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Valerie Jarrett: Criticism of Senate Health Care Working Group 'Makes Men Squirm a Little'

June 7, 2017

CNN host Alisyn Camerota and former President Barack Obama's senior adviser Valerie Jarrett appeared to take a shot at Republican senators working on health care Wednesday, implying they would not adequately represent women's health issues.

Camerota led into the question by showing a picture of Republican senators working on health care.

"I want to show you the group of GOP senators working on health care right now," Camerota said. "I'd like you to look at this picture."

An image of the 13 men appeared on the screen, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah).

"Which of these men do you feel represents women's health issues?" Camerota asked.

Jarrett said that more women should be included in the group.

"Let's just say I think the group would be improved quite dramatically if you included some of the 21 women who are in the Senate," Jarrett said. "I mean ask yourself, how comfortable would men be if a group of women were making decisions about personal health care issues that they might face? Whether it's a vasectomy, or a circumcision, or tests for prostate cancer, do they really want that solely decided by women?"

"I don't think so. We make better decisions when the people whose live are impacted directly are at the table," she added.

"Thank you for putting a finer point on it with those examples," Camerota said.

"It makes men squirm a little bit, but it does make the point," Jarrett said.