Romney's Spokesman Offers Lame Excuse For Governor's Use Of "Tar Baby"

[JABBS]

Click here to read the whole article.

Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, told the Associated Press that Romney "was unaware that some people find the term objectionable and he's sorry if anyone's offended."

That's lame for several reasons:

<snip>

3) "He's sorry if anyone's offended," isn't the same as saying, "He's sorry." It's an apology that passes the responsibility onto the offended. In effect, Fehrnstrom is saying that Romney isn't sure what he said was offensive -- since only "some people find the term objectionable" -- which discounts the credibility of the apology.

[wtmusic]

1. Coming off as a complete ignoramus

is about the best he could hope for.

[JAbuchan08]

2. If they want to use a metaphor for bogging onesself down in

a fight one can't win, leave out the "baby" bit and say something to the effect of "getting into a fist fight with a tar pit"

[global1]

3. Didn't Tony Snow Use The Same Expression.......

why hasn't Snow taken heat on his words?

[JABBS]

4. he did

it was pointed out in the article, actually. the left criticized him, the right defended him.

It's another reason Romney should have known better now.

[Dob Bole]

5. Honestly, I never knew that it was an offensive phrase, either...

I never knew that 'tar baby' could be a slur for African Americans, because Brer Rabbit himself spoke in an African American (Southern) dialect...so it doesn't make sense.

If I had heard a speech with the phrase in it, I would have said "Nice use of literature!" Of course, I wouldn't be listening to any GOP speech anyway...