So this is what it’s come to, just a few days removed from the 90th anniversary of the day the 19th Amendment was ratified. Elyse Siegel at the Huffington Post reports that Minnesota’s 56th District GOP committee wants you to vote Republican because they think their favorite conservatives look better in bikinis:

The nearly five-minute long spot is set to the tune of Tom Jones' "She's a Lady" and touts the physique of ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, along with that of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and other familiar female conservative faces.

Following a montage of images hyping the Republican looks, the music transitions to Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" before distorted snapshots of House Speaker Nancy Pelsoi, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Rosie O'Donnell's head photoshopped onto 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's body flash across the screen.

(First Lady Michele Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are also among the Democratic figures highlighted in the web ad.)

DFL State Chair Brian Melendez blasted the message of the web ad, calling it “Sexist and offensive.” He added that “The day when a woman was judged by her looks rather than her competence and intelligence should have passed three generations ago.” We would add that cheap-shot personal attacks against an officeholder’s family are supposed to be off-limits, too.

But then again, political instincts like those displayed by 56th District Republicans are probably one reason Democrats gained 32 State Legislative seats in Minnesota over the last two cycles (including both State House seats and the State Senate seat in district 56).

That’s because Minnesota voters have a long history of rewarding candidates who campaign respectfully of each other and punishing candidates who behave like oafs.

So by all means: stay classy, Minnesota Republicans.