MSNBC host slams 'idiot' GOP lawmaker for committee questions on late-term abortion
Planned Parenthood’s Dr. Colleen McNicholas said Republicans are trying to sow distrust in public health officials
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A MSNBC "Cross Connection" segment on Saturday criticized Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as an ‘idiot’ for his questions during a Judiciary Committee hearing on abortion.
Guest host Katie Phang discussed Wednesday's hearing and about the future of abortion rights following the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion. Johnson, in particular, asked witness Dr. Yashica Robinson about her position on late-term abortions.
The chamber of the House of Representatives is seen at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
"Do you support the right of a woman who is just seconds away from birthing a healthy child to have an abortion?" Johnson asked.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think that the question that you’re asking does not realistically reflect abortion care in the United States," Robinson answered.
Phang praised Robinson’s answer, claiming Johnson was an "idiot" for asking about late-term abortions.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Good for this doctor, right doctor? For standing her ground and saying you're an idiot, and you know what you're doing. She said it more politely than me," Phang said.
People gather at an anti-abortion rally outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, as activists begin to arrive ahead of arguments on abortion at the court in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Phang then also suggested Johnson’s question was part of spreading "misinformation and disinformation" in spite of health care providers.
"You know, GOP lawmakers are making the spread of misinformation and disinformation into a congressional art form, but what can health care providers do to combat this disinformation?" Phang asked.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Planned Parenthood’s Dr. Colleen McNicholas, who was Phang's guest, agreed that Republican lawmakers may be "priming" the public to mistrust public health officials. She insisted that it’s up to health professionals to stand against the legislature.
"To prime the public for a scenario where they don’t trust public health and the truth is that we’re seeing the repercussions of that in other areas now, right? Responses to a pandemic, for example. I really think it is critical that we as health care professionals, our organizations, that we all stand up, and we really make clear medicine is to be practiced in the room with a patient and physician and that there is no space in our exam room for legislators, especially those who know nothing about the care that we’re providing," McNicholas said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Abortion rights activist rally at the Washington Monument before a march to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, May 14, 2022. (JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images)
While McNicholas did not also call Johnson an "idiot" for his question, she noted that Phang was "right" in her comments and added that Dr. Robinson is a "hero in the movement."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Last week's hearing, grabbed headlines after a Democrat witness responded that she believed a man can get pregnant and have abortions when asked by committee member.