HILLARY CLINTON REGRETS GHANDI JOKE

WINS News ^ | 1/6/04

[areafiftyone]

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund-raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, "He ran a gas station down in St. Louis."

After laughter from many in the crowd of at least 200 subsided, the former first lady continued, "No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century." In a nod to Farmer's underdog status against Republican Sen. Kit Bond, Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi's teachings said the remarks amounted to stereotyping and were insensitive.

After being approached by The Associated Press to clarify the remarks, Clinton suggested in a statement late Monday that she never meant to fuel the stereotype - often used as a comedic punch line - that certain ethnic groups run America's gas stations.

"I have admired the work and life of Mahatma Gandhi and have spoken publicly about that many times," Clinton said. "I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise."

Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, a Memphis, Tenn.-based organization founded in 1991 by a Gandhi grandson, credited Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, with long having "supported the Gandhi message." But she said Saturday's remarks "could be incredibly harmful."

"I don't think she was, in any way, trying to demean Mahatma Gandhi," Naef said. "To be generous to her, I would say it was a poor attempt at humor. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive, but I find it offensive when people use stereotypes in that way."

[areafiftyone]

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[Hildy]

Who cares! However, if a Republican made this joke, THE MEDIA sure would care!

[jimkress]

Ghandi regrets Hillary Clinton's birth.

[Lyford]

I don't get it. Why is that supposed to be funny? And what is "offensive" about it?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Hillary, you're much better at humor when you think you're being serious.

[areafiftyone]

However, if a Republican made this joke, THE MEDIA sure would care!

How right you are. I only saw this in the local NY news site. Nothing in the major news of course!

[funkywbr]

Hey she "IS" a democrap so NO BIGGY!~} For as we all know there is not a racist (or FUNNY) bone in any Dems body!~}

[mikeb704]

"I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise."

Isn't the use of "lame" an insensitive insult to the other abled? I think ANOTHER apology is called for here.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[quark]

Of course, the radical left-wing media will ignore this ethnic slur by their Socialist heroine. Had Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison uttered such, it would have made the top of the fold in the NYT, WP, & LAT.

[exile]

Not much of a joke to begin with

[scan58]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

If she was talking about herself with that quote - I hope she realizes we're all still in the laughing stage and will be for some time.

[T'wit]

In real life, Gandhi drank his own urine, admired Hitler and denied his wife medicine for a treatable disease. She died.

He should have kept his job at the filling station.

[areafiftyone]

I guess its only a joke to people who make fun of Indians owning gas stations and seven elevens.

[mlbford2]

Some jokes get old after awhile, but Hil's pantsuit never gets old.

[Sub-Driver]

I think she should step aside like Trent Lott.........

[freedom1st]

I didn't know Indians were running all the gas stations now. I guess they are branching out from their monopoly on motels in the South.

[Blue Screen of Death]

The only Gandhi joke I know......

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ....what? (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) A super callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. (Previous parenthetical comment may have been a bit optimistic.)

[mikeb704]

Some jokes get old after awhile, but Hil's pantsuit never gets old.

Nope, just crustier.

[tracer]

Hillary!! sooon will learn that Americans of Asian Indian descent make up a large, wealthy, generous, politically concious, and influential segment of our population.

At least, for her sake, her quip about Ghandi was not a "Sikh" joke. My best friend at work happens to wear a beard and turban.......