Did A House Member Shout ‘Baby Killer’ At Stupak? (VIDEO)

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

It sure sounded like it.

The Michigan Democrat was making remarks on the House floor against a GOP effort to blow up the vote on abortion — an important issue for the pro-life Stupak — when someone seemed to yell “baby killer.”

See for yourself:

So what happened?

TPMDC’s Christina Bellantoni got a quick interview afterward with Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), also a pro-lifer.

Kildee: “We all heard it. It was disgusting!”

“No one knows who it was but the person should be censured. This all started when someone yelled “you lie’ at the president.”

Bellantoni: “You sure it was a member?

Kildee: “Unless they let staff on the floor and make outbursts, yes.”

Christina also reports that Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) told reporters that the “baby killer” was “clear as a bell.”

I didn’t look but it came from the floor, behind me and to the left.

And this:

It was close enough I decided not to turn around and look. … It was in my area. I thought it was a southern accent.

Campbell returned a few moments later and said, “other people agree with me — it was someone with a southern accent.”

Campbell also said that some of the Republicans on the floor recognized the voice but would not say who it was.

The California Republican then came out again — for a third time — and told reporters that “that is where the Texans sit. Californians are in one row, Texans sit behind us. I am being told it’s a Texan. The people who know won’t give it up.”

Christina also got an interview with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) — of “you lie!” fame.

“There was a lot of yelling,” Wilson told Christina, who asked if this person should be admonished, considering what happened to Wilson.

“There was yelling on all sides tonight and then,” Wilson said. “It really is amazing I got singled out. Could be a double standard.”

And our Evan McMorris-Santoro reports that Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said he didn’t hear the “baby killer” — though when informed of it, he said, “there are a lot of other words I would have used.”

But was “baby killer” inappropriate?

“There are a lot of inappropriate things going on in there tonight,” King said.

Christina also reports that Rep. David Obey (D-WI), who was presiding, says he knows who shouted “baby killer” but “doesn’t see any point” in identifying them.

“I think people have a right to make a fool out of themselves every once in awhile without causing Armageddon,” Obey said, when asked if the person should be admonished.

Stupak also told reporters he doesn’t know who shouted at him.

Late Updates: TPMDC’s Brian Beutler reports two more denials Monday from possible “baby killer” yelling culprits: Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA).

And our Justin Elliott reports this about Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): “Dr. Broun did not make the comment and he does not know who did,” says Communications Director Debbee Keller.

Editor’s Note: This post has been added to since it was first published.

Reporting by Christina Bellantoni, Evan McMorris-Santoro, Justin Elliott and Brian Beutler.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: