S.D. Senator Sorry for Taliban Comparison

[Freddie Stubbs]

Associated Press


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson has apologized for remarks at a campaign rally in which he compared a segment of the Republican Party to the Taliban.

At a get-out-the-vote rally in Sioux Falls for Democratic House candidate Stephanie Herseth, Johnson told the crowd that Herseth will win a June 1 special election against Republican Larry Diedrich. "And how sweet it's going to be on June 2 when the Taliban wing of the Republican Party finds out what's happened in South Dakota," Johnson said at the Sunday event.

The second-term senator issued an apology Tuesday, saying "I am proud of the support I have enjoyed from Republicans across South Dakota. In a state like ours, you have to be able to reach across party lines to find consensus. If any Republicans were offended, I apologize."

Republicans were outraged by the remarks, with state GOP chairman Randy Frederick describing the statement as "repulsive" and "an attack on the character of all Republicans in South Dakota."

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/8765659.htm?ERIGHTS=3263354813550384273miami

[truthspeaker]

1. Idiot! You should not have apologized!

Fucker.

[tjwash]

62. No kidding the pubs are the same pieces of shit...

...that are screaming that the taliban wants John Kerry elected.

Fuck those assholes.

[Freddie Stubbs]

63. But you probably won't hear any Republican members of Congress

saying that.

[Darranar]

2. How could he be attacking the...

"character of all Republicans in South Dakota", when he was speaking of the "Taliban wing of the Republican Party" and not the Republican Party, period?

[htuttle]

3. NEVER apologize to Republicans

Never!

[King_Crimson]

57. His spine must have started hurting...

as he was straightening up out of his bent over position! And I thought that was an excellent statement in regards to Republicans!
Oh well...back to the bent over position Johnson!

[thebigidea]

4. stupid move

I notice that ironically, it was a Republican-style apology:

"If any Republicans were offended, I apologize."

The same sort of "apology" a Republican uses when he says something idiotic.

[bluestateguy]

5. I'm sure their real grateful for the apology

you apologize to these people and they just beat up on you more. "Senator Johnson's comments...so bad he had to apologize..."
Some people still don't get it. When the extreme right wing is complaining about what Democrats are doing that should be taken as a sign that our side is doing something right.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. This is what I have said. You NEVER, EVER say you're sorry....

to a Hitler!

:mad: :mad: :mad:


:mad: :mad: :mad:

[tom_paine]

41. BINGO!

:grr: :grr: :grr:

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[mulethree]

6. What about the Taliban you offended ;-) n/t

[Boat Guy]

9. What he SHOULD have said was --

"If any members of the Taliban wing of the Republican party were offended by my remarks, then I apologize."

[FleshCartoon]

19. Heh.

Yeah, that would've had them scratching their heads. They couldn't very well have demanded an apology without labeling themselves, could they have?

:nuke:

[koopie57]

49. I wish he told them

'just get over it'

[Just Me]

8. I've tolerated being called a traitor, anti-patriotic, an appeaser,...

,...only because I've questioned and disagreed with the policies of the "Taliban wing of the Republican party".

I have NEVER gotten an apology for such fascist-like crap,...EVER.

If I am expected to grow tough, thick skin,...then, damnit,...so can they!!!! And I will NEVER offer any apologies until they admonish their fascist thugs,...EVER!!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Yes, but those that called you those things were not members of Congress

The public usually holds them to a higher standard.

[Just Me]

40. The public holds members of Congress to a higher standard?

Not in my experience.

[Freddie Stubbs]

55. The press certainly does

That's why this is news, and what you say about Republicans isn't.

[gratuitous]

10. I'll apologize, too

I'm very, very sorry that certain segments of the Republican party are such repressive zealots cloaking themselves in religious language that they remind me of other such zealots such as The Taliban.

[Shakespeare]

11. Did the RNC apologize when they compared Daschle to Bin Laden?

DON'T FUCKING APOLOGIZE!! I am sick to death of backing down to these nazis. I want to get right up in Ed Gillespie's face and tell him in no uncertain terms that I most certainly think his party is comparable to the taliban. FUCK him.

