In an interview with a Corpus Christi radio station, Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold, a Republican, called out "female senators from the Northeast" for the latest snag in the GOP's effort to repeal Obamacare, adding that he "might" challenge them to a duel if they were men.
Farenthold spoke to KEYS host Bob Jones on Friday morning, according to the Houston Chronicle.
While he didn't name names, the only Republican female senator from the Northeast to oppose the bill is Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito is a Republican from West Virginia, not normally considered part of the Northeast. The third female GOP senator to oppose the bill is Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, also not considered part of the Northeast.
"If it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style," Farenthold told Jones, referring to the infamous 1804 duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and Treasury Secretary Andrew Hamilton. Hamilton was mortally wounded in the Weehawken, New Jersey, duel and died the next day.
According to The Associated Press, Collins later responded: "As far as I know, dueling is illegal in every state. He'll be disappointed, I guess."
Farenthold clarified his comments in a statement Monday, the AP reported.
"This was clearly tongue-in-cheek," he said. "That being said, I'm extremely frustrated with Senate Republicans who are breaking their promise to the American people to repeal and replace Obamacare."
– The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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