I'm not comment on anything else except his choice of words. I assume he is smart enough to know how that phrase would be taken. I am sure he got a lot of approval for it in some quarters.
"I assume he is smart enough to know how that phrase would be taken."
Yes, within the context. Is the context included in the quotes offered here? Are the remarks off the cuff or written speaches. It matters - before I will publicly villify any man.
Based on the attitudes of a lot of posters here, It seems as though we have a lot of Jehovas Witnesses present.