By Mark Haslett, Highs Plains Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-885093.mp3
Amarillo, TX –
Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina spent much of the afternoon clarifying her position on the so-called 9-11 truther movement (those who suggest that the federal government had a role in the 2001 terrorist attacks). In an appearance on the Glenn Beck show this morning, Medina gave an ambiguous answer when asked her opinion on the possibility of government involvement in the attacks. Later today, she offered a clear refuatation of 9-11 conspiracy theorists.
Medina: "Do I believe that there were Muslim terrorists that flew airplanes into buildings here in the United States? Yes, I do. Do I believe that our government had anything to do with terrorists flying those planes into the buildings? No, I do not. But I don't want to discount the right and the appropriateness of people asking hard questions. So I hope folks understand that we've got a campaign here focused on Texas. Those issues certainly are federal ones, and I don't want to discount people's questioning of what's happening in our government."
Medina's support from the "tea party" movement has led to questions regarding her opinion of certain claims made by some activists associated with that movement. One such assertion is that President Obama was not born in the United States. When asked today her opinion of that claim, Medina said she remains undecided.
Haslett: "So do you believe that President Obama was born in the United States?"
Medina: "I don't know that my opinion, there, Mark- I haven't- I, it's not something that affects me directly. He's our president. My belief, one way or the other, is fairly immaterial and it's not something I've looked at or studied."
Medina did say that those birth records of Mr. Obama that have been presented to the public thus far have not been enough, in her view, to quell suspicions about the President's place of birth.
Medina: "Either he is or he isn't. He has not, apparently, satsified that, for whatever- and I'm not going to speculate about why those documents haven't been released. But certainly there seems to be a good deal of question out there, including cases between the Supreme Court. It is appropriate that those questions be asked. Right now there's a question, and I'm not going to jump in without having the evidence to say what the answer is. It shouldn't be a question. We ought to know it, without a shadow of a doubt; we don't know that today because those records have not been made public."
Late Thursday Debra Medina issued this statement: "I have never been involved with the 9-11 truth movement, and there is no doubt in my mind that Muslim terrorists flew planes into those buildings on 9/11."