Matt Gaetz, a Republican representative from Florida, defended his statement that pro-abortion demonstration attendees are overweight and unattractive on Monday.
During a speech in Tampa on Saturday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) claimed that pro-choice women shouldn’t be concerned about having access to abortions because they’re unattractive.
“Why is it that the women that have the lowest chances of getting pregnant are the most concerned about terminating their pregnancy?” said Gaetz. “These people are repulsive on both the inside and the outside,” he later added.
“They’re 5’2, 350lbs, and they are like saying, ‘Give me my abortion or I will get up and start protesting.’ And I am thinking: ‘march? You look like your ankles are weaker than the legal argument behind Roe vs. Wade.’ Some of them need to get up and walk a bit. They need to get up and march for an hour every day, swinging their arms and get the blood pumping before mixing in a salad,” he said.
On Monday, Gaetz doubled down on his remarks when asked by an ABC 3 reporter about them.
“Is it correct to state that, based on your remarks, you believe these women at abortion protests are unattractive and heavy?”
“Yes,” Gaetz replied.
“What would you say to people who believe your remarks are offensive?” the journalist inquired.
“Get offended,” he added.
According to the report, Gaetz also said he is “very pro-life” and has no problem expressing it.
“I despise these persons that go out in pro-abortion, and pro-murder protests. I find them repugnant — and just unpleasant on the inside and out. I have no problem making such a statement. I don’t think that everyone that does not agree with my view on life is an unsightly person,” Gaetz is said to have declared. “But the ones outside marching and protesting at Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh’s home, attempting to bully the court, and proposing a “night of rage” on the nation’s Capitol – which they have advertised – is just pure ugliness. I see that ugliness both inside and out. Even in the event of an abortion, it is nothing to celebrate or shout about.”
