MSNBC host offers tearful apology to Romneys
Updated 1:49 p.m., 1/4/2014
(CNN) - MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry made a tearful apology to Mitt Romney’s family on her show Saturday, after she and a panel poked fun at a photo of the former Republican presidential candidate with his wife and 21 grandchildren by zeroing in on his adopted African-American grandson.
"Whatever the intent was, the reality is that the segment proceeded in a way that was offensive, and showing the photo in that context, of that segment, was poor judgment. So without reservation or qualification, I apologize to the Romney family," said the anchor at the open of her show, "Melissa Harris-Perry."
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Harris-Perry became emotional as she went on to apologize to all "other families formed through transracial adoption," saying, "I am deeply sorry that we suggested that interracial families are in any way funny or deserving of ridicule."
She highlighted her own interracial background, as the daughter of an African-American man and a white Mormon woman. But, she said, families are always "off limits," and the Romneys' grandchildren should never have been a topic of discussion.
"Adults who enter into public life implicitly consent to having less privacy. But their families, and especially their children, should not be treated callously or thoughtlessly. My intention was not malicious, but I broke the ground rule that families are off limits, and for that I am sorry," she said.
Harris-Perry first apologized on Twitter and MSNBC's website Tuesday, offering a similar mea culpa "without reservation or qualification."
During the segment last Sunday, Harris-Perry asked a panel to come up with a caption for the Romney family photo, and two panelists made jokes about the infant standing out.
Actress Pia Glenn began singing lines from the song popularized by Sesame Street, "One of These Things Is Not Like the Others." Comedian Dean Obeidallah said the picture "really sums up the diversity of the Republican Party."
Obeidallah appears frequently on CNN and writes a regular opinion column for CNN.com.
Harris-Perry described the baby as "gorgeous" and joked that in 2040 he would marry North West, the daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
"Can you imagine Mitt Romney and Kanye West as in-laws?" she said, to laughs.
Criticism was swift across social media, with prominent Republicans from Sarah Palin to former Sen. Scott Brown weighing in.
A spokeswoman for Romney told CNN he was on a family vacation this week and unavailable for comment. On Sunday, Romney will appear on “Fox News Sunday,” where he is likely to be asked about the episode.
MSNBC has been in some hot water recently after a handful of their hosts have made controversial comments. Alec Baldwin and the network parted ways in November after his homophobic outburst against photographers, and Martin Bashir resigned in December for his suggestion that Sarah Palin deserved graphic punishment for comparing U.S. foreign debt to slavery.
–CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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This woman and the rest of the MSNBC ilk hate the USA and freedom loving Americans. Like Trotsky, these Bolsheviks deserve nothing more than the business end of an ice axe.
Progressives are just communists in disguise. They want to destroy everything good and lying is just the means to the end of their power pursuit. They want power for the sake of power and will destroy anyone and everyone that stands in their way. They are blood sucking tyrants and Thomas Jefferson said "The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Remember those that give up their swords will plow for those that didn't.
Black people are the most racist of all. They couldn't even admit that Trayvon was a thug piece of trash. If they are so blind, how can you trust them on anything?
WOW now that is what I call an apology.
If she really felt families were off limits, she wouldn't have made those comments. I think she only regrets the fact that she's in "hot water" with her bosses.
Only blacks can have little black babies. Didn't you know that?....oh hold on, where are all the black dads? At the strip club making it rain.
I thought all the right wingers are such good "Christians". Can't accept an apology?
Truly embarrassing. All of those participating in the attempt to put ridicule on the Romneys (and any other family that decides to adopt) should be ashamed of themselves. But, the sad thing is that they're ashamed of being caught, not of what they said. Had no one said anything about their comments, they would have continued making insulting remarks about those they hate, people who do not think like they do. For all the screaming and yelling most liberals do about how hateful the conservatives are, they hold deep aversion for anyone who does not share they lifestyle.
"My intentions were not malicious" she said.
So what EXACTLY were your intentions?
what a harmony exposed to the world
I'm a republican and a supporter of Mitt Romney and usually Palin(in this case she made a mountain out of a mole hill) but this was clearly a bad attempt at a joke and was blown out by some. I believe her apology and we all need to move on and no ramifications need to happen to this lady!!!
Prominent Republicans = Sarah Palin. Lol.
I think an apology was in order.
Oh you slimy weasel you...cry, cry, cry & now fire her!
why is she apologizing and not the person that acutally said the , 'one of THESE things is dif' comment?? RATCHETT
You can't force me to do anything. Period
What do you expect. If our human race would stay with their own race we would have less problems. Ban all interracial adoptions.
Came across as forced by the Network in order to test public reaction to the "croc-tear on-air apology"... Last week's Twitter version was not enough. Depending on public reaction, such as on this space and elsewhere, she will either continue, be suspended for a brief period of time, or follow Bashir out the door. Last in the ratings MSNBC cannot afford more such "biased, rude, racist" tirades..
Our nation is way too sensitive. It was not meant maliciously.
She's the racist.
barbarianofgor
Sick that she has to apologize about saying anything about the LOSER Romney.
I'll say something good, though... At least the $ from SOME of the Families he's destroyed by sending jobs overseas is going to feed and shelter innocent children, his own at least.
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This is the big problem with partisan talking points. There are many people out there stupid enough to believe them.
MSNBC is only doing this to pander to their emotionally weak liberal audience who may have been jilted by this segment. If they can keep them attached to their propaganda – no harm done.
How many times have we heard apologies from talking heads? I'm glad someone finally did.
I'm in agreement with the person that said, "When you guys fire Duck Dynasty, MSNBC will fire Melissa." The commentary on the show was not that big of a deal. This has been blown way out of proportion. Remember folks... Remember the video of Romney at the dinner – that made it clear he was a rich money-mongering white's-only club guy. How soon you all forget, eh? I stand behind MSNBC and Melissa. An apology was MORE than enough.
as she reads *cry* on the teleprompter