler, the organizer of the Indianapolis event who worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign in Indiana.

Megan Robertson, a Republican strategist, said party members should be trying to understand more about the events.

“It does show how divided things are right now politically,” Robertson said, “instead of asking why people are marching, just flying off the handle and being angry people are marching.”

Sandlin served six years on the Indianapolis City-County Council before he was elected to the state Senate in November. Lucas was first elected to the General Assembly in 2012.

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Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @vicryc.