Posted on 09/21/2011 12:12:51 PM PDT by MissesBush
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Tony Bennett has again addressed his controversial remarks made to Howard Stern regarding 9/11 attacks on America.
Bennett, 85, appeared on Howard Stern’s Sirius XM show on Monday night to promote his upcoming release “Duets II.” The conversation took a bizarre turn after Stern asked Bennett, a veteran of World War II, how the United States should deal with the terrorists who were responsible for destroying the World Trade Center.
“They flew the plane in but we caused it,” Bennett said. “Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.” He also asked Stern, “Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Bennett apologized for his remarks on his Facebook page.
Appearing on ABC’s “The View,” Bennett was asked about his comments. He produced a card and read from it.
“I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country, my hope for humanity and my desire for peace throughout the world,” the singer said, echoing his statement on Facebook.
“Nobody loves America more than I do,” Bennett said, reading from the card.
On his Facebook page, Bennett wrote “My life experience… made me a life-long humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behavior.”
That said, not everyone is pleased with the apology. On his Facebook page, some were critical.
“My brother died in one of those buildings, and frankly you are so off base in your views of who the terrorists are, I now question your patriotism,” wrote Ron Bogdan of Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
“Nice statement by your publicist, however, we heard you loud and clear on the Stern program,” wrote Brian Eades of Omaha, Neb. “You clearly equate U.S. actions with those of the terrorists and said the U.S. somehow caused 9/11. The 3,000 people that died that day were innocent people. They were murdered in cold blood. Nothing – no matter what you can point to in U.S. policy over the years – justifies what was done or somehow mitigates the tragedy.”
He left his brain in San Francisco.
Sorry, Tony. Once that cat has been let out of the bag, there’s no putting the cat back in. Live with your stupidity, buddy.
“Nobody loves America more than I do,” Bennett said, reading from the card.
He says nobody loves America more than he does and he had to READ THAT FROM A CARD? Sorry Tony...you said what you said when you said it and you meant it. You weren’t reading from a card back then.
We did NOT deserve to be murdered and burned to death and have people jump out windows in the hopes they COULD survive to be with their loved ones again
We did NOT deserve to have to listen to that vile statement back then and we will NOT listen to another statement which you had to read from a card.
I can say I am a proud American. I can say I love my country and would give my life for it. I can say I am happy my grandparents came to this country legally and that my parents raised us to love this country and all it has to offer us.
I can say my heart breaks over all those who have fought and died for this country so that people can speak freely. For that... I will always fight... free speech. So, with that said.... anything at all I have to say about my great country I DO NOT HAVE TO READ FROM A CARD!!!!
God Bless America and forgive all those who have gained so much from her yet can’t stand beside and defend her. I loved Tony’s song: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” I even have a jewelry box that plays it. After this... I will toss it in the trash. That song means nothing to me anymore and I hope tony STAYS in San Francisco.
Never could stand his singing, his songs or his personality ....and now I think HE REALLY STINKS !!
He could NEVER hold a candle to Sinatra, Martin, Como or Sammy Davis !!
What a sorry OLD FOOL that at 85 years old, he still feels the need to sell his tired old tunes !!
GIVE IT UP, YOU OLD FOOL, YOU ARE JUST MAKING AN AZZ OF YOURSELF !!
I don’t mind his music, at least some of the old stuff.
My hat’s off to him for his WWII infantry service.
None of that excuses the comment, and the initial statement that his experiences in “the Battle of the Bulge” kind of struck me as odd.
Mr. Bennett’s own book points out he hit the lines after the Battle of the Bulge. I think he used that name because a publicist thought it would make an impact.
I understand his veteran’s distaste for war, but that doesn’t make his earlier statement right, and the puffery about the Battle of the Bulge is pretty sad.
He’s in denial of the evil that continually threatens us all. Blaming the United States justifies the denial.
The problem with people like Tony is that they will never recognize the folly of their ideology.
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