Colorado Republican Brutally Grilled By Local News Anchor: ‘Why Is Abortion Good For Your Girlfriend? Bad For Other Women?’
Colorado congressional candidate and sitting State Rep. Richard Holtorf (R) received a tough grilling this week at the hands of local 9News anchor Kyle Clark over his apparent hypocrisy when it comes to abortion rights.
Holtorf made headlines back in January when he defended paying for his girlfriend’s abortion, despite being an adamant pro-life lawmaker and abortion critic. “Anti-abortion GOP lawmaker praises the impact of the abortion he paid for,” read the headline of a local report by Clark from the beginning of the year.
To his credit, Holtorf sat down with Clark to discuss the issue.
“If abortion was the best choice for your girlfriend, why try to deny that choice to other women?” Clark asked the lawmaker running in the crowded GOP primary for Colorado’s 4th congressional district.
“So let me give you some context about that situation. Because I’m a pro-life Catholic and I believe everyone should choose life. Now, if you listen to my presentation on the House floor, did you listen to it?” Holtorf shot back.
“I did, in fact, I just quoted from it,” replied Clark as the two then spoke over each other.
Clark then clarified, “In fairness, your logic was a bit scattered in that speech. What I’m asking you about is the fact that you said that you respected your girlfriend’s right to an abortion, and then gave her money to help her through an important time ‘to live her best life.’”
As Holtorf protested Clark asked again, “But yet you’ve tried to deny that to other women. And I’m asking, why is abortion good for your girlfriend? Bad for other women? That’s my question. Simple, simple question.”
“She had an abortion. Was that her choice? Yes. Did she have that right? Yes. Was it my choice, Kyle? No,” replied Holtorf.
Clark pushed back, “Why do you seem deny the choice that you said was best for your girlfriend’s life?”
“Let me finish. Let me finish to explain,” Holtorf insisted.
“Why do you seek to deny it to other women?” Clark pressed.
“Let me, let me — I don’t, I don’t,” Holtorf replied.
“You have voted to restrict abortion access,” Clark shot back.
“And I have. And I’m a pro-life person. I think you should try to choose life every time. But there are exceptions. And there are times when you need abortion. Abortion is a medical procedure,” declared Holtorf.
“Is one of the exceptions when Richard Holtorf is the father?” Clark demanded.
“No, it isn’t that. It’s not about me. Don’t personalize it, make it about me,” Holtorf replied.
Clark hit back, “You told the story on the house floor, sir.”
“Okay? That doesn’t matter. That’s a story. Okay? That’s not that important. What’s more important is the policy,” Holtorf replied.
NEW: CO-4 GOP candidate Richard Holtorf has voted against abortion rights in the state legislature but said he respected his girlfriend’s right to have an abortion “so she could live her best life.” I asked him about that disconnect. #copolitics pic.twitter.com/WBB5YBmAcJ
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) June 13, 2024
Watch the clip above.
