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Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz was heavily criticized after he referred to pro-choice activists as "over-educated, under-loved millennials" and suggested they're only angry about a rightward shift in reproductive rights because they can't get matches on dating apps.
Gaetz's remarks came after a leaked draft opinion indicated the Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization will move to strike down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that protects a person's right to choose reproductive healthcare without excessive government restriction.
Writing on Twitter, Gaetz said women protesting the fall of Roe will likely "sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats" and "no matches" on Bumble, a popular online dating application.
How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches?— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1651659653
Gaetz's commentary reflects his own controversial past involving women, particularly an ongoing federal investigation regarding alleged sex crimes involving a minor.
Federal authorities are investigating Gaetz on child sex trafficking charges after it emerged the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a probe into whether he paid a 17-year-old girl and took her across state lines for sexual purposes.
Gaetz denied allegations he violated sex trafficking laws and engaged in other sexual misconduct while in office by citing the age of consent. His supporters in Congress, particularly Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have pushed back against the investigation even while they brand other Republican politicians as "pro-pedophile."
In May 2021, Gaetz's associate Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Seminole County, Florida, formally pleaded guilty to six federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor.
He also pleaded guilty to producing a false identification document, identity theft, wire fraud, stalking and conspiracy.
Gaetz's post immediately attracted negative attention and many of his critics took him to task for his openly misogynistic commentary.
I don\u2019t think we need this kind of misogyny in Congress. Since GOP leadership doesn\u2019t seem to care, it\u2019s up to voters to turnout in numbers so big they overcome efforts to suppress the vote.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Joyce Alene (@Joyce Alene) 1651694852
Absolutely wild thoughts below from someone being investigated as a LITERAL CHILD SEX PREDATOR.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Shane Riordan (@Shane Riordan) 1651682730
When they start claiming women are \u201cover-educated,\u201d that\u2019s when you know the misogyny is reaching increasingly dangerous levelshttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Ahmed Baba (@Ahmed Baba) 1651684506
Republicans like Matt Gaetz are for government-mandated pregnancy, against education, and against cats.\n\nYou can help on campaigns to decide whether or not he is in the majority this November (assuming he isn\u2019t indicted by the DOJ who is investigating him for sex crimes).https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1651682641
Here comes pedophile Matt Gaetz, being mad that women are smart. How many abortions has he paid for?https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1651681892
I simply cannot overemphasize the extent to which this man is under investigation for trafficking a minor for sex.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— A.R. Moxon (@A.R. Moxon) 1651681989
This is revelatory. And let's just be clear: it's how most of his party view women: as nothing more than vessels for men's pleasure and procreation. Getting an education defeats the prime directive of being young, dumb, barefoot and pregnant. Now you see why this guy dates teens.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1651682459
It's a problem for women to be "over-educated" to Matt Gaetz, which is why he pays for sex w/ minors who aren't educated.\n\nIt explains why he loves MAGA Marjorie Taylor Greene & Lauren Boebert.\n\nImagine being mysogynistic enough to compose this.\n\n#DemVoice1 #BlueVoices #wtpBLUEhttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— The Jewish Ginger Resister (@The Jewish Ginger Resister) 1651681788
Sorry, you must be thinking of your own lonely existence, you misogynistic prick. For myself & the vast number of Gen X & millennial women, we are married, deeply loved by our spouses, children, families, friends, and make lovely well-balanced meals from scratch. My cat says .https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Skye (@Skye) 1651687303
How much education is too much for a woman, Congressman?https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1521797001175834625\u00a0\u2026— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1651681070
News of the leaked draft opinion has been largely applauded by conservatives.
The draft opinion would have sweeping ramifications, resulting in abortion bans in roughly half the country, and comes as Republican-led legislatures nationwide have moved swiftly in recent weeks to curb the right to an abortion and have signaled efforts to further limit access to contraception.
The Supreme Court has confirmed the draft opinion is "authentic" but says "it does not represent a decision by the court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case."
Chief Justice John Roberts said the leak signals a "betrayal of the confidences of the Court" but insisted while it was "intended to undermine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed."