Stark apologizes

Posted: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:12 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Embattled Democrat Pete Stark has just publicly apologized to "the president and his family."

He took the floor after his fellow Democrats successfully killed a motion to censure him in the wake of his remarks last Thursday asserting that American troops were fighting in Iraq to have their "heads blown off for the president's amusement."

"I want to apologize to my colleagues, many of whom I have offended," Stark began. He then apologized to "the president and his family" and "the troops."

"I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be," he concluded through a voice cracking with emotion.

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Comments

Thank you Rep. Stark for the apology, it was well put.

jt, okc (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:18 AM)

Hmmm..apologize? This guy is the only one telling it like it is. The truth is that Bush and Cheney are certifiably crazy, dangerous, despicable human beings. Apologize for telling the truth?

F StLouis (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:18 AM)

Hey Stark when the idiot in chief apologizes to me and the rest of the Country he can return to his insignificant garbage heap.
No need for an apology, we are still waiting , so past due as to warrant an arrest! IMPEACH BUSH!

H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:20 AM)

whatever...this is all distraction from the real debate.

pat, huntington, ny (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:21 AM)

Oh for Chirst's sake. Bush is responsible for the biggest catastrophe in American foreign policy history and Stark is apologising for insulting him? What part of rock bottom approval ratings for Congress don't the Democrats get? We want Congress to lead us away from, not grovel to, George Bush. Makes me want to join the Libertaian Party and back Ron Paul. At least those guys have balls.

Amy B Portland ME (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:21 AM)

He should learn to keep his mouth shut when he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.

IntheMiddle, TX (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:24 AM)

Crackpot. Please retire.

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:25 AM)

Join on Amy...ROFLMAO...Just like the rest of your Liberal buddies. Always whining about Bush. Bush is not running for POTUS again. Do you honestly believe he gives a rats behind about what you and the rest in your party think of him? I wouldn't if I was him.

Gregg, Georgia (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:28 AM)

about time he came around to his senses. His phone banks must keep breaking down and his E-mail crashing due to a lot of people complaining. he had no choice but to apologize, probably on orders.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:29 AM)

Wow a Democrat who will admit he was wrong rather than stick with the Party BS. I guess there is hope.

jj, Ramsey, NJ (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:30 AM)

Amy, I got a good laugh out of that! I'm seriously considering Paul because I would like our government to adhere to the Constitution as much as possible.

Lisa, Fort Worth TX (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:37 AM)

Hmmm..apologize? This guy is the only one telling it like it is. The truth is that Bush and Cheney are certifiably crazy, dangerous, despicable human beings. Apologize for telling the truth?
F StLouis (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:18 AM)

Hey Stark when the idiot in chief apologizes to me and the rest of the Country he can return to his insignificant garbage heap.
No need for an apology, we are still waiting , so past due as to warrant an arrest! IMPEACH BUSH!
H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:20 AM)

whatever...this is all distraction from the real debate.
pat, huntington, ny (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:21 AM)

Oh for Chirst's sake. Bush is responsible for the biggest catastrophe in American foreign policy history and Stark is apologising for insulting him? What part of rock bottom approval ratings for Congress don't the Democrats get? We want Congress to lead us away from, not grovel to, George Bush. Makes me want to join the Libertaian Party and back Ron Paul. At least those guys have balls.
Amy B Portland ME (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:21 AM)

A collage of BS from the “Better than You” / “My S**t don’t Stick” group.

BS Detector (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:39 AM)

No need to apologize, Pete !
You told the truth.

Why don't you ask chicken liver Bush to apolkogize for an illegal war ?
for torture ?
for violating the Geneva convention ?
for politicizing the DoJ ?
for voter suppression of minorities ?
for exposing a CIA agent ?
for appointing incompetents bozos ?
for only appointing draft dodgers to lead the Defense Department ?
....

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:40 AM)

Rep. Stark apologizing for speaking the truth is absolutely ridiculous. It should be the other way around. Bush owes America, Iraq, and the world an apology for the largest misstep in US history. Rep. Stark, I applaud you and regret that you were brought to the point of apologizing.

