There seem to be some sour grapes between Texas governor Rick Perry and state senator Wendy Davis after her marathon filibuster put a stop to the state’s proposed anti-abortion bill .
At the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas Thursday, Perry criticized Davis and the media’s characterization of her as a “hero” in light of her role in stopping a strict anti-abortion bill in the state legislature on Tuesday.
“She was the daughter of a single woman,” Perry said of Davis. “She was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate.”
“It’s just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters,” he said.
The proposed bill, SB5, would close all but five abortion clinics in the state, pull back the cut-off to 20 weeks, and do away with rape and incest exceptions. Republican supporters have defended the bill, saying that it would only make abortions safer while critics believe it is a massive sleight against women’s rights and a stepping stone to the blanket illegality of abortion.
Later, Davis told ABC News affiliate WFAA-TV that Perry’s statements about her personal life were “without dignity.”
“They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view,” she said. “Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test.”
Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, also blasted Perry’s comments in a prepared statement.
“Rick Perry’s remarks are incredibly condescending and insulting to women.This is exactly why the vast majority of Texans believe that politicians shouldn’t be involved in a woman’s personal health care decisions. Women are perfectly capable of deciding whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy, or raise a child, and they don’t need Rick Perry’s help making that decision.”
You can watch a video of Rick Perry’s comments on Wendy Davis below, via ThinkProgress:
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