[dolstein]

12. He should apologize to Stephanie Herseth

She was all set to win this election running away. Now Tim Johnson stuck his foot in his mouth and single handedly reminded all the Republican voters in South Dakota (many of whom, according to polls, were supporting Herseth) of why they vote Republican.

The last time I saw something like this happen was the Minnesota senate race. A handful of clueless DU-style Democrats decided to turn the Wellstone funeral into a political rally, which only energized Norm Coleman's supporters. We lost that race, remember?

It amazes me that some DU'ers actually believe that this kind of rhetoric is going to work in South Dakota.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. To hell will South Dakota!!!! Thank God I live in a Blue State.

Why is it that the Rethugs say such horrible things and get away with it????

But we Dem's have to keep our mouths shut!

:argh:

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Republicans will never lose control of the House and Senate

if they keep winning in states like SD.

[TankLV]

54. Not with dem wimps like this guy!

He should tell them to shove it if they don't like the truth!

[Freddie Stubbs]

59. He has been elected to state-wide office seven times

He must know what he is doing.

[dolstein]

26. So, what you're REALLY saying is "to hell with Stephanie Herseth"

To hell with a bright, articulate candidate who would be infinitely better than the Republican alternative.

Perhaps what you're really saying is "to hell with the Democrats," because we need people like Herseth in the House if we are EVER going to have a chance of taking it back from the likes of Tom Delay.

[monkeymind]

56. Why is every word supposed to be political?

I am sure South Dakotans would see through a calculating, finger in the wind politician anyway.

[Wind Dancer]

13. Unbelievable!

What kind of pressure are they putting on these people to make them apologize? I'm furious and saddened that he caved in.

[BayCityProgressive]

15. he shouldnt have apologized

but he never should have said it and ruined herseth's chances. What a moron.

[cestmoi]

14. Reminds me of inane comment by Mayor Daley.

"Kerry was having a conversation with reporters that he apparently believed was off the record when he reportedly asked, "Did the training wheels fall off?"

Daley, said the joke was disrespectful. "When someone falls . . . you should not wish ill upon anyone. It's not right. . . . You just don't do that. Let's have some respect for one another."

You see too much hate. And I'll tell you one thing -- hate will turn on people. . . . When hate gets in politics, it's a very, very dangerous aspect."
---------------------------------------------------------------

Where is Daley coming from? Is he nuts? Why doesn't he go after Limbaugh and that foul group of hate-mongrs?




http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-daley26.html

[dansolo]

39. I heard Daley had a spill on a bike himself last year

He is probably a bit sensitive. I actually agree with Daley. While I may chuckle in private at the comment, I don't think that Kerry should be resorting to that sort of sophmoric personal attack. Kerry should be attacking Bush on the issues. It's not as if Bush hasn't provided more than enough ammunition.

[cestmoi]

53. To me its insane to be outraged by such harmless ribbing.

I can't at all see how its a personal attack. I think Daley should lighten up, so what if he fell. If he can't take harmless ribbing he has a serious ego problem. At lest that's how I see it.

[peterh]

17. it would appear that there’s a spine shortage in S.D….

but by no means is the state in a party of one….

[Aidoneus]

20. These cowards will apologize for waking up in the morning!

No wonder they're getting creamed..

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Actually, Johnson was adept enough to get reelected in 2002

in a Republican leaning state despite Bush popularity at the time.

[DaveSZ]

22. So

Did he blow her chances of getting elected now?

:(

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. He certainly may have

Fortunately for him he is not up for reelection until 2008.

[Aidoneus]

37. I was speaking in generalities

Any time the "GOP" cries foul and wails about like hypocrites (and lying, in this case), the so-called "opposition" is all too happy to dance on cue for them. They should not abandon themselves after the fact for such characters, or perhaps think more in advance.

[NNN0LHI]

23. I apologize too

For thinking Johnson had some hair on his ass.

Don

[RedEarth]

24. He was just telling the truth...no reason to apologize

He also could have called them nazis.........

[Freddie Stubbs]

64. Funny how you never hear any elected Democrats calling them Nazis

I wonder why :shrug:

[SemperEadem]

27. why is he apologizing?

let the rethugs be pissed about it. No one cares. They can all have their own little pity-party about how their little feelers are so hurt at the truth about them is revealed.

