Senator Apologizes for Obama Comment (Inouye)

[bicentennial_baby]

Senator Apologizes for Obama Comment

By MARK NIESSE – 1 hour ago

HONOLULU (AP) — Sen. Daniel Inouye has apologized for suggesting that Sen. Barack Obama's private high school in Hawaii was elitist.

Inouye said before his state's Feb. 19 Democratic caucuses that voters know Obama was born in Hawaii and graduated from one of its high schools, "but he went to Punahou, and that was not a school for the impoverished."

"To suggest that Punahou maybe set his life plan in place, I find it very interesting," Inouye said in an interview with The Honolulu Advertiser.

The Democratic senator is backing Obama's presidential rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Inouye apologized in a letter to the president of the Punahou School, according to Jennifer Sabas, his chief of staff. The letter was sent to Punahou President James Scott late last week, Sabas said Tuesday. A copy and a short note were delivered to Obama as well, she said.

-snip-

Obama responded to Inouye's comments in an interview with KITV the Saturday before the caucuses.

"Shame on Danny for trying to pull that stunt," Obama said. "I went to Punahou on a scholarship. I was raised by a single mom and my grandmother."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jl7XJ_Q4OqH2f3YueegKrFZYWJUAD8V281EG1

And the shame game continues? :shrug:

[Freida5]

1. It was elitist.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Why, because it's private?

Not all private schools are elitist. I would know, as I'm the product of both elementary and secondary private schools.

[Freida5]

6. Most people could not afford the tuition for an elementary and secendary education

Tuition and Payment
Punahou's tuition is partially underwritten by the income of the School's permanent endowment and from gifts of alumni, parents and friends to Punahou's Annual Fund. Tuition costs are reviewed annually and Punahou's tuition is consistently at the low end of comparable national independent school costs.

Tuition for the 2007-2008 school year for Grades K-12 is $15,725.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Have you ever heard of financial aid?

Obama himself said he was there on scholarship. I had fin aid all through school, and my parents didn't even pay off my HS until I was well into my 20s.

[Freida5]

11. while it is elitist none the less

[bicentennial_baby]

14. So being expensive is automatically elitist?

elitism

Main Entry:
elit·ism Listen to the pronunciation of elitism Listen to the pronunciation of elitism
Pronunciation:
\ā-ˈlē-ˌti-zəm, i-, ē-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1947

1: leadership or rule by an elite2: the selectivity of the elite; especially : snobbery <elitism in choosing new members>3: consciousness of being or belonging to an elite

2: the selectivity of the elite; especially : snobbery <elitism in choosing new members>3: consciousness of being or belonging to an elite

3: consciousness of being or belonging to an elite

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elitist

Ok then.... :eyes:

[saracat]

7. I am too and my school WAS "elitist' the motto was "noblesse noblige'.

and I wouldn't make anyone apologize for mentioning the elitism. Obama's school was an expensive school that was 'elitist. So what?

[saracat]

4. True. Why apologize for the truth?

[MrsT]

9. See?

This is what I am talking about when I say I am dismayed with some Sen. Clinton supporters here. You are just as bad as any of the obnoxious Obama supporters.

[saracat]

21. Why is it obnoxious to agree that a prep school is "elitist" ? I went to an "elitist " prep school!

It is nothing to apologize for.It just is.The Kennedy's all went to elitist prep schools too! I even went to school with some of them.It is what it is.I don't think it is obnoxious to issue a statement of fact.Barack's school is well known.It is elitist.And so what?

[babylonsister]

5. How would you know? And if it was, why did Inouye apologize? nt

[CreekDog]

19. And this matters why?

[COFoothills]

3. So what...

...the kid was smart so he got to go to good schools.

Good schools get an 'elitist' rap all the time.

Whoop de doo.

[MH1]

12. Being intelligent and successful in school is "elitist" in America.

That might help explain why so many Americans voted for George W Bush - they wouldn't want to have someone smarter than them as President, ya know?

:banghead:

[AtomicKitten]

8. Sounds like clean-up on aisle 5.

[Thrill]

13. Its just a stupid thing to say

And he apologized. Lets move on

[dsc]

15. A school that costs just south of 16k a year can't be called elitist?

That isn't to say Obama is rich, but a private elementary school costing 16k a year is elite. I say this as someone who did go to a private college on massive scholarship and yes, it was elite.

[provis99]

16. it is what Inouye implied that is the point here

He implied that because Obama went to an elite school, that he is a limousine liberal out of touch with the po' folks. Which is sort of an ironic comment to make since he supports Hillary Clinton with her elitist background.

[ellisonz]

18. In Hawaii "where you wen school?" is like "what hood you from."

[bicentennial_baby]

20. If you read the entire article, you'll see that

many alumni did not appreciate his comment. :)

[ellisonz]

17. Too little, too late Danny Boy.

This Honolulu resident was disgusted by Inouye's insult.

[Yael]

22. The surrogates are getting blowback from following Camp Clinton's talking points

Just like the Tubbs-Jones "innocent" dustup over Somalia knowing FULL and DAMN well that Somalian refugees are a concern/prejudice to some areas in Ohio.