A yet unidentified House Republican shouted “baby killer” at Rep. Bart Stupak on the House floor during the debate of the Republican motion against the reconciliation bill Sunday evening.
Stupak, a leader of the anti-abortion Democrats who helped engineer President Barack Obama’s executive order restricting the new state insurance exchanges from funding elective abortions, was arguing to vote down a Republican amendment on abortion services in the health-care legislation, according to a report in The Hill.
The shout of “baby killer” came from the Republican gallery amid an assortment of other remarks.
Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., denied the shouter was he. “It was someone with a southern accent,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t me.”
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tex., who emerged as another suspected shouter because of his distinctive accent and the position of his seat, this morning denied being guilty of the breach in etiquette.
“I have no idea who yelled it because they were seated behind me and the House was packed,” Gohmert said, according to the Lufkin Daily News.
“Whoever said it was obviously upset, but it was inappropriate for them to yell that.”
According the The Hill report, Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., said he knew which Republican yelled at Stupak but said he would not name him. Obey was presiding over the floor debate and vote Sunday evening. He opined, “I figure members have a right to make an idiot of themselves once without being exposed.”
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