Perry dismisses 9/11 comment by Medina

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison are dismissing a suggestion from a Republican gubernatorial primary rival that the U.S. government was involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Appearing on the nationally broadcast Glenn Beck Show Thursday morning, Debra Medina's interview took an interesting turn.

The following is an excerpt from the transcript on the show's website:

GLENN: There was a theme that ran against you and that is you are a 9/11 Truther.

MEDINA: Well, there's lots of mud that people would like to throw at Debra Medina and make stick. The truth is I'm an everyday ordinary person. I am fighting for the things that our founders fought for, those very basic principles of a constitutional republic, and I'm going to champion people that hold their government accountable, hold me accountable but that's the first time I've heard that accusation. So that's an interesting one.

GLENN: Right. Here's then let me be more frank and ask you the question: Do you believe the government was any way involved with the bringing down of the World Trade Centers on 9/11?

MEDINA: I don't, I don't have all of the evidence there, Glenn. So I don't I'm not in a place, I have not been out publicly questioning that. I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard. There are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there. So I've not taken a position on that."

During a campaign stop in Houston, Perry said, "I think anyone who thinks 9/11 was an inside job is a kook and they owe the young men and women of the military an apology."

Hutchison stressed to a crowd of supporters in Carrolton, “I know exactly who was responsible for the horrific attacks on September 11th – Al Qaeda terrorists who declared war on America. To suggest otherwise is an affront to the men and women who are sacrificing their lives to root out the terrorists in Afghanistan and around the globe."

Medina responded to the controversy in a statement on her campaign website that read, "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. I think the fact that people are even asking questions on this level gets to the incredible distrust career politicians have fostered by so clearly taking their direction from special interests instead of the people. It is absolutely the right and duty of a free people to question their government."