Are you a thumb? Am I a thumb?

Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz might think so. He has presented a new theory that some women look like a thumb, and need therefore not concern themselves with advocating for abortion rights. Yes, you read that right.

Gaetz gave a speech at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa over the weekend. In his speech he said “women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having abortions,” at “pro-abortion, pro-murder rallies”. Gaetz remarks were his latest dig at reproductive rights activists, since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that once protected a person’s right to choose reproductive healthcare without excessive government restriction. In other words, to choose an abortion, instead of giving birth. Pro-Choice was the term we used to indicate that whatever a woman would choose to do with her pregnancy would be legally supported by her government.

Gaetz has suggested, that instead of marching at rallies, unattractive women should “march for like an hour a day” and “get the blood pumping”. Gaetz said, “have you watched these pro-abortion, pro-murder rallies? The people are just disgusting. Why is it that the women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about having abortions. Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb. These people are odious from the inside out. They’re like 5′-2”, 350 lbs., and they’re like ‘give me my abortion or I’ll get up and march and protest’.

“A few of them need to get up and march. They need to get up and march for like an hour a day. Swing those arms. Get the blood pumping. And mix in a salad.”

Gaetz’ remarks were swiftly condemned for his sexist and misogynist commentary.

Matt Gaetz crystalizes right wing policy platforms 100 days from the midterm elections: “only hot women will have rights.”

How did it become acceptable in the United States of America, whatever your views on abortion, whatever your gender or size, for this comment to be said in public to a crowd of Americans who laugh uproariously?

It’s not okay to say these things. Sex, intercourse and pregnancy don’t just happen to beautiful men and women, they happen to people who are attracted to one another and care for one another. It happens to people who respect one another, are attracted to each other’s minds, their goals and ambitions. It happens to people who share common ground, and it happens to people to have respect for the same ideals, not just for her body measurements and his physique and how well he played sports when in school.

This is the most disgusting, unAmerican and misogynistic words that I have ever heard come out of the mouth of an elected official, and I have been working for the rights of women and children since the 1970’s. I have heard some pretty misogynist remarks come out of the mouths of elected officials, but this takes the cake. This shames him, his parents, his family and shames what America stands for.

Namaste,

Idealisticrebel