(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Anti-choice CO GOPer says it isn't important he paid for lover's abortion - "that's just a story" [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-14 Richard Holtorf is a hypocrite, an asshole, and a Republican (I used a thesaurus). A current Colorado state Representative, he is one of the six GOP candidates for the House seat vacated by Ken Buck. Holtorf faces long odds. Lauren Boebert (40%) leads in the June 25th primary polls. The other five are single-digit wannabes. This also-ran may not yet have the notoriety of the concupiscent carpetbagger . However, he is getting attention for his ‘one rule for me, another rule for you' approach to social policy. How so? Holtorf is a pro-lifer who freely admits impregnating two girlfriends as a younger man. It is not an unusual story. Contraception does not coome with a 100% guarantee. Perhaps the condom broke — twice. Or maybe Holtorf takes the Hershel Walker/Donald Trump “Just say no” approach to birth control. He does boast of his Catholicism. Regardless, back then, the two women had a choice. One of them gave the baby up for adoption. The other had an abortion, which Holtorf paid for. What makes his admission hypocritical is Holtorf’s celebration of the both choices his partners made, despite his current determination to deny women he has not impregnated the same choice. Earlier this year, during a CO House debate about a Democratic resolution marking the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, Holtorf reflected on both the abortion and the adoption. In doing so, he could have been a spokesman for Planned Parenthood. Of the ex-girlfriend who chose abortion, he said: “I respected her rights and actually gave her money to help her through her important, critical time so she could live her best life.” Holtorf added that the other “beautiful woman” he got pregnant chose not to have an abortion but rather to give up the child for adoption. A choice he praised. His position was so consistent with individual freedom that Democratic Rep. Lorena Garcia, who brought the resolution in the state House, tweeted, "I want to thank Rep. Holtorf for the courage to share how reproductive freedom has helped the women in his life. Thank you for sharing your story of supporting a girlfriend when she chose abortion and even paying for it." Somebody must have whispered in Holtorf’s ear. He soon backed away from his respect for women and changed his tune. He cracked the MAGA playbook to blame liberal spin. And he said he did not say what he said — a classic case of conservative spin. “My girlfriend had made the unfortunate choice to have an abortion despite my objections as a pro-life Catholic. The liberal media took my comments completely out of context claiming I paid for an abortion.” Doesn’t Catholic dogma also consider pre-marital sex (fornication) a mortal sin? It seems religious people cherry-pick the rules. This week, Holfort kept up his dissembling. He went on Denver’s Channel 9 News and spoke with local anchor, Kyle Clark. (Note: Clark is gaining note as a no-nonsense, quality interviewer.) Clark started by asking the obvious question: “If abortion was the best choice for your girlfriend, why try to deny that choice to other women?” Holtorf did not answer the question. Instead, he went into lecture mode, followed by distraction: So let me give you some context about that situation because I am 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? Clark had done his homework (he does not work for Fox News). And the conversation continued with Holtorf springing a pop quiz on Clark, which led to some confusion. Clark: “I did, in fact. I just quoted from it.” Holtorf: “OK. So what was the major theme? And what did I repeat probably 20 times?” Clark: “In fairness … “ Holtorf: “Let me help you … “ Clark: “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were asking me a question.” Holtorf: “No go ahead, go ahead.” Clark then pointed out that the pro-lifer was hard to follow. Holtorf replied with a statement that seemed disconnected from what had come before. Clark: “In fairness, your logic was a bit scattered in that speech. What I'm asking you about is the fact that you said 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’.” Holtorf: “You did exactly what I did.” Clark tried to get the discourse back on track by asking a straightforward question. Clark: “You have tried to deny that to other women. And I am asking, why is an abortion good for your girlfriend bad for other women? That's my question. Simple, simple question.” Holtorf did not answer it. Holtorf: “OK. She had an abortion. Was that her choice? Yes. Did she have that right? Yes. Was it my choice, Kyle? No.” Clark tried again. Holtorf bobbed and weaved. Clark: “Why do you seek to deny the choice that you said was best for your girlfriend … “ Holtorf: “Let me finish explaining … “ Clark tried again. This time, Holtorf contradicted himself with a classic example of Orwellian doublethink. Clark: “Why do you seek to deny it to other women?” Holtorf: “I don't. I don't.” Clark: “You have voted to restrict abortion access.” Holtorf: “I have.” After a cut in the video, we rejoin the action with Holtorf trying to avoid the charge that Republicans are pro-life absolutists who do not care if women die. (It is Colorado, not Louisiana) Holtorf: "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." Clark did not let him off the hook. But Holtorf is too slippery to be eelbucked. Clark: “Is one of the exceptions when Richard Holtorf is the father?” Holtorf: “It's not about me. Don't personalize it and make it about me. It's not.” Clark: (amazed) “You told the story on the House floor.” Holtorf: “That doesn't matter. That doesn't matter. It's a story. That's not that important. What's more important is the policy.” Mercifully. the video ends. Holtorf needs publicity. He got some. Will this help sway CO 4’s GOP primary voters? If they like candidates who will not answer questions, maybe — a little. But I suspect that any MAGA listening will be confused by his logic. And those guys need it kept simple. Here is the video. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/14/2244711/-Anti-choice-CO-GOPer-says-it-isn-t-important-he-paid-for-lover-s-abortion-that-s-just-a-story?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/