October 17, 2010 04:07 PM UTC

Buck vs. Bennet on "Meet the Press" Debate Thread

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• by: Colorado Pols

Shake hands and come out swinging.

UPDATE: Foot arrives in Ken Buck’s mouth, take 1–being gay is “a choice,” though “like alcoholism,” birth can be “an influence.” Something tells us that’s going to be an attention-grabber.

UPDATE #2: Politico’s David Catanese:

Colorado Republican Ken Buck stood by a pair of controversial statements Sunday during a shaky nationally televised debate appearance with Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

Pressed by “Meet the Press” moderator David Gregory, Buck said he believed that being gay was a lifestyle choice and expressed no regrets about his four-year-old characterization of an alleged rape as “buyer’s remorse.”

…He said he used the “buyer’s remorse” term to explain how the woman regretted her relationship with the man, who was her ex-lover. “When someone decides to make a case public, the public has to understand why,” Buck said.

Bennet seized on Buck’s defense, arguing his opponent’s handling of the victim was an issue in their closely contested race.

“He just used the language again, buyer’s remorse, and as the father of three little girls, I just think that’s the wrong way to talk about it.”