Texas Congressman Defends Donald Trump's 'Such A Nasty Woman' Comment About Hillary Clinton

AUSTIN, TX -- A Texas congressman from Texas on Thursday defended Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton "such a nasty woman" in the final debate by saying that "sometimes a lady needs to be told when she's being nasty."

Toward the end of Wednesday's third and televised debate from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the debate turned to a discussion of Social Security.

"My Social Security payroll contribution will go up, as will Donald’s, assuming he can't figure out how to get out of it. But what we want to do is to replenish the social security trust fund..."

That's when Trump leaned into the microphone, to ensure his being heard by the audience, to interject with: "Such a nasty woman."

The aside has since been widely condemned. But there are still defenders. Enter Republican Rep. Brian Babin, who told radio host Alan Colmes on Thursday evening that it was sometimes necessary to put ladies in check. For context, Babin described himself as a "genteel Southerner" to the radio host.

Asked if Trump's comment was appropriate, Babin responded, "You know what, she's saying some nasty things." Again, the host asked if the jab was appropriate in a presidential debate, and Babin doubled down on his defense: "No, I think sometimes a lady needs to be told when she's being nasty. I do."

He wasn't finished. Then, the Southern gentleman added: "My assessment is that Mrs. Clinton has got so much baggage. I think she's done some nasty things."

The "nasty woman" descriptor went viral minutes after Trump's utterance, appropriated as a call of solidarity among Clinton supporters. Within an hour, T-shirts with the quote available for purchase online had been produced, with proceeds benefiting Planned Parenthood.

It served as a counterpoint, perhaps, to Clinton's previous assertion that half of Trump's supporters could be categorized as being in a basket of "deplorables." That comment, too — while said outside a formal setting — sparked outrage among some, similarly appropriated and emblazoned on T-shirts for members of the other side of the political spectrum.

Babin's 36th Congressional District is located in Southeast Texas and includes all of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk and Tyler counties. It also includes portions of southeastern Harris County, including the area encompassing the Johnson Space Center.

>>> Photo via U.S. House of Representatives