House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) called Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood a "manhood thing" during a press conference on Friday.
The former speaker of the House defended Planned Parenthood while talking about Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, MRCTV reported.
"Let me end on this note," Pelosi said. "Of all the things they could be doing in a reconciliation bill—job creation, deficit reduction—no, forget that."
"What are they doing in this bill? Overturning the Affordable Care Act, undermining the health, security, and financial stability of America's working families, and defunding Planned Parenthood," Pelosi continued. "That's their–that's their manhood thing."
Pelosi also attacked Republicans for making Planned Parenthood a topic of focus, although many conservatives and others view it as an important moral issue because the organization provides abortions.
"Defunding Planned Parenthood," the California lawmaker said. "How could they establish that as their priority unless they were coming at all of this from a very ideological standpoint?"
MRCTV noted that recent polls have showed that Pelosi is in the minority on defending Planned Parenthood. A Marist poll from last year found that most women, 63 percent, oppose taxpayer dollars funding abortions, and a Robert Morris University poll from 2015 revealed that 53 percent of Americans want Planned Parenthood defunded by the federal government.
The Hyde Amendment currently prohibits federal funds from going to abortion, and the money that Planned Parenthood receives goes to other services it provides for women. Critics say, however, that the money still keeps the lights on and facilities operating with federal dollars.