Gov. Nikki Haley referred to a (Charleston) Post and Courier reporter as “a little girl” Thursday on Laura Ingraham’s syndicated talk radio show.

“God bless that little girl at The Post and Courier,” said Haley, the state’s first female governor, during the show. “Her job is to try and create conflict. My job is to create jobs, and in the end, I’m going to have jobs to show for it.”

The reporter whom Haley was referencing wrote an article that questioned what Haley and two dozen other officials accomplished during a June European economic development trip.

The trip cost state taxpayers more than $127,000.

S.C. Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian said Haley’s characterization of the reporter displayed “a lack of judgment and maturity.”

“It’s a disgrace that she would diminish a woman trying to do her job,” Harpootlian said. “If she wants to diminish the effort, then she should do it, not attack the messenger.”

Gina Smith