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Texas Republican Leader Blasts Perry: He ‘Crossed A Line’ Criticizing Wendy Davis

On Thursday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) was widely criticized after personally attacking State Sen. Wendy Davis (D) — who had staged a one-woman filibuster to beat back a sweeping anti-abortion bill this week — by saying that “she was a teenage mother herself” who unfortunately “hasn’t learned from her own example.”

Now, as the fallout from Perry’s comments continue, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus — a staunch Republican — is distancing himself from the governor. “Disagreements over policy are important and they’re healthy, but when he crosses the line into the personal, then he damages himself and he damages the Republican Party,” Straus told Texas Tribune reporter Jay Root.

Still, Perry continues to defend his attack on Davis. As a guest on the Laura Ingraham Show Friday, Perry echoed his earlier remarks, saying that it’s “sad that she does not understand that every life is precious, certainly her own.” He continued, “how many young men and women across this country didn’t get to accomplish what Wendy Davis just accomplished because they weren’t born?”

To read more about what the future may hold for Davis, whose Senate seat is threatened after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act this week, read ThinkProgress’ rundown here.

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