The guilty always make the most noise.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. Because there are more Republicans in SD than there are Democrats

Stephanie Herseth can't get elected without the support of some Republicans. Tom Daschle won't get reelected in November without the support of some Republicans. If both of them lose, the likelihood of regaining the House and Senate is greatly decreased.

[They_LIHOP]

51. Lets Not Trip, People! This is ALL GOOD!

If Herseth needs 'some' Republicans to win the election, then the only GOP she was ever going to GET ANYWAY are PRECISELY the ones who are well-aware of, probably horrified by, and in any case consider themselves NOT A PART OF, 'the Taliban Wing of the Republican Party'.

I think if he'd let it hang out there instead of being a chicken, he might just have seen someone like a Pat Buchanan come out in his defense with an article in the American Conservative. Seriously. I know for a fact that there are most definitely GOP who are appalled by TTWOTRP. My own mother being a prime example.

I *wish* he would not have backed down, but I'd bet he did it because Herseth asked him to. And in that case, he was obliged to do so.

In any case, he got it out there, and I don't believe this will cost Herseth the election either, so all told this is a positive thing. He might've even planned it this way.

Lets not trip, people!

[justjones]

28. Has Kkkaren Hughes apologized for calling pro-choice citizens terrorists?

Didn't think so.

Yet a Dem returns an insult and ends up apologizing like a punk ass wimp.

Why, oh, why does this not surprise me?!?!? When are Dems going to learn when we are dealing with Rethuglians they will turn your "noble" apology around in order to make you look weak?

[davidinalameda]

31. it's a CYA thing

people will forget about it by tomorrow

it's a non-issue

move along people--nothing to see here

[dolstein]

32. DU'ers desperately need to get a clue

Honestly, why can't DU'ers understand that in a state like South Dakota that votes overwhelmingly Republican in presidential elections, comparing the Republican Party to the Taliban isn't exactly a smart idea?

Besides, this wasn't simply Tim Johnson acting on his own. He was speaking at a campaign event for Stephanie Herseth, an immensely talented political newcomer who ran a surprisingly strong campaign in 2002 and is leading in all the recent polls. The fact is, if not for Tim Johnson's flagrantly mindless remarks, Herseth could simply ride out the final days of the campaign. But now, thanks to Tim Johnson, she's going to be doing damage control for the next 24 hours at least. The RNC has already issued a press release criticizing Herseth for her silence on this matter.

So many DU'ers exact as if the rest of America is really no different than the most liberal communities in San Francisco and New York City. That everyone is really a left-winger at heart. That the problem is that not enough politicians have the courage to espouse unabashedly left-wing views. Sorry, but that's not reality. The people of South Dakota do not hold the same political views as students at Berkeley and NYU. The type of rhetoric that excites DU'ers would likely repulse overwhelming numbers of South Dakota residents. The fact that Democrats like Daschle and Johnson have managed to get elected anyway is testament to their political skills, not spinelessness. Lucky for Johnson, he never made these kind of stupid remarks when he was running for reelection.

[sandnsea]

33. True, but..

Once in a whlie I'd like for them to bring up the outrageous statements made by the other side while they're apologizing. Like somebody said, did Karen Hughes ever apologize for comparing pro-choice people to terrorists, or what about calling the NEA terrorists? They get away with it all the time and the least Johnson could have done is pointed that out. Then maybe there wouldn't be so damn many South Dakotans voting Republican in the Presidential elections.

[sendero]

36. The bottom line is this...

... if he wasn't willing to stand by it, he should not have said it to begin with. Now he's got the worst of both worlds. Way to go.

[dolstein]

45. No, the bottom line is he shouldn't have said it PERIOD

Who cares if Tim Johnson believed what he was saying? He was speaking at a campaign event for Stephanie Herseth. Rule number one for politicians speaking at another candidate's event is not to say anything that will harm the candidate. Tim Johnson forgot this rule. Frankly, I'm surprised that someone with such impressive political survival instincts would make such a politically stupid remark. There is simply no upside in this for Stephanie Herseth. That's why Johnson quickly apologized. But the damage may already be done. His remarks, and the fallout for the Herseth campaign, is likely to get a lot of coverage in South Dakota. So instead of cruising to victory, Herseth has to do major damage control.

