Todd Akin’s Failed Apology
Last week Brian at Right Wing Watch caught (and Think Progress highlighted) Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) making some pretty offensive comments on a Family Research Council radio show with Tony Perkins. Discussing NBC’s omission of the phrase “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance during their coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament, Akin explained his grand theory:
Perkins: Why would NBC do this?
Akin: Well, I think NBC has a long record of being very liberal and at the heart of liberalism really is a hatred for God and a belief that government should replace God. And so they’ve had a long history of not being at all favorable toward many of things that have been such a blessing to our country.
At first, Akin refused to apologize. But in an interview with local news station last night, Akin appeared to change his mind, offering what he apparently thinks is an apology:
As you can see, Akin’s ‘apology’ doesn’t really work. He continues to try to smear “liberalism” as anti-God and his clarification that he was differentiating between the “institution of liberalism” and liberals as people (many of whom come to their political convictions through their faith) doesn’t make any sense.
The pastor in the clip, Rev. Kevin Cameron, will be part of a delegation of clergy visiting the Congressman’s office in person today to ask Congressman Akin to re-evaluate his moral priorities and better represent his constituents, rather than maligning their political views through stereotypes and dismissive remarks. The petition they will be delivering includes both local faith leaders and Faithful America members.
