GOP candidate questions 9-11, then retracts on Glen Beck interview

Debra Medina self-destructs on Glenn Beck radio show

Texas gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina appeared on the Glenn Beck radio show this morning and made a lot of news when she wouldn't take a position on whether the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

By Jimmy Orr / February 11, 2010

This candidacy will self-destruct in five seconds...

Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina imploded on the Glenn Beck radio program this morning when she said she didn't have an opinion on whether the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks.

Medina, who has literally come out of nowhere to quickly become a legitimate candidate in the Republican primary, first laughed when Beck said he had received emails from listeners saying she was a "9/11 truther."

"That's the first time I've heard of that accusation," she said, not exactly denying the charge.

Government conspiracy?

So Beck asked her straight up: "Do you believe the government was in any way involved in the bringing down of the World Trade Centers on 9/11?"

Easy answer, right? Nope.

"I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard," Medina replied. "There are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there, so I have not taken a position on that."

That answer caused a stir in the studio. Beck quickly followed up by asking her if she would disavow any of her staff if they were "9/11 truthers."

"I’m certainly not into mind control or thought-policing people ... I frankly don’t have time to go through and do psychological testing on people and know every thought or detail that they have," she answered.

Buh-bye

After that, Beck politely thanked Medina for appearing on his program and dismissed her future political hopes.

"I think I can write her off the list," he said. "Let me take another look at [candidate] Kay Bailey Hutchison, if I have to."

"Rick, I think you and I could French kiss right now," he said of Texas's current governor, Rick Perry who is running for re-election.

"Wow," Beck continued. "Wow. The fastest way back to four percent," he said of Medina's one-time standing in the polls. A recent survey showed her only four points behind Hutchison with 24 percent of the vote.

What I meant to say was...

Medina quickly put out a statement clarifying what she meant, which just so happens not to sound anything like what she said.

"I was asked a question on the Glenn Beck show today regarding my thoughts on the so-called 9/11 truth movement. 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. I have not seen any evidence nor have I ever believed that our government was involved or directed those individuals in any way. No one can deny that the events on 9/11 were a tragedy for all Americans and especially those families who lost loved ones."

So, how was I?

How'd the response go over in Texas? Well, if the opinion of Dallas Morning News blogger Colleen McCain Nelson is any indication, about as well as The Who performing at the Super Bowl.

"...To me, this sounds like an effective way to put your campaign on the fast track back to the fringe," Nelson writes.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0211/Debra-Medina-se...