Diane, Grand Blanc, MI (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:44 AM)

You people are idiots. Bush is a great leader, you are just obsessed with hatred and hungry for power. Stop your lies and shut up!

Deb, Sarasota, FL (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:46 AM)

Let's see...We give a medal to the Dali Lama, but we don't care about having relations with China, one of the worst countries as far as human rights goes; we do not recognize the Genocide against the Armenians, a documented fact, because we do not want to alienate Turkey, another poor record as far as human rights issues, and who did not allow us to use their air space when the war in Iraq initially began.
And now someone has to apologize for speaking the truth. Wake up, America. You are being brainwashed and manipulated by the best cronies money can buy.
Iron Maiden

mariam Whittier, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:47 AM)

Pete Stark was just stating what a LOT of americans would like to say to our so called great president.

Hey Pete, In my book no apology is needed. I think Bushy and most of the congress are upset because they know what you said is true.

LETS BRING OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HOME NOW!!!!

Ron, St. Louis, Mo. (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:48 AM)

This country is so bad right now that you have to apologize for telling the truth

Bten ny ny (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:52 AM)

His only mistake was to use the word "amusement" instead of something probably more accurate like "benefit". Although the president did seem overly and inappropriately amused and smiling in his news conference over the prospect of sacrificing more Americans for another excellent adventure in Iran or in a world war III.

Bush is insane and it is entirely possible that he looks upon all of his imperial fiascos with amusement. He certainly shows no understanding, sorrow or regret for his crimes.

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:53 AM)

he had no choice but to apologize, probably on orders. jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:29 AM)
--- sadly, you are probably right. I think most of the government and the media has been intimidated by threats and orders from this elected dictatorship.

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:57 AM)

Looks like the left wing loons are checking in for their support of Starks comments. Stark is just as nutty as you guys say Bush is. Who keeps electing wack jobs like Stark?

Gary Illmenim, Hayward WI (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:05 PM)

Sadly, his apology won't stop the right from changing the topic from the war and focusing on his statements--however ill-conceived they were. He should not have apologized, and if he did so chose, he should have apologized in advance for Congress to fully fund this war again. It's like our politicians cannot win a PR battle, a funding battle, nor a war at the rate we are going. And what's with the passive-aggressive "I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be."

IntheMiddle, TX--
Your responses are so predictable. I'd bet you'd be on the front lines cheering Bush on if he said quote: "heads blown off for my [the president's] amusement." Because he basically is every time he requests more funding for this war and you are every time you support him.

It is important that Congress support our troops by funding them, but the President needs to support our troops by bringing them home. How can you support our troops by putting them in danger for no gain, great cost and no reason--it befuddles the mind? That is the message that needs to be gotten out. But since our President clearly does not support our troops, Congress is put in a bit of a predicament.

--NSMSNBC (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:05 PM)

THE MOUTH THAT ROARED. And how much pressure did it take to FINALLY get Pete Stark to apologize? Because we all know he still means what he said.

full Moon (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:11 PM)

I've never seen Bush Derangement Syndrome expressed so intensely. It certainly shows how some people are extremely affected by liberal news media propaganda.

Wayne (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:16 PM)

John Boehner, How in the world do you get "Bayner" out of his name he's a "Boner" if there ever was one. When will these Democrats grow some nads they should have all given Pete a standing ovation when he made the statement on the floor. Let's see we have the Democrats bowing down to Bush on every turn and showing the lowest rating in history, "WAKE UP YOU IDIOTS" that rating is because you have not enforced the will of the people who put you in office. The Democrats should refuse to vote on the additional appropriations for the Iraq Conflict "TELL HIM NO! Do they actually think that the Pentagon will leave our troops in harms way with no equipment, no food, no weapons, come on people get real they will have to pull funds from other sources or pull the troops "OUT". Every time Congress has come to a political confrontation with the President they have tucked their tails between their legs and beg for forgiveness from their master.

Paw Paw, NC (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:17 PM)

I am worried for this country when a man has to apologize for saying exactly what 70% of the country is thinking. If our leaders aren't able to say it, who will?

