Governors going off message
Perfect week for the bipartisan oopsies from Gov. Rick Perry (R) of Texas and former Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) of Montana. Anytime Americans are focused on the Middle East burning, it’s a great time to make inappropriate remarks about elected lawmakers and/or homosexuality.
In what may have been mere hours after being hired as an MSNBC contributor, Schweitzer, known for his usually delightful folksy straight-talk, basically accused (soon-to-be former) House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) of appearing gay, and likened Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to a prostitute.
{mosads}”If you were just a regular person, you turned on the TV, and saw Eric Cantor talking, I would say — and I am fine with gay people, that’s all right — but my gaydar is 60-70 percent,” Schweitzer told National Journal, said before going on to describe “men in the South, they are effeminate … they just have effeminate mannerisms.”
Of Feinstein, whom apparently Schweitzer did not appreciate changing her mind on National Security Agency (NSA) spying, he said “She was the woman standing under the streetlight with her dress pulled all the way up over her knees.” But “now she says ‘I’m a nun,’ when it comes to this spying. I mean, maybe that’s the wrong metaphor — but she was all in!”
Schweitzer’s apology for the remarks people assumed were made after numerous adult beverages came Thursday, when in a Facebook post he admitted he had made “stupid and insensitive” remarks to a reporter. “I am deeply sorry and sincerely apologize for my carelessness and disregard.”
And after comparing homosexuality to alcoholism last week, Perry “The Comeback Kid” is back on message.
“I readily admit I stepped right in it,” Perry said when asked about it on CNBC, adding that what he should have said was: “You know what, we need to be a really respectful and tolerant country to everybody, and get back to talking about, whether you are gay or straight, you need to be having a job, and those are the focuses that I want to be involved with.”
Just remember that both men are currently considered potential presidential candidates. Oh dear.
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