Rendell Apologizes For Napolitano Remarks

by Walter Alarkon - 12/03/08 4:15 PM ET

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) said he’s sorry for remarks about Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) that were criticized on CNN as sexist.

“What I meant is that Janet is a person who works 24/7, just like me,” Rendell said Wednesday, according to First Read.

Rendell said that Napolitano, chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to become Homeland Security secretary, was “perfect” for that post “because for that job, you have to have no life.”

He added: “Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it.”

CNN’s Campbell Brown said that the remark would perpetuate stereotypes of mothers and single women.

Rendell admitted Wednesday that he was guilty of “fractured logic.”

“I guess, if you stretch it, it could be taken by some people the wrong way,” he told reporters. “I certainly didn’t mean it the wrong way. Janet is a friend of mine. She’s a great, great governor, and she’ll be a great director of Homeland Security. And if anyone out there was offended, I apologize.”