This week, Tudor Dixon faced scrutiny in Michigan and nationally after she went viral for saying that incest and rape resulting in the pregnancy of a child was a “perfect example” of why she supports banning abortion.
After originally doubling down, saying that she would not be “hiding from” her characterization of that gut wrenching hypothetical, she claimed that new footage from the interview would clarify her comments.
The full clip shows her using the phrase “perfect example” twice before arguing that children who are raped by family members should be forced to give birth because otherwise the perpetrators will not be held accountable for horrific crimes.
WATCH here.
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Michigan Democratic Party
Date: Fri, Jul 22, 2022 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: QUICK CLIP: Tudor Dixon: “Teenage Victim of Sexual Assault is a Quote “Perfect Example” of Why Abortion Should be Banned”
To: Concerned Michigan Voters
QUICK CLIP: Tudor Dixon: “Teenage Victim of Sexual Assault is a Quote “Perfect Example” of Why Abortion Should be Banned”
MIGOP-insider Tudor Dixon continues to earn attention for describing a 14-year-old child being sexually assaulted by their uncle as a “perfect example” of someone who should be forced to give birth and would if Dixon were elected governor.
When given the opportunity to clarify earlier this week, she doubled down on her callous statement saying, “I’m not hiding from it.”
WDIV Local 4 was the latest to break down Tudor Dixon’s rabid, boundless crusade to drag Michigan backwards and ban abortion – even when it involves a horrific act on a child – and how the rest of the GOP primary field shares her dangerous views on Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban.
WATCH the full clip here and read the transcript below:
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“Tudor Dixon continues to double down on her callous comments about the incestual rape of a child and the severely anti-choice agenda she would implement as governor, but she’s not alone. Every Republican running for governor is right there with her with pledges to sign new legislation that would eliminate reproductive freedoms for millions of women, girls, and families without exception for rape, incest, of the health of the mother.”
Transcript:
KIMBERLY GILL (WDIV): Another candidate for governor in Michigan, making national headlines, this time for her comments on exceptions to abortion. Tudor Dixon, the current frontrunner on the GOP side, saying in a recent interview a teenage victim of sexual assault is a quote “perfect example” of why abortion should be banned. Let’s turn to Grant Hermes right now, and Grant, there’s been some fallout to this less than two weeks from the primary now.
GRANT HERMES (WDIV): Not that long to go, Kimberly. Yeah, Tudor Dixon has been a staunch advocate for banning abortion in Michigan, as have all of her Republican rivals in this primary race. But this comment has gone viral, and it may not be in line with the voters that she’s trying to win over. In an interview with a conservative online news outlet Tudor Dixon, the leading candidate to become the Republican nominee for governor, asked about whether a 14-year-old victim of incestuous rape should have access to abortion, her answer making national headlines.
TUDOR DIXON: Perfect example, because I know people who are the product of that. A life is a life for me, that’s how it is. That is for me. That’s my feeling.
HERMES: That answer, criticized by Democrats, including the Michigan Democratic Party, which said in a statement, “Her callous remarks are the perfect example of how dangerous Tudor Dixon would be for Michigan families.” Dixon is currently leading the field by a narrow margin, but isn’t alone in her stance. Every candidate running for governor said they would uphold the state’s 1931 law banning abortion in any circumstance. But that position and the law are out of step with Michigan GOP voters. In the most recent Local 4/Detroit News poll, 68% of Republican voters said they supported exceptions for abortion in cases of rape and incest. 71% of self described “classic Republicans” and 57% of self described “Trump Republicans” also supported those same exceptions. Dixon’s comment also comes on the heels of a push in other states, including a high profile case in Ohio, where a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to get an abortion in Indiana, where lawmakers this week have proposed a ban on abortion with exceptions.
HERMES: Now, we did reach out to Dixon’s campaign today to see if she wanted to add something that comment or if she could clarify when she said that this was a personal belief for her, if she’d be using those personal beliefs if she were to become governor, or if she meant something else by that distinction. We did not hear back from her campaign this afternoon.