In the ongoing battle to Repeal and Replace Obamacare, Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) blames female senators for the Senate's inability to pass the bill. In a radio interview, Farenthold said that it was “absolutely repugnant” that the GOP majority Senate hasn’t acted on repealing the health care law.
When discussing the reasons why the bill remains stagnant, Farenthold told the radio host that "some female senators from the Northeast” were the problem.
"If it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask them to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style," said Farenthold, referencing the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton in 1804.
Farenthold vs. Female Senators
Despite there being a significantly greater number of men in the Senate, the women are still to blame for them not being able to agree, according to Farenthold. Out of 100 total seats in the Senate, women have only have 21 of those seats. 16 of those women are Democrat and only 5 are Republican. Yet, those five women are taking the brunt of the blame.
This is not the first time Farenthold has made an off putting comment about women in the public eye. Last October, he had to apologize for saying that his dedication was so strong to Donald Trump that he "would have to consider" withdrawing his support if Trump had said that he "really liked to rape women." Further, in 2014, Farenthold was sued for sexual harassment and gender discrimination by his former communications director Lauren Greene.
The women at fault
While Farenthold did not name anyone specific, some suggest he could be talking about Susan Collins (R - Maine) who has been a consistent opposer of the GOP replacement for Obamacare. Collins has been an oppositional voice in the GOP's plan to make severe cuts to Medicaid, a service that provides health coverage to millions of Americans.
Collins is not alone in the opposition towards her own party. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R - West Virginia) and Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska) have also opposed elements of the GOP healthcare replacement.
However, the GOP female senators are not the only Republicans opposing the new health care bill. This debate has been a hot button topic since the beginning of this year when Trump took office.
Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Rob Portman (R- Ohio) have also expressed opposition to the healthcare bill. Earlier today, retired GOP House speaker John Boehner expressed his doubt in his own party's ability to repeal Obamacare.
Will Farenthold take his opposing male colleagues up on his duel threat? Only time will tell.