And Bush deserves an apology from NO ONE. EVER. He has done more damage to this country than anyone would have ever imagined 8 years ago. I don't care if someone shoots his dog. I will never feel sorry for him.

CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:19 PM)

I see this is more important to the average MSNBC viewer than the fact that Osama's just issued another communique acknowledging Al Quaeda's failures in Iraq, something the tinfoil hat crowd can't bring themselves to acknowledge.

Harry Potter (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:21 PM)

To: American Voter

I assume the "crackpot" you are refering to is George W. Bush . . .

No one in these blogs every gets emotional! No one in these blogs ever uses hyperbole! No one in these blogs ever expresses BS!

Why does the right to free expression not apply in the House chambers? Rep. Stark was not screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater.

It is fine to apologize if you are concerned you offended others, but never, ever apologize for your right to free expression! To many have died to protect that freedom and to assure it belongs to ever American, regardless of backgroud or circumstance.

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:21 PM)

As a soldier, I find Bush's hunt for WMD video a way of using our deaths for his amusement.

Bill, baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:25 PM)

"A collage of BS from the “Better than You” / “My S**t don’t Stick” group."

BS Detector (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 11:39 AM)

No one here has claimed that their "S**t don't Stick". It's just that our "S**t" doesn't embroil us in an endless war in a place that we never should have been. When your "S**t" stinks so bad that it costs 4,000 troops their lives, and countless others their limbs, sanity, etc., there needs to be hell to pay. But one thing there doesn't need to be is an apology to his family for stating the blatantly obvious.

So why don't you crawl back into your Republican hole and keep sniffing Bush's "S**t" and tell yourself it smells like roses.

CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:25 PM)

"Do you honestly believe he gives a rats behind about what you and the rest in your party think of him? I wouldn't if I was him. "

He doesn't care, that's obvious, and we don't care what you think.

"You people are idiots. Bush is a great leader, you are just obsessed with hatred and hungry for power. Stop your lies and shut up! "

You'd know idiots - you see one every morning when you shave. "Lies" you seem pretty confused about, though. I know! Why don't you "shut me up"?

P.S. Bush is a psychotic.

Not shutting up (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:26 PM)

I agree, the truth REALLY REALLY hurts.....Bush and Cheney are both criminally insane, and the Republicans wont' admit it. B&C do seem to be getting their jollies with this war.....

Rice Grad, San Diego (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:29 PM)

Representative Stark may have expressed himself hastefully, but he should not be abject in apologizing. Does any person in the world actually believe some words slip into thoughts occasionally,
and are not spoken aloud? President Bush certainly does not wish to have our service people killed, but he and many Democrats have allowed policies which continue this debacle unto this day. Tragedies continue.

John O'Connor (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:30 PM)

Pete Stark shouldn't apologize, except maybe to say that he meant "the President's oil buddies" instead of "the President's amusement". This is supposed to be a democracy, so he should be able to speak against the President.

Rodney Lamprey, jr., SLC, Utah (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:31 PM)

Boy oh boy the leftist moonbats are all out in force today with their rants. If their rhetoric on sites like this and tactics used against Governor-elect Jindal of Lousiana this year are any indication for 2008, even with GOP in disarray, next year will be interesting.

Kevin, St. Louis, MO (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:31 PM)

Worst Congress in history, and the last congress left the bar pretty low :-)

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:31 PM)

I love it when politicians who say stupid things are forced by other politicians who have said stupid things apologize. Round and round we go.

Starting with Bush himself, our so-called leaders continue to act like a bunch of nanna-nanna-boo-boo juveniles. They think that 'telling it like it is' justifies the ridiculous way in which they say it.

