WASHINGTON (CNN) - A Republican congresswoman apologized Thursday for saying that her party is looking for a "great white hope" to counteract President Obama's political agenda.
Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins told the Lawrence Journal-World that she did not intend to make a racist comment, and was simply saying that "Republicans have been suffering in recent years and we need a bright light."
"Obviously I was discussing the future of the Republican Party in response to a question about is there any hope for Republicans," Jenkins said. "I was explaining that there are some bright lights in the House, and I was unaware of any negative connotation. If I offended somebody, obviously I apologize."
Jenkins had been criticized for saying at an August 19 forum in Kansas that the GOP needs "to find the great white hope" to help the party succeed in the future.
"Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope," Jenkins said. "I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington."
From CNN Politics
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Just when they seem to be gaining some genuine traction, the GOP lets off another round in their collective foot, which they promptly insert into their mouths. They had better give up on being a big tent: right now they are looking like a rain poncho.
If she meant to say "bright light", she could've just said "bright light" instead of "great white hope".
Thank you, Republican party, for your support of The Daily Show comic writers. This stuff is too funny to make up...
Steele is the great white hope if lights is what she was talking about. The Party elected him.
Freudian slip? No one is surprised by anything like this coming from Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, or South Carolina. Let it slide....It's how they were raised.
Typical. That's why they are the party of No. Party of Distraction and have such a narrow coalition making up there party. They see there power being lost to the New population. She just spoke exactly how they feel as right wing extremist
Stupid stupid comment given the obvious implications, but it is nothing more than a turn of phrase no different than using the lipstick ona pig line. Turning it into a big deal would be jhust as bad as when the GOPers claimed Obama had called Palin a pig, which was total nonsense. She apologized...leave it at that.
Typical republican open mouth insert foot.
Ooops! Freudian slip.
typical republican apology: "When I said white, I didn't mean white." Cf. "it's not torture, it's enhanced interrogation," "some bad weather down in New Orleans tonight, I hear," or "I swear to honor and protect the constitution."
She shouldn't apologize, she was correct.
Ok.. I give her benefit of doubt.
I did not mean to reveal my racism, all I meant was that "Republicans have been suffering in recent years and we need a bright light," and that bright light, it goes without saying, cannot be black or Hispanic.
I d 10 t
Tech talk for IDIOT
Thank goodness for national media. In Kansas, the Repubs are claiming this is not a racist statement it just refers to someone who has great promise in their field. Yeah right. Oh by the way, all the people she referred to were white.
Let's assume the congresswoman is ignorant about the context of the phrase she used. Let's assume the congresswoman's brain was unable to connect that a phrase including the word "white" and counteracting Obama may carry some racial connotation. Then we can forgive her and we are left to feel sorry for the voters in the Kansas House district who are represented by an illiterate airhead.
I would probably be considered a liberal and even I think this is ridiculous. Let's stop looking for racism/sexism and homophobia where it doesn't exist. There are plenty of real life examples of it in the world. "Great white hope" is an old phrase. People need to stop apologizing for everything in this country.
Please think before speaking! It is comments like this that instigate even more hatred and predjudice! I pray everyday for Americans to live in Peace, Love and Harmony. And with elected officials like this spouting off comments without thinking, is unconsiounable! We elect our officials to speak for us, and this is not what we want to hear!
The truth comes out one way or another with these people...you really think all the furor on the part of southern whites over this health care issue has anything to do with health care?
"Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins told the Lawrence Journal-World that she did not intend to make a racist comment,"
Yeah she did. She just didn't "intend" to get called on it. It's like I've always told my children, just because you say you're "sorry" after you say mean, hateful things doesn't make it any better.
Ye olde Freudian slip...
...conservative Republican-style...
...Lynn we know EXACTLY what you meant...
The only way the GOP will find great white hope is to stop being the party of NO and start working with president. And they need to stop Palin from making remarks like the death panel deal. She is the one who got this country in an uproar about the health care reform, and then she has people like Rush, Glen, Mitt going along with her on it. Palin is going on fox news for only one reason she wants these jerks to be in her cabinet when alaska puts her in the white house.
Wow...how can that be taken any other way than as a racist comment? There was a reason that they kept showing the same token black man at the RNC last year...he was the only one there.
I'm not saying that all Republicans are racist...But I think it's fair to say that all white supremists vote Republican. There is a reason for that. ALL of their policies are inteded to help BIG business. Cititzens and namely those that can't fend for themselves(tend to be minorities) are on their own. And Bush had the nerve to call Republicans the party of inclusion. Only his cabinet reflected that(mainly for photo ops I'm sure) and not his party.
And this is why there is no future for the GOP. How does that shoe taste anyways? Mmmmmmmmmmmm yummy,
Maybe if the GOP would return to what they are always promising and never doing they might have a chance. Smaller government, less collectivism, no progressive policies, NO "New World Order" and a return to the principles of the founding fathers. Maybe if the GOP would stop lining their pockets with every lobbyist and special interest dollars, they would remember "We the People" for a change.
I am so sorry to say this person is my representative. Humiliating.