How is it pandering to say, “I recognize their right to decide for themselves”?
If that was all he said, he would have been ok..
but..
This is the pandering.."I encourage Augusta to accept women members,"
It usually helps if your're trying to make a point to include the entire sentence, not just an excerpt.
His entire statement
"I encourage Augusta to accept women members, but I recognize their right as a private organization to decide for themselves," he said in a statement e-mailed to reporters."