Leave these comments to the talk show pundits who get paid to be stupid and hence not have to apologize for acting like idiots. The one's who actually get paid by us to run this country need to do more doing and less talking. We have enough fodder for the media with just Bush himself, yet congress continues to give them a buffet of material so we can argue over their lack of leadership.

joe topeka, ks (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:32 PM)

Deb, Lisa.. how come your writing style is idenical to each other? lol

Tuck,Realityville, KS (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:34 PM)

It is apparent George W. Bush and his regime are fatally flawed and bordering on sheer insanity. Although, many would have chosen other words, Rep. Stark is at the heart of his criticsm undeniably correct. Bush doesn't give a damn about our Nation, the Troops, or the Constitution. The day for this national nightmare to end cannot come soon enough.

Coy Reese, Shady Spring, West Virginia (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:35 PM)

Harry Reid goes up against Rush Limbaugh:
He gets whipped by Limbaugh

Pete Stark goes up against President Bush:
He gets whipped by the republicans

Who's next to put their career on the line?

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:37 PM)

I think most of the government and the media has been intimidated by threats and orders from this elected dictatorship.

Dictatorship Nuanced?
LOL, still waiting for proof on that one.

You don't know what a dictatorship is until Hillary Clinton gets elected......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:39 PM)

Nuanced, very insightful as usual in your post of 11:53am. Unfortunately he like a lot of people are probably just so fed up with this whole disaster it's sometimes hard to state your anger in a way that is entirely polite. It's also ironic that Stark is being pilloried by the same people who complain most vocally about "political correctness." Also note that his apology is not being accepted by conservatives. I predict that for the rest of his career conservatives will ignore the apology as well as the inherent truth in his statement, focusing only on the alleged slight...even though it was actually focused on the chickenhawk in the White House and not the soldiers.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:40 PM)

Stark- quit crying!
A censure from the likes of these cowards on both sides of the aisle would have been a badge of honor. Respect is earned not owed.
You did speak clumsily though.
It is not for amusement that this administration spills blood needlessly and well after everyone knows the extent of the administrative incompetence and intellectual bankruptcy of this criminal neocon boondoggle. This administration seeks, at horrendous cost, to sooth it's own ego, to spin it's place in history, and some how fool people into believing it's Churchillian fantasy. Sadly, everyone sees, everyone knows, rather they admit it or not, everyone can see this failure for what it is. For that crime of ego, this President should feel these harsh verbal judgements like the lash. Because sadly, it will be the only retribution he will see.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:40 PM)

"CLINTON: Good evening.

Earlier today, I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.

The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world.

The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people."

President Clinton
Oval Office Address to the American People
December 16, 1998
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/16/transcripts/clinton.html

TMcA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:41 PM)

stark apologize , but bush will keep doing exactly what stark said he was doing . what a country

ki houston (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:47 PM)

Stark. “But I respect neither the Commander-in-Chief who keeps them in harms way nor the chickenhawks in Congress who vote to deny children health care.”

Go to hell traitor Stark!

Toby Hill (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:48 PM)

nuanced is right. The whole thing was perfect but for one word: "amusement". Better luck next time Stark.

Johnny (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:50 PM)

Stark was at least a gentleman about it, most of you hate filled war mongers are supporting the poisoning of our troops by bio-tainted food and ice by the corporate bigwigs at KBR. You should be ashamed of yourself for hiding from this fact. How many troops will come home with AIDS and other diseases so that you can all feel good about your political choice. These are the stories we should hear about. Are our wounded troops being taken care of, no, but all you babysh*t eaters don't want the truth, you want to sit on the couch and pretend the surge is working. It will only be working till Bush leaves and then your boys in the repuke party wil be hounding the next (democrat) president to hurry up and do something about this fiasco.

John S. Alexander, Edinboro, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:50 PM)

Republicans Destroyed Democrats' Most Cherished Institution: SLAVERY! But the liberals are rapidly building back the Liberal Plantation with narcotic welfare. Liberals create permanent under classes with other peoples' money.

Truth to Power! Baby!

TMcA (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:50 PM)

How come every time a Democrat says something remotely offensive or exaggerated, they are forced to apologize and yet the Dems let Republicans continually smear anyone who is anti-war? These Democrats are proving to be the most spineless losers we have ever had in Congress!

Tim M, Ithaca NY (Sent Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:52 PM)

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