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.
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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.
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Do you think he made a mess in his pants?
Don't care that he said it. Don't care that he apologized. Nugent is only politically important in his own mind. He's a guitar player. If these Texas politicians are basing their success on his endorsement, then it begs the question about THEIR judgment.
Obama, by definition is a mongrel, that's a fact that cannot be disputed, it's in any dictionary ever printed.
He is subhuman, that's debateable, barely. After making dozens of campaign promises and not keeping a single one (google it, there are lists). His treatment of most americans makes him subhuman.
Don't apologize for anything.
It's always good to hear the latest from Ted Nugent, one of the leading intellectuals of the Conservative Movement and an honest spokesman for the deepest thoughts of the Republican Party. His words should be carefully considered by Texans and all American voters, always applying this simple rubric: are these the people we wish to entrust with power and responsibility?
"Subhuman mongrel." He also said "chimpanzee." What a DISGRACEFUL thing to say about the President of the United States. I totally disagree with the president on a lot of things, but I would NEVER resort to name-calling, least of all use words that a racist would use. And Cruz and Perry seemed weak in their response, why not a stronger repudiation of Nugent's name-calling? Makes conservatives really seem like closet racists. All Republicans should COMPLETELY distance themselves from Nugent. If I were in political office, I would never have contact or discourse at all with Nugent.
I can see now why Ted is a 2nd Amendment supporter. With comments like he makes, sleeping with a gun is probably a practical choice.
Sniffit
Not good enough. Die and thereby make the world a better place.
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sounds good to me........or at least the general population of some horrible prison where "mongrels" could have him on a daily basis
Republicans silently endorse racist comments by Nugent and others to avoid offending their base, and then, like Michael Dunn, complain that THEY are the victims when people call them racists.
Ted Nugent? That 70's sub-par guitarist with one or two hits that might actually be recognizable if this were 1978? Maybe if he put down his gun long enough to pick up a book or two he'd start making sense, but right now he's just an ill-tempered direct-descendant offspring of Neanderthal blood. If you don't believe me, look it up, if your ancestors are from northern Europe(ie-white folks), you have as much as 5% Neanderthal genes. Who's the sub-human now?
Ted always makes these crazy comments. Its how he stays in the news. Kinda pathetic really. Old rocker loves the stage and cant give it up.
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."
How about it shouldn't be said about anyone, anytime, anywhere?
Wouldn't it be better if Senators and Congressmen didn't get involved in the off-hand remarks of celebrities?
Steve miller
Now let's get apologies from liberal name-calling of Quayle, Bush, Cheney, Christie, and hundreds of other conservatives.
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Apologies? From whom? Name the politician or liberal, and what was you think that they have said.
I used to like this guy. That's is until I found out how he feels about anyone that is not White like him. It's not about disrespecting the President, it's about the fact that now everyone knows he is a RACIST & therefore has no credibility. Thanks for calling millions of hard working American families that once supported you, subhuman mongrels.
I'm not particularly fond of Obama. However, one would think that Nugent would have more intellectual capability than to say what he did. I guess not.
What? Why do they keep insisting that he is a "rocker" – HE F'IN SUCKS – Who the hell listens to Ted Nugent? He's a disgrace to real musicians....
The only reason he apologized is because Steve Stockman wouldn't date him if he didn't.
They're are enough outspoken wacko's on either side to make this a non-event except for CNN pushing sensationalism for ratings.
We'll never let these crazies near Washington again if they can't scrape this guy off their shoe. Are we just hearing from him what they all think? Didn't the GOP just defend him as an "American Patriot?"
And hey, this guy used to be a serious musician. Get him some help; this is schizophrenia, not political dissent.
The fact that he has to learn not to be racist pretty much says all that needs to be said.
It's fun watching Ted become old and irrelevant.
At this point, anything that comes out of Nugent's mouth can only be taken as the ramblings of an unstable individual.
The bright side is that as long as there are Conservatives like Nugent; the likelihood of a Conservative majority in government gets smaller and smaller. Even more so as Cruz was recognized today as well.
Nugent (and Cruz) couldn't bury the GOP Conservative Brownshirt Fringe fast enough!
So keep ramblin' on Nugent! (and Cruz) 🙂
Liberals make comments like this about conservatives every day, and said much worse about George W. Bush. Nary a peep from CNN.
Nugent should apologize right after every liberal talking head on TV apologizes for the hate they spew on a daily basis.
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?