Alaska State Rep. Apologizes For “Permission Slip” Comment–Kinda, Sorta, Not Really
It's not that Rep. Dick thinks women having to get men to sign off on an abortion was a bad idea; he says he just didn't "phrase it right."
Last week, Alaskan State Representative Alan Dick said he would have a “little more peace” with allowing a woman to terminate a pregnancy if the man who fathered the child signed off on the decision first.
Now, he’s apologizing for the “insensitive” comment. Except really, he isn’t.
Via the Fairbanks News Miner:
“Last week in a committee hearing on funding of abortions, I made a less than artful comparison,” he wrote in a statement. “I have received several phone calls from women who were offended. I’ve listened to what they said. I realize how what I said could be taken to be hurtful — it was for the women who called — and I apologize.
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In terms of his position, though, Dick said he’s still unapologetically opposed to abortion but will be more careful about what he says in the future.
“I have reconsidered my thoughts in light of the comments from those who called and will be more careful in how I phrase my thoughts in the future,” he said.
Apology? Not at all. He just said that next time he’ll make sure to say it with more tact.
Read his full statement below:
“Last week in a committee hearing on funding of abortions, I made a less than artful comparison. I apologize for my comment. I’m pro-life and my position on abortion is public. Sometimes things that we say while discussing sensitive issues could be said better, and when it comes to our attention that something we said has offended someone, I believe the right thing to do is to acknowledge the mistake and apologize.
I have received several phone calls from women who were offended. I’ve listened to what they said. I realize how what I said could be taken to be hurtful — it was for the women who called — and I apologize. I was trying to make a point that if the law makes a man responsible (and rightly so) for a child he has fathered, it might also require that he be informed before a decision is made to terminate the life of his unborn child. I have reconsidered my thoughts in light of the comments from those who called and will be more careful in how I phrase my thoughts in the future.”