(CNN) – An African-American congressman from Florida is apologizing for his comment that black and Jewish voters should not support Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin because "anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks."
"I regret the comments I made last Tuesday that were not smart and certainly not relevant to hunters or sportsmen," Rep. Alcee Hastings said in a statement issued Monday.
Last week, at a panel on the shared agenda of Jewish and African-American Democrats during the annual conference of the National Jewish Democratic Council, Hastings told attendees what he intended to tell his Jewish constituents about the importance of supporting Sen. Obama in November's presidential election. "If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention," Hastings said last week. "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through," he added
The comments elicited a swift response from the Republican Jewish Coalition. In a statement issued last week, Matt Brooks, the group's Executive Director, said Hastings "stooped to the worst kind of divisive politics."
"There should be no place in our country for this sort of political discourse. We can constructively disagree on the issues without denigrating others," added Brooks.
In his statement Monday, Hastings said he still backed the sentiment behind his initial remarks. "The point I made, and will continue to make, is that the policies and priorities of a McCain-Palin administration would be anathema to most African Americans and Jews," he said in his statement. "I regret that I was not clearer and apologize to Governor Palin, my host where I was speaking, and those who my comments may have offended."
Last Friday, the NJDC announced the launch of a new campaign of pro-Obama ads that will appear in Jewish newspapers across the country. The first ad in the campaign is timed to coincide with the Rosh Hashanah issues of the publications, and focuses on Obama's support for Israel. "Barack Obama is committed to a safe and secure Israel" and "believes that Israel must be preserved as a Jewish state," the ad reads.
The Republican Jewish Coalition has already launched its own series of election-related ads in Jewish newspapers throughout the country. The latest ad refers to some Obama's advisers as "pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, and even hostile to America" and states that "You can know a man by the company he keeps."
From CNN Politics
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I hope mccain is not stupid enough to blame this on Obama, and start in with his fake phony, outrage, and demand Obama apologize for someone else's comments.
Judy (September 29th, 2008 3:20 pm ET): "Who wants a VP that carries gun and kill animals for sport."
Me.
McCain/Palin '08
This is ignorance in its full glory. For any party, no one should make comments like this. This is an elected official speaking out loud. Although we have the right of freedom of speech, this was a dumb choice for all races, all parties and religions. I can say though, his views are not Obama's views!
Who cares? Focus on the bailout.
Can we all just get along?
Obama/Biden 08
IDIOT !!!!!!!!!
Im voting for change
The Rep never will admit to any wrong but constantly stating reaching across the aisles.
McCain could not reach across the aisle in the debate on Friday.
That brother has always been an idiot. I have no problem calling it like i see it.
That said, America won't get distracted from the real issues of the day.
The deep hole that the all-regulation-is-bad GOP cheerleaders and a lack of financial transparency has put America in.
This has nothing to do with Obama.
It's funny how this was never made a big deal of by the media. If that was said by someone in McCain's campaign the media and Obama would be insisting that McCain denounce it.
who care...its the economy, stupid!
Typical Black comment. They bring race into everything. Funny how they now say we should vote for Obama because he is half-white. What is wrong with all black? Should we white people worry if a half-black man wins? Granted he tends to do things halfway.
I'm glad he retracted those horrifically bigoted statements.
There are enough other reasons not to support Palin. Hastings was right to apologise, but also right to voice his lack of support.
Like anything else in America, every side has stupid people. Black, white,yellow, or blue. Stupidity does not takes sides. Let this election be about the people of all races. It should not matter(even though it does) what freakin color anybody is. I could care less if one of them was polka dot and the other striped like a zebra. All I care about is who shares my views. THAT IS IT!!!!!!!!
i'm moving to CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gee, an Obama supporter playing the race card?
Imagine that...
---well, well, well........sarah palin is a shame lady, anyways...
she lies , she kills animals, she is Clueless ...u must be dumb to want her as a vp .......
It doesnt' matter what color the man is, he's still wrong. I'm black, and I didn't like it. Stick to the issues, and don't get caught up in mindless banter.
Barack is running to be president of the US, not just black people. Let Barack speak for himself, he's doing a good job.
Obama/Biden 08
Palin will go down on her own accord.
She does not measure up to some of the basic democratic principles.
Obama/Biden 08/12.
Stupid thing to say but trivial given the context of the current crisis.
Who Cares? I do! Is this something that Democrats would just "let go" if the roles were reversed! I think not. It only took him a whole week to come out and claim his remarks were uncalled for, about freaking time.
Vote McCain/Palin '08
while you people make this news the GOP are laughing that they are not called out for the 700 points the stock market just plunged
That was a dumb unintelligent comment but this is a distraction from the real issues CNN!!!!!!