The Hill News

Rick Santorum doubled down in an interview Friday with CNN on controversial comments he made earlier this week suggesting that female combat troops would be less physically able than â€" and more distracting to â€" male soldiers.

"If you're out there, for example, in a group, or just two people, and some people, because of women, have â€" as you know, with respect to physical capabilities, they don't have the same requirements that men do in the military, and may be in a position if someone is injured, has to be brought back," Santorum said.

Santorum also responded to the criticism that had erupted Thursday about his response to the Pentagon announcing it would open frontline roles up to women. Then, Santorum described the move as potentially "compromising" because "people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved.”

Santorum said Friday that it might be m! en â€" and not necessarily women, as he had seemingly implied â€" that were emotional in mixed-sex combat situations.

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