[user104658]

Hm. It is used as a dogwhistle issue, which doesn't mean it "is one", however there's nothing in pointing out that it's used as a dogwhistle that reduces the severity of what the issue is. Those are two completely separate considerations. It 100% is used to dogwhistle.

That said;

saying that openly, and definitely saying it in the way it was said, in public... let alone on the radio... is not good and most likely she should resign. It's something you acknowledge in a private conversation, not a statement you make publicly, especially knowing that the general public are unlikely to fully understand the concept.