Ted Nugent apologized to President Obama on Wednesday for calling the president a “subhuman mongrel.”
“I do apologize–not necessarily to the president–but on behalf of much better men than myself,” he said in an interview when asked by conservative radio host Ben Ferguson if he would apologize if he saw Obama, according to CNN.
Nugent then name-checked current Texas Attorney General and likely GOP gubernatorial nominee Greg Abbott, and current Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “On behalf of those professional politicians and those who put their heart and soul into representing we the people so accurately, like the gentlemen I just mentioned,” he said, “I apologize for using the street fighter terminology of ‘subhuman mongrel’ instead of using more understandable language, such as violator of his oath to Constitution.”
“I will try to elevate my vernacular to the level of those great men that I’m learning from in the world of politics,” Nugent added.
The original critical comments were made during an interview last month, but saw increased scrutiny this week as the right-wing rocker hit the campaign trail with Abbott. Democrats, including the Texan’s likely opponent Wendy Davis, issued most of the criticism earlier in the week.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul then turned up the heat when he encouraged Nugent to apologize Thursday evening. “Ted Nugent’s derogatory description of President Obama is offensive and has no place in politics. He should apologize,” he said via twitter. Texas Gov. Rick Perry made a less forceful plea for an apology, saying he’d “recommend” Nugent apologize in an interview with CNN. Before making his comments on the Ben Ferguson radio show, Nugent sent out a series of tweets Thursday that appeared to respond to the backlash, repeating the phrase “are words really more offensivethan[sic]…” with a series of complaints about the Obama administration. Watch Rev. Al Sharpton’s reflections on Nugent’s apology below:
Morgan Whitaker Recommended
