Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Tuesday accused GOP congresswomen -- who he called "Republican females" -- of sending "entirely the wrong message" when they derailed a 20-week abortion ban because it did not have an acceptable exception for rape.
During a conference call with pastor E.W. Jackson on Tuesday, Gohmert urged conservatives to continue to pressure Republicans in Congress even after bills like the 20-week abortion ban did not pass as expected.
"Really, I think that was driving the abortion bill -- the pro-life bill -- to the floor," he said. "Before it had even gone through committee, our leadership was so anxious to show people, 'Look, we are standing firm on these issues you care about.'"
"Most of the conference was 100 percent in favor of the bill that was going to be brought to the floor. Some of us were wishing that there would not be any exceptions because it was going to be 20 weeks -- no abortions after 20 weeks -- when the evidence is clear those babies feel."
"But there was an exception put on there that unless there was a case of reported rape -- reported to authorities," Gohmert continued. "Well, that became the dividing factor among some of our female members of the House, Republican female members. But some were adamant they didn't want any exceptions, some were saying, no, we [should] not require it be reported to authorities."
The Texas congressman argued that the congresswomen should have taken up their concerns with leadership before the bill came to the floor.
"I'm told that they're still going to bring it back, but because there was such division among our Republican females, they pulled the bill that day," he pointed out. "And that was extremely unfortunate, and it sent the entirely wrong message."
