Will State Department Official Apologize For Covering Up "Stupidity" Comment By Official?

[JABBS]

Click here to read the story.

<snip>

Immediately after the comments were made, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack blamed Al Jazeera, saying Fernandez' comments were not translated properly.

But today, Fernandez told CNN that the problem was not Al Jazeera's translation, but that he "seriously misspoke." Strangely, he said that his comments Sunday did not represent his views, or those of the Department.

It's a strange comment. If it didn't represent his views, why did he say them? And now that Fernandez has made his strange apology, will McCormack apologize for lying -- blaming Al Jazeera (the "enemy") rather than accept what Fernandez said?

[Ian David]

1. Is Fernandez a Gay American in need of alcohol rehab?

Or will he soon suffer a fatal heart attack?

Some people say.

[Kagemusha]

2. It was a gaffe. An inadvertent speaking of the truth.

The truth is not his view because it is inconsistent with his position at the State Department. The State Department may, at its discretion, choose from various excuses ('he lied to us,' 'he misspoke to us in saying his comments were not translated properly,' 'our translators made a hasty decision,' 'the dog ate our translator's work product') to explain away the discrepancy. Life goes on.

[JABBS]

3. weirdest apology ever from the official

.. but beyond that, the state department spokesman said that Gonzales was mis-translated.

It's the kind of knee-jerk excuse machine we've come to expect from the bush Administration. screw the truth. come up with a plausible deniability.

[Kagemusha]

4. Like we've never heard of "plausible deniab".. ok, scratch plausible.

Deniability isn't new, okay? :)

[JABBS]

5. no, it's not new

but the stupidity of this one is unique.

1) Guy makes inflammatory comments to Al Jazeera
2) Spokesman says guy was mis-translated
3) CNN and Reuters each report translation is accurate -- as could anyone else who bothered to translate from the Al Jazeera web site.
4) Guy apologizes on CNN for inflammatory comments, says he "mis-spoke."

it's the knee-jerk reaction from the spokesman. something embarrassing occurs, and rather than admit it's true, he lies, which for one news cycle gives conservatives the ability to knock the story down as a "hate Bush" item dreamed up by liberals.

This isn't a two-sides to a story issue. It's a story with one side lying, and one side telling the truth.