Regretfully, we must write this

We're ever so sorry to have to point this out, but there sure seem to be an awful lot of apologies flying around in this presidential campaign. Everybody who is anybody is publicly saying how sorry they are about something or other.

Yesterday after the last Republican debate in Iowa, Mike Huckabee walked right up to Mitt Romney and apologized for his question about Mormonism that some took as criticism to appeal to evangelicals.

As he was doing that, Billy Shaheen, husband of the former governor and co-chair of Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire campaign, was publicly expressing his concern that Barack Obama's acknowledged youthful drug use would be pounced on by Republicans next year if the Illinois senator was the Democratic nominee. As Shaheen well knew, such a reminder, coming as that party's race tightened to a dead heat in state polls, could also be seen as quite possibly helping Clinton.

Under a barrage of criticism by day's end, Shaheen expressed regret for his remarks.

Today, Shaheen resigned from Clinton's campaign, repeating regret for his unauthorized remarks, admitting the mistake and relinquishing his role as state co-chair. And as he was doing that, Hillary Clinton walked up to Obama at Washington's Reagan National Airport and apologized for what Shaheen had said, which her campaign has also said was unauthorized.

Then later today, to take advantage of all the attention to apologies, Fred Thompson's campaign issued "heartfelt apologies" of its own to Huckabee for "some references we've made about his record as governor of Arkansas."

The clever apology, however, was also as insincere as it could be, merely an opportunity for Thompson's deputy communications director, Karen Hanretty, to sarcastically repeat her boss's criticism of Huckabee for offering in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants, supporting an end to the Cuban embargo and raising some Arkansas taxes.

"We (also) apologize," Hanretty's statement continued, "for telling reporters that a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University doesn't, in fact, make Huckabee more qualified to fight the war on terror than say...Fred Thompson."

Geez, sorry we brought all this up.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Mike Binkley]

In late 2003, the Libertarian Party elected Geoffrey Neale as National Chairman. I spoke with him on the day following his election on C-Span’s “Washington Journal”.

After congratulating Geoff, I suggested that Libertarians should be more generous with the major parties. I noted that Libertarians enjoy a symbol, Lady Liberty, which fits well with the LP’s political philosophy.

I continued: “I feel sorry for the poor Democrats and Republicans. Nowadays, no one can remember what the elephant and donkey stand for.
“So I suggest that they adopt a new symbol – one that comports well with their philosophy and their attendant demand for half of the people’s income. I suggest the carnivorous worm, the leech.”

In the spirit of your column, I am writing to apologize. My odious comparison of major party politicians with leeches has deeply disturbed me. I must set the record straight. … I am profoundly apologetic to leeches everywhere. No leech takes half. I have unfairly smeared them. I just hope I can live with myself.

Mike Binkley
2006-2007 Chair, Libertarian Party of LA County

[Kelly]

It seems to be a new form of political manipulation of the puplic forum. Say whatever criticizm you care to say, accurate or not, get the mileage you need to boost your campaign on heresay and then, after the damage is done, look like a saint while you offer a "heartfelt" review of the issue raised in the form of an apology. Tactical wizardry that we should all not fall for anymore.

Check out the poll on youpolls.com and see what those polled thought about such tactics. http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1293

[Peter Ault]

Does this mean that any statement made by a politician is acceptable as long as they apologize for it later?? Just curious.

[The Shortender]

are you nutz