“No, she really did not say that.”
Respectfully, you are FOS! She really DID say that! Now, it may not be what she meant to say, but it IS what she DID say! And it would not be an issue today if she simply owned up to “mis-speaking,” but by her follow up statements, she has locked out any way to recover. She should be removed from office, and replaced by a race neutral, competent white person.
“It’s a very delicate balancing act, because while we tried to make sure that they [peaceful protesters] were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on, we also [INADVERTANTLY (and I would add, stupidly or irresponsibly)] gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.”
Again, don't misunderstand me. I think she failed in her responsibility, and the result was property damage and looting that should not have been allowed to occur. I'm not saying she isn't incompetent, but I do not agree with everyone who says that she openly encouraged property destruction. I think that is a mischaracterization and misinterpretation of what she said.
In any case, calling for her head, or her removal from office, or whatever, is pointless. She is a democrat, and therefore incompetence is not only excused, it is pretty much expected. She is further protected by her skin color, just as Ray Nagin was in New Orleans. He was reelected in 2006, a year after his total failure during Katrina. Look for Rawlings-Blake to be elected to the Senate in 2016. If she runs, I'd be willing to bet that she wins.