Nugent apologizes for using term 'subhuman mongrel'
Updated 1:03 p.m.
(CNN) - Conservative activist and rocker Ted Nugent apologized Friday for using the term "subhuman mongrel" to describe President Barack Obama.
"I do apologize–not necessarily to the President–but on behalf of much better men than myself," he said in an interview with conservative radio host Ben Ferguson, who's also a CNN political commentator.
[twitter-follow screen_name='KilloughCNN'] [twitter-follow screen_name='psteinhausercnn']
Texas attorney general Greg Abbott, the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee this year, came under heavy criticism from Democrats this week for campaigning with Nugent, who's known for making outlandish comments about the President.
Watch Ted Nugent on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" Monday night starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Nugent said he apologizes "for using the streetfighter terminology of 'subhuman mongrel' instead of just using more understandable language, such as 'violator of his oath to the Constitution'."
In his apology, Nugent appeared to regret more the fact that his language has been tied to Republican politicians from his state, such as Abbott, Gov. Rick Perry, and Sen. Ted Cruz.
"I apologize for using the term," he said. "I will try to elevate my vernacular to the level of those great men that I'm learning from in the world of politics."
Later on in the interview–after some people on Twitter argued Nugent's comments weren't a real apology–Ferguson asked Nugent if he was directly apologizing to the President for the comments.
"Yes," Nugent replied.
While Perry and Cruz both said they found Nugent's original comment inappropriate, they didn't rule out campaigning with him.
Sen. Rand Paul, however, made headlines when he called on Nugent to apologize Thursday night.
"Ted Nugent's derogatory description of President Obama is offensive and has no place in politics. He should apologize," the Kentucky Republican tweeted.
Asked by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer Thursday in an interview "The Situation Room" about Nugent, Perry said "The idea that Ted Nugent has said something that's outrageous shouldn't surprise anybody."
Perry, who's considering a second bid for the Republican presidential nomination, added that Nugent "shouldn't have said something like that about the President of the United States."
And Cruz distanced himself with what Nugent said in an exclusive interview Wednesday with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash.
"Those sentiments there, of course, I don't agree with them. You've never heard me say such a thing and nor would I," Cruz said.
But the GOP senator, who's also entertaining a 2016 run, embraced Nugent's outspoken stance in support of the Second Amendment.
"I will note, there are reasons Ted Nugent - people listen to him, which is that he has been fighting passionately for Second Amendment rights. And - and this administration has demonstrated an incredible hostility to the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens," Cruz said.
From CNN Politics
- Untitled
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Manhattan DA's office again slams House GOP's efforts to investigate Trump probe, says approx. $5k federal funds used
- Can Trump still run for president? Your top indictment questions, answered
- Untitled
- Sen. John Fetterman discharged from Walter Reed after receiving treatment for depression
We sure have a lot of dime a dozen coward blowhards surface since Obama. They are ALL void of basic American honor. ANY low life stain can do what these idiots do. Republicans have given us nothing but a waste of our time and money since this new century started. 14 years of waste. No republican has earned, nor do they deserve, a single solitary vote because of their shameful and unwarranted phony theatrics.
What is it with conservatives and apologies? That was a pretty weak apology. It would have been better if he didn't bother. It seems like he can claim he apologized but really didn't.
Ted Nugent born December 13, 1948 is a has been musician from Detroit, Michigan. That tea bagger is not from Texas just like his blood brother Ted Cruz.
That was a better apology than I heard for "If you like your policy you can keep it"
Ted is still the guy who pooped his pants to avoid military service. I just can't get past that fact when I see him. All talk and no walk. The NRA needs to drop this draft dodger.
I don't care what Nugent says, "Double Live Gonzo" is still one of the best live hard rock albums of all time.
Ted Nugent born December 13, 1948 is a has been musician from Detroit, Michigan. That tea bagger is not from Texas just like his blood brother Ted Cruz.
These kind of comments shouldn't be said against any human. This is how Hitler talked about Jewish people and we all know the out come of that.
I think "The Nuge" deserves the term "subhuman."
He shouldn't apologize. Part of the beauty of living in the USA is the right to speak our minds. So he called the president a name? Big deal. Anyone remember "sticks and stones"? People act like they're so perfect and would never make a derogatory comment like that about anyone ever. Yeah right. Keep on throwing the first stones, people.
You need apologize to the President! You can disagree with his politics, his policies, but get a set of "B@!!'s and apologize. What you doing is a cop out! If you what to be a man, you step up and apologize directly!
The apology is lame and self-serving. It's been clear for a long time that Ted Nugent is A Ted Nugent. As Butthead would say to Beavis, "You're a waste of space."
What's new? Republicans always do the damage and then they apologize. They never really apologize, they are sorry that they either got caught or they couldn't control their personal believes and blurred it out in public. Nugent's comments are beyond disgusting, and that he is on the campaign trail means that the candidates secretly really likes that he is saying what they cannot.
"I do apologize–not necessarily to the President"
Then who are you apologizing to ?
"–but on behalf of much better men than myself" (isn't that just about everybody ??)
So you're not apologizing for yourself, you're apologizing for the people who you think should have apologized for you.
Amazing.
Good at music, bad at politics and diplomacy, stick to what you're good at, forget the rest.
Ted Nugent did not apologize to POTUS.
Ted Nugent just bilked the media out of another 15 minutes of fame.
He was classified 4-F for the draft during Vietnam. What do you expect? He acts like he is Col. James Braddock, but he's just another Republican Chicken Hawk trash talker. He was more than likely thinking of himself, when he came up with the offensive term.
Does anybody really care what T ed nugent thinks...its like Ted Whofriggincaresgent!
I think Ted (Nugent and Cruz!) ate too many paint chips as a child. Subsequently, hanging around with what passes for the modern Republican brain trust may actually prove that birds of a feather do flock together.
What business does Nugent have offering his "opinions" to the world of adults? His "mongrel" won TWICE; now why isn't he good to his word and either dead or in jail, hmm?
Go back to being a soul-less guitar player Teddy-boy; you're WAY out of your league in politics!
Maybe he meant that a "subhuman mongrel" was a compliment ... because that would have put Obama millions of years of evolution above what Ted the Ped Nugent is ...
@Mopery
2nd Amendment rights exist for one reason: To enable the citizenry with the ability to fight against their own nation's army, should the need arise. The NRA needs to push for legalization of fully automatic rifles, SAM missiles, rocket artillery, grenades, mortars, all the stuff we'd need to actually stand a chance against the real military. As we stand now, no amount of semi-automatic weapons will matter when the government can just drone-strike us into oblivion, so what's the point?
-------------
Not really. You are re-writing history, In the Whiskey Rebellion, 1790's, George Washington lead the Well Regulated Militia of gun owners AS the federal police force to suppress a tax revolt on US soil. Still like being part of the 1700's well regulated militia?
Is Ted a little bit of a knuckle head...yes...do the people on the left who jump on this really believe he was being racist as opposed to generally trying to talk like a pirate as usual...no they don't. So, you have Ted stupidly making a silly remark and others here intentionally misleading and race baiting using that deception. Which is worse? Which is more racist???
Just chalk it up to a little cat scratch fever...
Just another boneheaded guitar thrasher showing his ignorance. And his music is just as bad as his politics.