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Ex-Dem Chair Apologizes for Hurricane Remark
August 31, 2008 1:55 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 Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1082)
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Ah, apologize for the message but shoot the messenger. Looks like he and Spratt stepped in it which is a surprise as Spratt really seems to be a dedicated hard working man.
Posted by: david | Aug 31, 2008 2:07:05 PM
ANY WORSE than the Right-Wingnut F on the F MORON?
Dobson’s Focus on the Family member, Stuart Shepard asks Christians to pray for rain on Aug. 28, when Obama is scheduled to give an outdoor address at Denver’s Mile High Stadium during the Democratic National Convention.
Shepard calls for “abundant rain, torrential rain … flood-advisory rain.” He adds, “I’m talking about umbrella-ain’t-gonna-help-you rain … swamp-the-intersections rain.”
Posted by: Sam | Aug 31, 2008 2:08:16 PM
"GOP Cancels Convention Opening Night"
Ha ha ha! lol
There must be a god after all. lol
I can recall Republi-cons praying for it to rain on Obama's Convention Parade.
The rains came late; but just in time for McCaint's parade. How wonderful. Ha ha ha!
Another sign of a great leader -- GOOD LUCK!
People have been showering Obama with RECORD amounts of money.
Mother Nature showered her son, Obama with brilliant sunshine on his most important date so far.
Bush has had much bad luck, of his own making:
911
Katrina
Iraq debacle
Afghanistan-Pakistan neglect
Destruction of budget surplus
Record deficit
Destruction of the US economy
Record housing crisis
Bush creates NOTHING of worth in his 8 years of Presidency
Bush has John McKeating Five Crook by his side all the way!
Can Americans read the signs of a good leader, in the Natural Born leader, Obama?
Posted by: Patriot | Aug 31, 2008 2:09:57 PM
How can he say that? That's horrible.
Posted by: Kathy | Aug 31, 2008 2:11:53 PM
GOP Cancels Convention Opening Night"
Ha ha ha! lol
There must be a god after all. lol
I can recall Republi-cons praying for it to rain on Obama's Convention Parade.
The rains came late; but just in time for McCaint's parade. How wonderful. Ha ha ha!
Another sign of a great leader -- GOOD LUCK!
People have been showering Obama with money.
Mother Nature showered him with sunshine on his most important date so far.
Bush has had much bad luck, of his own making:
911
Katrina
Iraq
Afghanistan-Pakistan neglect
Destruction of budget surplus
Record deficit
Destruction of the US economy
Creates NOTHING of worth in his 8 years of Presidency
Having McKeating Five Crook by his side all the way!
Posted by: Patriot | Aug 31, 2008 2:13:29 PM
So, it's thr right wing nut cases' fault and he was just waxing comedic about Jerry Fallwell's comment of several years ago???? Right. And he only appologizes if anyone was offended, not because its a gross error of judgement and callous remark towards the lives of millions of Americans. Right!
Posted by: s.b. | Aug 31, 2008 2:13:55 PM
He got caught speaking what millions of Dems were thinking.....but it's still sad. There will be a silver lining, I'm sure of it. Plus most Americans are still vacationing and not waiting for any convention, that included the circus last week. It is a shame that the timing on this couldn't be last week, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
Republicans will have a delayed start, but it won't affect the excitement of Palin on the ticket with President McCain.....most Americans decide after the debates and don't tune into conventions.
McCain/Palin
Posted by: Debra | Aug 31, 2008 2:14:10 PM
Dems-the party of hypocracy - a few words of (not even a sincere) apology, yet nasty commdemnation of the person who did it, and all is okay. Republican - 3 days of the comments repeated all over the media, talking heads punishing the party in general, and removal from office. Which really is the nasty-a** party?
Posted by: ed | Aug 31, 2008 2:15:44 PM
Some "apology" by Mr. Fowler. Instead of taking personal resposibilty, he calls the person who originally posted this a "right-wing nut job". I read RedState.com and it is defintely main-stream. Mr. Fowler not only still owes an appology to the people of Louisianna, but also needs to apologize to all middle-America small town "right-wing nut jobs" like me.
Posted by: Mainstreet USA | Aug 31, 2008 2:16:30 PM
What kind of nutjob sits on an airplane and records the conversation of the people in front of him? Dem or Republican, that IS a nutjob.
Posted by: missy | Aug 31, 2008 2:17:06 PM
ha ha ha Michael Moore said the same thing on MSNBC
What goes around comes around, God will get you for that and GOD IS on the Democrats side , it is hard to explain why things happen as they do, but this IS POETIC JUSTICE
Posted by: charlene bostrom | Aug 31, 2008 2:18:48 PM
Oh please . . . the only thing that dolt is sorry about is that he got caught. He and Spratt are vile people and lying is just another sad part of their character. The left is despicable.
Posted by: rplat | Aug 31, 2008 2:20:52 PM
Is this what we can expect from Obama's spokespeople?
Posted by: Ken | Aug 31, 2008 2:21:15 PM
I wonder if the Democrats would have put a damper on their own parade had the situations been reversed and Gustav coincided with their convention. Somehow I can't see the Clintons giving up the spotlight for a mere hurricane.
Posted by: MyFellowAmericans | Aug 31, 2008 2:23:09 PM
Hey Patriot,
What the heck you talking about??? Anyone with at least half a brain knows that your boy Willie was responsible for 9/11. He had Usama in the cross hairs at least 3 times and the moron wouldn't pull the trigger. As a result 3000 Americans were murdered!!!
Why is it when Dems "apologize" it is always prefaced with the statment, "I my comments offended anyone". What the heck is that? Either apologize for your statement or shut the F up.
Posted by: Ed Stanowicz | Aug 31, 2008 2:24:07 PM
Fowler's comments about Gustav and his apology are offensive. The sad truth is dems don't even see anything wrong when they talk like this. I bet dems are hoping things go badly with Gustav in the gulf so they can blame the Repubs.
Posted by: Sandy | Aug 31, 2008 2:25:15 PM
Some people call Obama the Massiah. (Ha HA)! I call him the anti-Christ. So he could be the one who is responsible for the Hurricane.
Posted by: HH | Aug 31, 2008 2:25:40 PM
The Dem's have Totally Lost their values... This EX Dem turned Independant Will Vote McCain/Palin '08' - For Serious Solutions To Serious Problems!! The Mavric Puts Country First!!!
Posted by: NoObama | Aug 31, 2008 2:27:46 PM
All the comments by McCain supporters aside,
Hey Teddy Davis (ABC) - why would you link to a video of Mr. Fowler saying these things, but NOT LINK to the video of Falwell saying what he said.
You linked to Falwell apologizing, but surely you know there's video of his comment too.
ABC (former home of Brit Hume) is totally biased in its reporting (THIS WEEK was shameless this morning and Cokie clearly wants McCain to win).
Posted by: TadAllagash | Aug 31, 2008 2:27:46 PM
Sarah WHO???
Posted by: Howard Gallas | Aug 31, 2008 2:29:37 PM
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