[republicansareevil]

34. Let's not dwell on this.

Some people on DU get their kicks doing nothing but posting divisive and demoralizing stories like this one. Johnson either shouldn't have apologized or shouldn't have made the statement in the first place if he didn't have the guts to stick to it. He made a mistake somewhere. But let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. This is what politicians do. He probably remembered that a lot of SD Repubs voted for him. Take that as a good sign. I'd rather see him "stick to it" when it comes to important votes. Write him a letter expressing your disappointment if it's that important to you, but then let's move on. We have bigger problems to worry about.

[Renew Deal]

35. It's true.

No apology necessary.

[Disturbed]

38. Bigger problem

"comparing the Republican Party to the Taliban isn't exactly a smart idea?"

He didn't say that.

One bigger problem is that the majority of elected Democrats are weak weasles sucking on the teat of Corporations and those "Special Interests" and allowing the Republicans to dominate them.

[PATRICK]

42. the Taliban seem

to have more fanatical courage and moral commitment either in really helping people or physically hurting them. Our faux Christian variety here are above all that and one suspects a lot of mush and big bank accounts hide more hypocrisy.

No, not quite a valid comparison except big oil seems to grease a lot of
wheels running over the people.

[The Stranger]

43. You lost to us, Mr. Johnson.

There is no sick slavish grovelling to the Republicans ever. That is the way to political death. Mr. Johnson, you are an offense to Democrats. Consider yourself one no more.

[DaveSZ]

44. Well

As long as she doesn't lose now due to Johnson's remark, that's all that matters.

[dolstein]

46. Tell that to Stephanie Herseth

Explain to her why it is more important that she lose her House race than it is for Tim Johnson to apologize for making what were incredibly foolish remarks. This is South Dakota. Comments like that do not advance the Democratic agenda. Quite the contrary -- they give Republicans a cheap way of avoiding the real issues. Believe me, Herseth's Republican opponent would much rather spend the next few days debating whether the Republican Party has become the American Taliban than talking about unemployment, the rising cost of health care, etc.

[The Stranger]

58. I agree in that it is important to do what is politically expedient, but

apologizing is something that is almost always too damaging. Rove never lets his people do it. He lets them appear apologetic and talk about misunderstanding or spin it in such a way that they "really meant something else." But apologies are like political suicide except in some rare cases. Chimp will never apologize about anything -- imagine how successful he and the Republicans would be if they had someone of even average intelligence who wasn't coked-up and alcoholic.

[Freddie Stubbs]

60. Johnson has won seven state-wide elections in SC

He must know what he is doing.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

47. NEVER - APOLOGIZE - TO - THE - NEOCONS!!!!

[The Blue Knight]

48. I wish these guys would show some fucking spine.

And the thing is, he's not really sorry. He wouldn't have said it in the first place if he thought it was TRULY offensive. They just do this shit to be politically correct and cover their asses.

Stick to your guns, damn.

[dusty64]

50. I knew it was too

good to last.

[PopSixSquish]

52. Did Anyone Actually Read What He Said?

"If any Republicans were offended, I apologize"

<However, if you're a Republican who is just as disgusted as I am about these fools and wish somebody would say something, then we're good. And if you're a Democrat ;)>

In a state like South Dakota, you have to get folks from the other party to vote for you regardless.

Stephanie Herseth is a great candidate and will be a marvelous Democratic voice in the House. If she has to continually defend what somebody else said, instead of talking about her plans for her constituents and why her opponent has failed SD, she's going to lose.

This way it's a 24 hour news story and that's the end of it.

That's the way it is in politics.

[progressivebydesign]

61. But Karen Hughes won't apologize for saying pro-choice = terrorist. N/T

[Tellurian]

65. Tim, didn't your mother teach you ANYTHING?

You don't apologize to people that would just as soon
see you dead for telling the TRUTH..

They're afraid the word "TALIBAN" may just stick
as a reference to the Retuglican party, which
as it happens, is the TRUTH!