Haley Barbour Apologizes for Obama 'Hot Poker' Dig

Sorry, but I wasn't talking about branding prez, he says
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 5, 2012 2:44 AM CDT
Updated Sep 5, 2012 2:53 AM CDT
Haley Barbour Apologizes for Obama 'Hot Poker' Dig
FILE - This Jan. 13, 2012, file photo shows former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour during an interview in Ridgeland, Miss. Asked about the political evolution of the southern states Barbour, a Republican, former national party chairman and two-term governor, said the demographics are important but can...   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Haley Barbour has apologized for a rude, crude—and some would say racist—suggestion about what to do to President Obama. "While I would love" for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to "put a hot poker to Obama’s butt, I thought he did what he was supposed to do," the former Mississippi governor said at a fundraiser last week, referring to Christie's speech at the GOP National Convention.

Barbour was quickly ripped for what sounded like encouragement to "brand" the nation's first black president. “I apologize to anyone who feels my comment had connotations that I did not intend,” Barbour tells Politico. He says he was simply trying to praise Christie, but added: "It's critical that we all keep our comments free of extremes or anything that could be misinterpreted.” (More Haley Barbour stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X