FROM Jack Cafferty:
"I'm sorry.” That's the message coming from a couple of the top contenders for the White House.
Instead of the public learning more about who might be best-qualified to run this country, we're being confronted with the aftermath of scurrilous personal attacks.
First it was a comment about Mitt Romney's religion. Mike Huckabee says he personally apologized to Romney, after asking a reporter whether Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers. Huckabee, who had come under fire for the comment, says he told Romney after yesterday's debate he would never try "to pick out some point of your faith and make it an issue."
Less than 24 hours later, over on the Democratic side, we had a top Hillary Clinton advisor launching an attack against Barack Obama. Bill Shaheen said Democrats should give more thought to Obama's illegal drug use when he was a kid before deciding if he deserves the nomination. Shaheen later apologized and said his comments weren't authorized by the Clinton campaign. Late this afternoon, Shaheen quit the Clinton campaign.
But his comments were nasty enough to warrant a personal apology today from Hillary Clinton herself. Apparently Clinton told Obama she was very upset by the remarks, that she told Shaheen it was unacceptable and that this isn't "the kind of campaign" she's running.
It certainly is getting ugly out there.
Here’s my question to you: What does it say about the nature of this presidential campaign when major candidates are being forced to say “I’m sorry”?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jim writes:
It says they're human, and thank God for it! If we are looking for perfection, then no one will ever run the country. At least Hillary had to apologize for someone else. Huckabee has only himself to blame. But being able to say I'm sorry is an attribute often missing these days in politics. Lord knows this current president should say it over and over and over again to this nation.
Merreill writes:
Very simple, Jack. It means that they are all hammerheads that shift their mouths into gear without engaging their brains. They're a sorry lot. For that they should be apologetic.
Eric from Murray, Utah writes:
Who cares if one candidate apologizes to another? Presidential candidates should apologize directly to the American public. After all, we're the ones they're pandering to.
Ramesh from San Fransisco writes:
It is so unfortunate that the major candidates and their associates are throwing mud at their rivals on issues that have nothing to do with the national and international issues they are supposed to be addressing. This is high time they put their unleashed tongues on a leash and focus on issues that are the concern of American public.
Johannes Brookings from South Dakota writes:
Jack, I think apologizing and forgiving are two great qualities we need more of in this world. A leader that is able to say "I am sorry" might be able to restore our soft power. It's time to stop not caring about other countries, and to apologize when we mess up.
Ira writes:
I'm sorry. I don't believe them when they say "I'm sorry" or anything else.
Maybe Jack will read yours tomorrow.