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McCain Regrets Use of Term 'Tar Baby'
AP via SFGate ^ | 3/16/7 | LIZ SIDOTI

Posted on 03/16/2007 1:32:24 PM PDT by SmithL

Cedar Falls, Iowa (AP) -- Republican presidential contender John McCain on Friday used the term "tar baby," considered by some a racial epithet, and later said he regretted it.

Answering questions at a town hall meeting, the Arizona senator was discussing federal involvement in custody cases when he said, "For me to stand here and ... say I'm going to declare divorces invalid because of someone who feels they weren't treated fairly in court, we are getting into a tar baby of enormous proportions and I don't know how you get out of that."

After the event, McCain told reporters: "I don't think I should have used that word and I was wrong to do so."

The senator said he hoped it wouldn't be viewed as a racial remark. He argued that he was trying to say that it wouldn't make sense for him to have a role in something left to the courts.

Last summer, a top McCain rival, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, apologized for referring to the troubled Big Dig construction project in Boston as a "tar baby" during a fundraiser in Ames, Iowa.

The term dates to the 19th century Uncle Remus stories, referring to a doll made of tar that traps Br'er Rabbit. It has become known as a way of describing a sticky mess and has been used as a derogatory term for a black person.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mccain; tarbaby
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1 posted on 03/16/2007 1:32:27 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
More dumbing down of America.
2 posted on 03/16/2007 1:33:28 PM PDT by msnimje (True Conservatives will not support a pro-abortion candidate.)
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To: SmithL

Political Correctness is the new weapon of choice with a society that has lost its moral way.


3 posted on 03/16/2007 1:34:41 PM PDT by AZRepublican ("The degree in which a measure is necessary can never be a test of the legal right to adopt it.")
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To: SmithL

Uhhh-oh. Another 0.5 % drop in the polls.


4 posted on 03/16/2007 1:34:42 PM PDT by unkus
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To: SmithL

What an idiot, apologizing for nothing.


5 posted on 03/16/2007 1:35:09 PM PDT by TheKidster (you can only trust government to grow, consolidate power and infringe upon your liberties.)
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To: TheKidster

He shouldn't have smacked that.....glue baby


6 posted on 03/16/2007 1:36:30 PM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: SmithL

To celebrate the demise of McCain, I'm gonna sing a little coon song......


7 posted on 03/16/2007 1:37:35 PM PDT by zarf (Her hair was of a dank yellow, and fell over her temples like sauerkraut......)
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To: SmithL
No fan of McCain.

But it is ridiculous to pop someone for the use of "tar baby" as racial esp. when it is provided in context like it is here.

8 posted on 03/16/2007 1:37:44 PM PDT by Condor 63
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To: SmithL
"For me to stand here and ...

As the descendant of General Custer, I am offended by your use of the word STAND.
I demand an apology.
9 posted on 03/16/2007 1:37:57 PM PDT by msnimje (True Conservatives will not support a pro-abortion candidate.)
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To: AppyPappy

That wouldn't happen to be, uh...Gorilla Glue?


10 posted on 03/16/2007 1:38:39 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: SmithL

he's looking at a trip to rehab.


11 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:16 PM PDT by isom35
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To: SmithL

It doesn't seem that he was being racist.


12 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:33 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: SmithL
At least he didn't use the word "niggardly".
13 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:36 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: msnimje

What were Custer's last words?


14 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:36 PM PDT by unkus
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To: SmithL
At least he didn't use the word "niggardly".
15 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:36 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: SmithL

..."McCain Regrets Use of Term 'Tar Baby"...

So did Chevy Chase once Pryor got ahold of him. Link anyone? http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75ginterview.phtml


16 posted on 03/16/2007 1:39:55 PM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: SmithL

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, is this another "macca" issue ???


17 posted on 03/16/2007 1:40:02 PM PDT by Obie Wan
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To: SmithL

Well considering that every time a repub makes any kind of mistake real or not, other repubs demand he step down if the libs cry a little he's dead meant.

He'll drop 5 more point way down to 10% in the polls. LOL


18 posted on 03/16/2007 1:40:02 PM PDT by stockpirate (To learn about John Kerry, FBI files and the VVAW read my about me page on FR.)
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To: TheKidster

Exactly. He will lose more and more votes by bowing down to the false god of political correctness.


19 posted on 03/16/2007 1:40:27 PM PDT by MBB1984
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Oops, sorry for double post.


20 posted on 03/16/2007 1:40:28 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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