Even though it’s 2011, racism still seems to be a major issue here in the United States.
And a congressman from Colorado has gone too far. (Too damn far…)
Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn, a Republican, recently compared President Barack Obama to a “tar baby” — an offensive term for people of color — while discussing the President’s unpopular budget policies. He said:
“Even if some people say, well the Republicans should have done this or they should have done that, they will hold the President responsible. Now I don’t want to even have to be associated with him. It’s like touching a tar baby and you get, you get it, you know… you are stuck and you are part of the problem now and you can’t get away.”
[CNN]
Lamborn has since apologized for his idiotic “foot-in-the-mouth” remark:
“What I intended was that it be a reference to the economic quagmire that we get trapped in when all out policies are falling apart and nothing seems to be working and whatever you try seems to be making the problem worse unless you build better policies. I was not aware of that, no, and I certainly had no intentions of offending anybody and hopefully the President will not be offended, if he’s even aware of this.”
The Congressman’s spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen also apologized on his behalf, issuing the following statement:
“Lamborn was attempting to tell a radio audience last week that the president’s policies have created an economic quagmire for the nation and are responsible for the dismal economic conditions our country faces. He regrets that he chose the phrase ‘tar baby,’ rather than the word ‘quagmire.’ The congressman is confident that the president will accept his heartfelt apology.”
[NYDN]
The White House so far hasn’t responded to this nonsense yet … and probably won’t.
