GOP State Representative Ripped Over ‘Despicable’ Veterinarian-Abortion Take
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Wisconsin state Rep. Joel Kitchens (R) on Thursday drew fierce backlash on X, formerly Twitter, for what critics described as the “despicable” and misogynistic way in which he argued against a potential 14-week abortion ban.
“The question is whether abortion is health care, and if you believe a fetus is a human life, then abortion is not health care,” Kitchens said during a debate on the Wisconsin State Assembly floor in footage that was shared online by Heartland Signal.
“You know, in my veterinary career, I did thousands of ultrasounds on animals, you know, determining pregnancy and that kind of thing,” Kitchens continued. “So, I think I know mammalian fetal development better than probably anyone here. And in my mind, there’s absolutely no question that’s a life, and I think the science backs me up on that.”
Debating a 14-week abortion ban, Wisconsin State Rep. Joel Kitchens (R) says abortion isn't health care and claims he's an expert because he was a veterinarian:
"I did thousands of ultrasounds on animals ... I think I know mammalian fetal development better than anyone here." pic.twitter.com/6Yv6ceG6vm— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 25, 2024
Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who is a history professor at New York University, was among those aghast at Kitchens’ spin.
“Misogyny in action ― women, animals, it’s all the same,” she wrote.
MSNBC’s Symone Sanders-Townsend echoed the sentiment, writing, “Women = animals? Mmm.”
Others agreed:
Misogyny in action- women, animals, it's all the same. https://t.co/3GXHJEdB6h
— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) January 25, 2024
Despicable claim of knowledge of women's pregnancy because he, Rep. Joel Kitchens (R), was a veterinarian. #AbortionRights#WomensHealth#MAGA
— Gary Slutkin, MD (@GarySlutkin1) January 26, 2024
Women = animals? Mmm https://t.co/R7v33EdjlC
— Symone D. Sanders Townsend (@SymoneDSanders) January 25, 2024
WTAF???? Now women are livestock??? Do I get hay for warmth when I get herded into my stable/barn to sleep in? Will I be branded next so I know who I belong to?
— MacFleuryMe🟧 (@maclucyme) January 25, 2024
They really see women as animals. https://t.co/nRpZ2QkvMN
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) January 25, 2024
Comparing women to livestock…
— joanne cummings (@jograbsacamera) January 25, 2024
Abortion isn’t health care because women are kind of like dogs, according to forced birth veterinarian…. https://t.co/j84NBLlKqt
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) January 26, 2024
Ah yes... female farm animals and female humans: basically the same thing under the GOP's eye.
— Rudely Van Gelder (@here4tehbeer) January 25, 2024
I can’t believe I have to say this but do not compare women to animals.
We’re humans capable of making our own health care decisions — including on abortion. https://t.co/u42ll741iP— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) January 25, 2024
If as a vet he was brought a cow with a non viable fetus which would kill the cow if not removed - would he as a vet allow the pregnancy to continue and possibly lose the valuable cow or would he abort the fetus? Why do animals get better healthcare than pregnant American women
— Kate McClelland (@katemcclelland7) January 25, 2024
Women in Wisconsin- relax.
Your Republican Rep. is a veterinarian and he knows about “mammalian fetuses”. You can trust him to be in charge of your reproductive rights. 🤦🏻♀️ https://t.co/q8WSRd8vaf— Rep. Lee Snodgrass (@RepSnodgrass) January 26, 2024
He’s not qualified to talk about abortion, but he is qualified to talk about colonoscopy on account of the fact that he’s such an asshole. https://t.co/ExCYygfTY6
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) January 25, 2024
I'm surprised he doesn't say he's also the best chef in the building since his last name is Kitchens. 🙄
— Ryan Lee (@RyanBirdLee) January 25, 2024
When GOP male lawmakers say the quiet part out loud and compare women to livestock.
Vote.
Elections matter. https://t.co/ejdijqLFgX— Betsy Coffia (@BetsyCoffia) January 26, 2024
Yeah, I'm not going to take medical advice from a doctor that may have to kill his patient if they break a leg.
— Jen #VoteBlueSaveDemocracy Mulvaney (@jenmulvaney) January 25, 2024
This is how he views women: as animals. https://t.co/dbKQcs1E6p
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) January 25, 2024
Umm...as a veterinarian he should know that many farmers will give their young and small heifers a shot of Lutalyse to make them abort if they're too young and small to have a calf and have been with a bull in the previous 100 days.
— Kurt Rudolph (@Rudolph218) January 25, 2024
Put it in an ad https://t.co/JojeAo39Jb
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 25, 2024
Forced birth increases maternal and infant mortality. My healthcare is none of Rep. Kitchen’s business. I am not a cow or horse.
— Double Kay🟧 (@kklass) January 25, 2024
He's an expert because he's a veterinarian? Let me guess he's an expert on women because he had sex once.
— Charlie Thompson (@TheCharlieTruth) January 25, 2024