NH House Speaker Wants Apology for Abortion Comments Aimed at Fourth Graders

Representative Warren Groen brought up Planned Parenthood while trashing a bill created by local elementary school students.

Some New Hampshire politicians crossed the line in their comments on a bill, which is even worse when you consider the creators of said bill were young students.

Fourth graders from the Lincoln Ackerman School in Hampton Falls just wanted to make the red-tailed hawk the state raptor. What they didn't count on was a few state representatives absolutely trashing their bill and bringing up abortion while doing it.

Here is what Rep. Warren Groen, R-Rochester had to say about the students' bill:

"It grasps them with its talons and then uses its razor-sharp beak to rip its victims to shreds, to basically tear it apart limb by limb, and I guess the shame about making this a state bird is it would serve as a much better mascot for Planned Parenthood."

The rude representative came under fire for his comments, but refused to apologize and cited his right to freedom of speech as a reason.

Shawn Jasper, Speaker NH House of Representatives, sent out a press release on Friday calling for Groen to make an apology for having "poor taste" and violating the rules of debate.

“I made it clear when I was elected speaker that I would demand that our members maintain respect for each other, for the institution and for our guests from the public who come to the State House complex to conduct business. I totally understand one’s right to freedom of speech but we all need to be sensitive to the audience that we are addressing.

One does not have the right to yell “fire” in a crowded in theatre and claim freedom of speech. Rep. Groen clearly crossed the line in his remarks during the debate on the Red Tailed Hawk. Not only was it in extremely poor taste but it also violated Mason’s Rules which governs debate, that “No one is to speak impertinently (or rudely).”

The comment drawing a correlation between the Red Tailed Hawk and Planned Parenthood was offensive on many levels and I believe Rep. Groen owes an apology to not only the children of the Lincoln Ackerman School in Hampton Falls, but to his constituents and to his colleagues in the House.”