Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says that Democrats are pushing women to believe “they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government.”
The onetime presidential candidate made the comments to the Republican National Committee’s Winter Meeting in Washington D.C.
"If the Democrats want to insult women by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it," he said. "Let us take this discussion all across America because women are far more than the Democrats have played them to be."
“And women across America need to stand up and say ‘Enough of that nonsense,'" he added.
Huckabee dismissed the notion that the GOP is engaged on a "War on Women," as Democratic rivals allege.
"Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That’s not a war on them, it’s a war for them," he said.
Republicans have been grappling with how to reach out to women, who overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama over Mitt Romney in 2012. Women chose Obama over Romney 55-44 percent.
Asked about the comments, White House press secretary Jay Carney said he had not yet seen the remark but that it "sounds offensive to me, and to women."
NBC's Stacey Klein contributed to this report.