Hoekstra on whether Akin should step aside: “I’ve not said one way or another”
LANSING – The National Republican Senatorial Committee and countless Republican officials, including Mitt Romney, Karl Rove and even Sarah Palin have called on Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin to end his campaign following his deplorable “legitimate rape” comments earlier this week. Yet for some reason, Michigan’s Senate candidate Peter Hoekstra has resisted calling on Akin to withdraw.
That may be because on women’s issues, Hoekstra agrees with Akin: Hoekstra is for outlawing a rape victim’s right to choose, and even for outlawing birth control pills.
As Laura Berman wrote in the Detroit News:
“Like Akin, who refused to be bullied by his party leaders’ pleadings for him to step down, Hoekstra has principles, rigid ones, on the perilous matter of abortion. He doesn’t believe in exceptions for rape or incest, and if birth control methods can potentially disrupt a pregnancy, he’s against that, too.”
When asked days after Akin first sparked nationwide controversy, Hoekstra said: “Y’know, it may be time for him to step aside, but I’ve not said one way or another.”
Statement from Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party:
“After nearly all other Republicans and Democrats have called on Todd Akin to withdraw, why hasn’t Peter Hoekstra? People in Michigan deserve to know if Hoekstra will continue to stand up for the most fringe elements of the Tea Party, or if he’ll actually start thinking about issues like strengthening our economy.”
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