Ex-Dem Chair Apologizes for Inappropriate RNC Hurricane Remark

Don Fowler, the callous former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, apologized on Sunday for laughing at the fact that Hurricane Gustav might hit the New Orleans area at the same time President Bush was scheduled to address the Republican National Convention:

"If this offended anybody, I personally apologize," Fowler told ABC News. "It was a mistake, and it was a satirical statement made in jest. And one that I clearly don't believe."

My RedState colleague, Absentee, caught the uncaring Fowler making his inappropriate comments on an airline flight from Denver, Colo., to Charlotte, N.C., following the Democratic National Convention.

In the recording, Fowler says:

"The hurricane’s going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. The timing is -- at least it appears now that it’ll be there Monday. That just demonstrates that God’s on our side. [Laughter] Everything’s cool."

I'll bet that doesn't seem very funny to all the folks being evacuated in the face of Hurricane Gustav.

You can watch the video of Fowler's indiscretion here.

Fowler didn't learn his lesson very well. The Former Chairman of the Democrats offered a political required, if insincere apology. Fowler then went on to insult Absentee -- calling him "some right-wing nutcase."

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Presidential_Politics

Axelrod, Penn, and Trippi, the campaign advisors of the three leading Democratic candidates go at it discuss recent campaign developments on "Hardball."




Bill Shaheen may have resigned as co-chair of Hillary's campaign, and Hillary may have apologized to Obama for Shaheen's remarks suggesting Obama's admitted drug use in the past could make him vulnerable as a candidate, but Mark Penn is still playing the story. Makes one wonder just how sincere Hillary was in her apology. Could the apology have been motivated by politics?

Huckabee Apologizes For His Questionable Question

Republican presidential wannabee Mike Huckabee, apologized to rival Mitt Romney for Huckabee's questionable question contained in an upcoming New York Times Magazine article that appear to disparage the Mormon faith:

"I said, I would never try, ever to try to somehow pick out some point of your faith and make it an issue, and I wouldn't," Huckabee said.

"I've stayed away from talking about Mitt Romney's faith," Huckabee said. "I told him face-to-face, I said I don't think your being a Mormon ought to make you more or less qualified for being a president."

Romney was "gracious" in accepting the apology:

"The governor accepted the apology," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said. "He continues to believe that this campaign should not be about questioning a candidate's faith. While it is fair to criticize an opponent's record or policy positions, it is out of bounds for one candidate to question another's personal faith."

You can watch the following video and see Huckabee's apology.



Huckabee apologized but the damage is done. Huckabee managed to start a dialogue questioning Mormon beliefs.

The Los Angeles Times< reports that Huckabee's quetionable question "dwarfs GOP debate:"

The controversy, which overshadowed a GOP debate here, came less than a week after Romney, who had been leading in Iowa polls, delivered a speech aimed at overcoming any political impediment posed by his membership in the Mormon church.

And it was the latest instance of the newly ascendant Huckabee having to explain his statements now that he is facing closer scrutiny.

[. . .]

Some, however, think Huckabee's comment was not as innocent as he suggested, especially after he ran a TV ad in Iowa in which he discussed faith and the words "Christian Leader" flashed across the screen.

You can count me in the group that thinks Huckabee's questionable question was not an innocent mistake taken out of context. Huckabee's assertion that he Mormon question was taken out of context is well, wrong. I posted the context here. The only thing out of context was Huckabee's insertion of the Mormon question. Like the LA Times I also expressed concern about Huckabee's "CHRISTIAN LEADER" ad, in which Huckabee dealt the religion card he continues to play.