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Ex-Dem Chair Apologizes for Hurricane Remark
August 31, 2008 5:55 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler apologized on Sunday for joking in a private conversation that the timing of Hurricane Gustav demonstrates that God is on the side of the Democrats.
"If this offended anybody, I personally apologize," Fowler told ABC News. "It was a mistake, and it was a satirical statement made in jest. And one that I clearly don't believe."
Fowler was secretly recorded by the person sitting behind him while flying from Denver, Colo., to Charlotte, N.C., following the Democratic National Convention. His conversation with Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., was anonymously posted to YouTube and highlighted by RedState.com, a conservative blog.
Watch it HERE.
"One doesn't anticipate that one's private conversation will be surreptitiously taped by some right-wing nutcase," said Fowler. "But that's the nature of what we're dealing with."
Fowler, a superdelegate who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2007, was caught on tape saying: "The hurricane’s going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. The timing is -- at least it appears now that it’ll be there Monday. That just demonstrates that God’s on our side. [Laughter] Everything’s cool."
McCain and RNC officials announced on Sunday that they will suspend most of the convention program for Monday, including speeches by President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Republicans will only take up essential business when their convention gets underway on Monday and will not hear primetime speeches.
Fowler said his remark was "facetious" and a "satirical comment" on the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Falwell told "The 700 Club," "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"
Falwell, who later apologized, said he viewed the attacks as God's judgment on America for "throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked."
Fowler sought to contrast his religious views with those expressed by the late Rev. Falwell before his death.
"I believe in a benevolent God," said Fowler. "I'm a religious person. It was a facetious statement, some might even say satirical, play off of what Falwell said."
"If it offended anybody. I'm sorry for that," said Fowler. "I don’t think anybody in America wishes for something bad to happen to New Orleans. I certainly don't."
After the video surfaced on RedState.com, Fowler, the former DNC chairman and Spratt, the South Carolina Democratic congressman with whom he was talking, were pilloried by the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.
"The outrageous behavior of two of the Obama campaign's highest profile supporters in the south is despicable, a cynical politicization of life and death," said Katon Dawson, the chairman of the South Carolina G.O.P. "I call on Barack Obama to immediately denounce Fowler and Spratt and demand sincere apologies from these members of the Democratic leadership."
Fowler was unnerved by the experience but he said that he does not think that people should be prohibited from taping such conversations.
"I have to say that I am a free speech advocate and would not suggest that people should be prohibited from taping such conversations," said Fowler. "But nevertheless it seems to be a bit extreme to tape a private conversation like that."
August 31, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (1082)
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The Dems Have Totally Lost their values! This EX DEM turned Independant Will Vote McCain/Palin '08' The Mavrick Will put this Country First! The Mavrick & The Baracudda Have Serious Answers For Serious Problems In These Serious Times!!!! They Walk The Talk!!
Posted by: NoObama | Aug 31, 2008 6:31:38 PM
Well, Obama has bashed McCain for visiting Pearl, MS today, which is about 120 miles north of Biloxi, (I know, because I live in Hattiesburg, MS) and yes, the storm scares the HECK out of me. Anyone in their right mind that thinks this is an act of God is ridiculous.. IT IS HURRICANE SEASON.... September starts the height of hurricane season.. If anything, this is John McCain's chance to say Look how far we've come.. Getting people out of harms way, working together as Americans, and learning lessons from Katrina.. My house might get blown away and I am stocked up on food, water, and gas in my vehicles, but John McCain is going to show the hateful democrats exactly how far the republicans have come. God is Good (All the time).. even in a Hurricane!!
Posted by: dana | Aug 31, 2008 6:32:47 PM
I'll say it and I won't apologize.
Don't believe in a 'god' but sure do
believe in kharma.
Posted by: YOMAMA | Aug 31, 2008 6:33:26 PM
Wow, I feel any elected official has no right to privacy while appearing in public. They gave that right up when they ran for office! Don't want to give the right to privacy up, then don't serve in public office! We the electorate need to know what big hypocrites they are!
Posted by: 312capri | Aug 31, 2008 6:33:46 PM
As a Hillary supporter for McCain/Palin, I'm very sad about the timing of this hurricane as the momentum from McCain's announcement of Gov. Palin Friday has been haulted by mass media coverage of Gustav. But as Bozo got a slight bump from his circus/rock concert last week, it will be all the more telling when McCain/Palin numbers climb in the polls and THE MEDIA ISN'T EVEN COVERING THE REP. CONVENTION 1/10 AS MUCH. Let's compare bumps in the polls a couple of weeks from now. It is very sad tho, that every news station is mass coverage on hurricane.
More time for Republicans to pow wow together and make plans for President McCain and VP Palin.
Posted by: Debra | Aug 31, 2008 6:35:07 PM
with peepaws dementia and the barracuda's PTA experience...we're gonna be just fine!
peepaw/mom 08!
Posted by: mark | Aug 31, 2008 6:39:23 PM
Didn't Dr Dobson pray for rain on the day Obama was to deliver his acceptance speech? I don't know the God Dobson worships. Now look at what Gustav is doing to the GOP convention!
