Right-Wing Media Attack House GOP For “Cowardice” In Dropping Abortion Bill

Special Programs Abortion Rights & Reproductive Health

Written by Lis Power

Published

Conservative media attacked House Republicans for dropping plans to vote on a bill that included a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and attacked the female members, led by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), who objected to the bill.

GOP Leadership Drops Plan To Vote On Abortion Restriction

House GOP Leaders Drop Abortion Bill After Objections From Female Members. Politico reported on January 21 that House Republican leaders had dropped plans to vote on the abortion bill. Noting that the leadership thought this legislation would “pass easily,” Politico asserted, “It's easy to observe that House Republicans have trouble legislating”:

Republican leadership late Wednesday evening had to completely drop its plans to pass a bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks, and is reverting to old legislation that prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions.

The evening switch comes after a revolt from a large swath of female members of Congress, who were concerned about language that said rape victims would not be able to get abortions unless they reported the incident to authorities. [Politico, 1/21/15]

Right-Wing Media Attack House GOP For “Cowardice” In Dropping Bill, Call Rep. Ellmers “Abortion Barbie”

Hot Air: Republican Majority Congress Disappoint After “GOP Women Object.” On the conservative blog Hot Air, Ed Morrissey questioned why the Republican Congress was disappointing pro-life activists during the March for Life, commenting that it “seems like an odd time.” The piece specifically blamed Ellmers and Rep. Jackie Walorksi (R-IN) for the decision to pull the bill, suggesting that they are not “comfortable voting in line with their proclaimed beliefs” and that “if they are this easily discouraged, perhaps they should seek other work.” [Hot Air, 1/22/15]

NY Times' Douthat: “Put Not Your Faith In ... Congressional Republicans.” In response to reports that House Republicans would not hold a vote on the bill, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat cautioned on Twitter, “Put not your faith in princes. Or Congressional Republicans”:

[Twitter.com, 1/21/15]

The Federalist: “Incompetence” And “Cowardice” Led To Dropping The Bill. While explaining why people should be upset by the decision not to vote on the bill, The Federalist's Mollie Hemingway claimed that it was “sabotage of the pro-life movement” and that “incompetence” and “cowardice” are to blame for the failure to act:

What in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks just happened? It takes a special combination of incompetence and cowardice to miss an easy lay-up like this, but apparently the new Republican Congress has it in spades. [The Federalist, 1/22/15]

Fox's Erick Erickson: Renee Ellmers Is “GOP's Abortion Barbie.” In a series of tweets expressing his displeasure with the decision to pull the proposal, RedState blogger and Fox News contributor Erickson called Ellmers the “GOP's Abortion Barbie” and claimed she “stabs prolifers in the back.”

[Twitter.com. 1/21/15; Twitter.com, 1/22/15]

Federalist Co-Founder On GOP Members: “What A Bunch Of Incompetent Cowards.” Sean Davis, co-founder of The Federalist, blamed the House GOP for failure to vote on the bill:

[Twitter.com, 1/21/15]

RedState: Ellmers Is “Worse Than A Democrat.” In a front-page post at RedState, Leon H. Wolf wrote that Ellmers “has been one of the worst members of the GOP caucus” and went on to suggest she was “a cancer in the Republican caucus.” The post ended with a plea for readers to call her office and “voice your frustration with her craven lies.” [RedState, 1/21/15]

Breitbart's Shapiro: “For GOP To Abandon Babies At 20 Weeks For Political Convenience Is Vile.” Breitbart.com senior editor-at-large Ben Shapiro tweeted that House Republicans' failure to vote on the abortion bill is “vile” and that “we may be watching the death of a major party in real time.” Shapiro further tweeted, “If the GOP won't stand with the unborn, it doesn't deserve to stand”:

[Twitter.com, 1/22/15; Twitter.com, 1/22/15]