Republicans and the gender gap

The absurdity of a woman appearing on Lawrence O'Donnell's cable show last night to defend semi automatic weapons and abortion restrictions in the same breath literally took mine away.  The verbal gymnastics involved in this painful display brought into sharp relief the inherent contradictions of being a woman in the republican party today.  Sure, there are arguments to be made for small government and more self reliance, but to make restrictions on woman's health care and gun nut freedom the issues to die for strikes me as standing against everything most women value.   This woman was the former campaign manager for Carly Fiorina, so I'm guessing she has drunk the republican kool-aid by the gallon.  It  still makes no sense.  The modern republican party is a virtual extension of corporate, militarist and social conservative causes.  How any woman can square support for this agenda is beyond me.