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Sheila Johnson Apologizes For Making Fun of Deeds' Stutter
Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2009, 11:17AM
Sheila Johnson, BET Co-Founder
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Sheila Johnson, a supporter of Republican candidate Bob McDonnell in the Virginia Senate race, has apologized for making fun of Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds for stuttering.
"Two weeks ago I made reference to Creigh Deeds's inability to clearly communicate effective solutions to the serious problems facing Virginia," Johnson said yesterday evening in a statement sent to the Politico. "I shouldn't have done it in the manner in which I did and for that I apologize for any offense he, or others, may have taken."
Initially, the McDonnell campaign did not apologize, but had released a statement saying in part: "Creigh Deeds has never had a problem voicing his false attacks about Bob McDonnell. What he has had difficulty expressing is any positive vision for Virginia's future. Democratic businesswoman Sheila Johnson was noting that fact."
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Barry Ragin
October 6, 2009 12:08 PM
"Two weeks ago I made reference to Creigh Deeds's inability to clearly communicate effective solutions to the serious problems facing Virginia," Johnson said yesterday evening in a statement sent to the Politico. "I shouldn't have done it in the manner in which I did and for that I apologize for any offense he, or others, may have taken."
Wishful thinking to say she apologized for making fun of the guy's stutter.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 6, 2009 12:09 PM
Boy. How heartfelt. You can tell she really feels the pain of stutterers and feels great remorse for her insensitive comments.
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counter coulter
October 6, 2009 12:57 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
I couldn't help but notice when I watched the video of her doing her little schtick there was dead silence from the crowd. Even they realized how incredibly offensive it was.
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Lycurgus
October 6, 2009 12:19 PM
I've never understood apologizing for other people "taking offence".
You don't apologize for the actions of those who were hurt; you apologize for what YOU did to hurt them. Otherwise you aren't admitting that you did something wrong, just that you think other people are wimps.
It's like saying: I apologize for the pain you acquired when you stood in the way of the bullet I shot.
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mikedrevguy
October 6, 2009 1:38 PM in reply to Lycurgus
X2 it truly functions as a NON apology apology.
taking responsibility for one's own actions is a serious problem facing society - and yes it is as non-partisan as it comes.
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rebop
October 6, 2009 12:22 PM
Someday I would really like to see an apology is not qualified by a statement along the lines of "I'm sorry if I offended your sissy pants sensibilities." In this case I would really have preferred something along the lines of "I behaved like an insensitive ass, and in the process revealed some deep character flaws. I apologize for that. To show that my apology is sincere I am going to withdraw from public life altogether until I get my many issues resolved in therapy." Is that too much to ask?
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Schmed
October 6, 2009 12:47 PM
It might stop the epidemic of the "non-apology" apology if the offended rejected the disingenuous, self serving statements. Something along the lines of: "You call that mealy-mouthed crap an apology? When you get around to saying you're sorry for offending me and not for my 'taking offence,' then maybe I won't have to question your sincerity and honesty. Until then, apology rejected."
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psyclone
October 6, 2009 2:46 PM in reply to Schmed
I propose to henceforth use the term "republipology" to describe this kind of insincere backhanded statement that for some reason gets passed off as an apology (apparently even by TPM) when it clearly is not.
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docrocktex
October 6, 2009 12:56 PM
as co-founder of BET, i still can't figure out why she's supporting a republican
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Xantar
October 6, 2009 1:56 PM in reply to docrocktex
You know, that'$ a good que$tion. I have $ome idea$ about why $he would be doing that, but I can't quite put it into word$. The explanation i$ right on the tip of my tongue, I know it!
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Cal Gal
October 6, 2009 2:10 PM in reply to Xantar
You're on to $omething there.
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J0hnGalt
October 6, 2009 2:05 PM
She's a b-b-b-b-bitch...
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