In any case, I think McCain is using Gustav as an excuse to prevent (read, hide) Cheney and Bush from appearing in the Twin cities. Otherwise, c'mon, why not let them speak at least for a few minutes on at least one of the 4 days? Huh?
Posted by: Kay | Aug 31, 2008 6:41:19 PM
GOD is DEAD
It's McCain you have to WORRY ABOUT!
OH and Debra...BULL!
NO REAL HILLARY VOTER SUPPORTS PALIN!
-----------------------------------------
PALIN DRAWS BOOS trying to suck the Hillary Clinton vote.
Posted by: sam | Aug 31, 2008 6:41:43 PM
May I just remind everyone that McCain's good friend, Reverand Hagee said (and has refused to apologize or recant) that Katrina was sent by God to punish New Orleans. I find Fowler's comment offensive, but he did not make it publicly, he may well have been joking (in poor taste) and he apologized. He did not make it repeatedly from a pulpit and on air, and refuse to disavow it.
Posted by: TXMom | Aug 31, 2008 6:43:26 PM
Rep. Gov. Jindal is great and very close with Sen. McCain and speaking now to the press regarding LA and Gustav. This is so great that we have learned from katrina and the Republicans are doing a great job and will be able to postpone their convention and address how far we've come in being prepared for these dilemas.
McCain/Palin
Posted by: Debra | Aug 31, 2008 6:44:27 PM
Even RIGHTWING Rasmussen Reports :
WEAK choice among women and moderates, the groups McCain was PANDERING to.
Posted by: sam | Aug 31, 2008 6:44:57 PM
So this liberal nut performs the infamous liberal apology...i'm sorry that i got caught and i blame those evil neo-con conservative nut balls.
Oh liberals...do we really have to share the same country with them?
Posted by: james101 | Aug 31, 2008 6:45:29 PM
Okay, I am going to keep saying it. I can claim in this post that I am Mother Theresa, but that doesn't make it true.
Saying you are a Hillary supporter or a Democrat and that you are for McCain doesn't make it true either.
We are well aware people can claim to be whatever they want to online and that there are people sent by the McCain camp and Limbaugh out on to the boards to repeat their talking points and claim to be Dems or Hillary people.
Please give it up.
Posted by: TXMom | Aug 31, 2008 6:46:22 PM
I'm confident it was a joke. And a simple apology would have been sufficient. Too bad he had to tack on that he was recorded by a "right wing nut job" since most reasonable people who overheard the joke would have found it in poor taste. You wouldn't have to be a right wing nut job to know someone who holds a public position doesn't need to make those kinds of comments.
Posted by: vickster | Aug 31, 2008 6:47:08 PM
Oh, how the Dems are shaking in their boots over the Hillary supporters going for McCain/Palin....I am one of those "of a certain age" who will gladly pull the lever for McCain/Palin, and the Boomer voter block is the largest. Oh, and women are 54% of the electorate. Just keep convincing yourselves that there are no Hill supporters for McCain...YOU ARE DELUSIONAL!
Posted by: Debra | Aug 31, 2008 6:47:19 PM
Who would think some right wing nut case would record a private conversation, who would believe that anyone would say something so crude! I figure you could always turn it around and say who says it's God that sent the hurricane, maybe it's the devil trying to disrupt the good guys... I really don't think God has a side!
Posted by: samhiguchi | Aug 31, 2008 6:47:21 PM
Why is he blaming others for taping him? There never would have been a problem if he hadn't made such a idiotic and insensitive remark.
Posted by: Smile | Aug 31, 2008 6:50:22 PM
I'n noticing the same crass, low class Democrats on this blog. Never mind that people have lost their lives with this storm, and homes and businesses will be lost. You people make me sick and are all on par with your spokesman Micheal Moore.
Personally I don't care about the convention. The Republican party has their act together and McCain will be offically elected the candidate for his party, rain or shine. The Republican's are willing to set aside their party to help the people of the storm. That is what politicians are, servants to the people who elect them. I didn't watch the Democrat convention, I had better things to do with my time than watch the losers pander and preen in from of the camera and the "Messiah" address his flock. Hillary should be ashamed to be a part of the Democratic party. For once Michelle is right, "America is a down right mean country", but she was talking about the left, the only people she knows.
Posted by: S Adams | Aug 31, 2008 6:51:15 PM
It is wonderful to see the Dems unknowingly admitting OBAMAs lack of experience in their attempt to discredit Palin. You Dems are so gullible.
Posted by: J | Aug 31, 2008 6:51:33 PM
Sam the boos were when Hillary gave a stump speech for Bozo(hopefully her last...she was kicked in the teeth by this party and has done more than any other opponent in the history of nominations)...so the boos were from Obama supporters....NOT McCAIN/PALIN SUPPORTERS...can't wait to see the analysis after the election of Hill supporters for McCain/Palin.
Posted by: Debra | Aug 31, 2008 6:51:40 PM
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