Rep. Kevin CramerKevin John CramerRepublicans prepare to punt on next COVID-19 relief bill GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police Trump tweets spark fresh headache for Republicans MORE (R-N.D.) rebuked the “Me Too” movement, dismissing the idea that people are “just supposed to believe” those who accuse others of sexual misconduct and calling it a “movement toward victimization.”
In an interview with The New York Times, Cramer, who is challenging Sen. Heidi HeitkampMary (Heidi) Kathryn Heitkamp70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama Pro-trade group launches media buy as Trump and Democrats near deal on new NAFTA MORE (D-N.D.) for her Senate seat, boasted of his willingness to say “what a lot of other people don’t dare say – but think,” including on the “Me Too” movement.
“That you’re just supposed to believe somebody because they said it happened,” Cramer told the Times. He then referenced women in his family, saying that “they cannot understand this movement toward victimization.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“They are pioneers of the prairie,” he said. “These are tough people whose grandparents were tough and great-grandparents were tough.”
Cramer came under fire last month after he appeared to wave off sexual assault allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying that the alleged assault against one of the accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, “never went anywhere.”
Kavanaugh had been accused by Ford of pinning her to a bed, groping her and trying to remove her clothing during a high school party in the 1980s. He has denied those allegations.
A deeply divided Senate confirmed Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Saturday.
Cramer’s latest comments to the Times drew a rebuke from Heitkamp, a former North Dakota state attorney general, who referenced her experience working with victims. She said her own mother had been a victim of sexual assault as a teenager.
“I think it’s wonderful that his wife has never had an experience, and good for her, and it’s wonderful his mom hasn’t,” Heitkamp said, according to the Times. “My mom did. And I think it affected my mom her whole life. And it didn’t make her less strong.”
“I want you to put this in there, it did not make my mom less strong that she was a victim,” she continued. “She got stronger and she made us strong. And to suggest that this movement doesn’t make women strong and stronger is really unfortunate.”
Heitkamp, who is considered among the most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection this year, voted against Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Saturday.
That move could carry potential political ramifications for the first-term senator as she seeks reelection in a state President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won handily in 2016.
Click Here: Bape Kid 1st Camo Ape Head rompers
Cramer is leading Heitkamp in virtually every recent public poll. Two surveys released last week showed Heitkamp trailing by 10- and 12-point margins.
In an interview with the Times, Heitkamp acknowledged that voting for Kavanaugh’s confirmation would have been “the smart political vote.”
“That’s the way it just goes,” she told the newspaper.