(Farmington Hills, MI)…..The Paul Welday for Congress campaign today called on opponent Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski to immediately denounce and apologize to the voters of the district for remarks made by supporter Phyllis Schlafly made at a Raczkowski fundraiser at the American Polish Cultural Center on Saturday, July 24, 2010 in Troy, Michigan.

Welday, Raczkowski and two others are seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan’s Ninth Congressional District in the August 3rd primary election.  The winner goes on to face incumbent Gary Peters in the general election.

At the Raczkowski fundraiser, Schlafly, founder of the ultra right-wing group called Eagle Forum, said, ““Do you know what was the second biggest demographic group that voted for Obama? Obviously, the blacks were the biggest demographic group. Do you know what was the second biggest? Unmarried women. Seventy percent of unmarried women voted for Obama. And this is because when you kick your husband out, you gotta have Big Brother government to be your provider.”

Audio of Schlafly’s comments at the Raczkowski fundraiser can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDeBsEg2Pzw

Upon learning of Schlafly’s remarks at the Rackowski fundraiser, Paul Welday said, “There is no place for this type of attack against any segment of our society, particularly those who in many cases find themselves in the most difficult of circumstances.  I reject Mrs. Schlafly’s remarks and believe that she and Mr. Raczkowski owe an apology to all women of Oakland County and across this nation.”

“To insult unmarried women is inexcusable and certainly does not represent conservatism or the Republican Party,” said Welday Sr. Campaign Advisor Brian Pierce.  “For Mr. Raczkowski to associate himself with this kind of thinking demonstrates that he is out of the mainstream and does not represent the values of voters of the Ninth District.  He should immediately repudiate these remarks and one has to ask why he hasn’t done so already?”

“This is a further demonstration of Mr. Raczkowski’s questionable judgment and reaffirms what we have been saying all along – Rocky cannot win a general election against Gary Peters.  Paul Welday has focused on the major issues throughout this campaign and will continue that fight against Congressman Peters.  But coupled with a long record of questionable conduct and irresponsible actions, this unfortunate incident is more proof that Rocky is simply out of touch and not ready to be our Republican nominee for Congress in the Ninth District of Michigan,” Pierce concluded.