State Rep Says Woman Had Baby Cut From Womb Because Of 'Curse Of God'
DENVER (CBS4) - A Colorado lawmaker is under fire for controversial comments about a pregnant woman whose baby was cut from her womb in Longmont.
On his daily TV show, Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt, R-Colorado Springs, said the attack is punishment for legalized abortion.
"This is the curse of God upon America for our sin of not protecting innocent children in the womb," Klingenschmitt said on his show.
Klingenschmitt was referring to the incident where Michelle Wilkins, 26, answered a Craigslist ad for baby clothes allegedly placed by Dynel Lane. Lane, 34, is accused of stabbing Wilkins and removing her baby.
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Klingenschmitt is also a minister.
On Thursday at the state Capitol fellow Republican lawmakers, including House Assistant Minority Leader Polly Lawrence, said his comments were appalling.
"I couldn't believe he used those words, and as a mother I just was appalled that he would do that. And for somebody who had just lost a baby in such a horrific way, I just think it was completely inappropriate and not acceptable," said Lawrence, R-Douglas County.
Klingenschmitt also spoke out defending his comments.
"When I'm here in the Legislature I just have a different job and I'm not going to disavow what I do on Sunday, but it's not what I do here in the Legislature Monday through Friday," Klingenschmitt said.
Klingenschmitt says he has no plans to apologize for comments he made as a minister.
