Turban Durbin Apology—Take Two

Chicago Mayor Richard Daily said that he should apologize—but I’m sorry to report that Senator Durbin just can’t seem to be able to find the words to do it properly.

At least he tried again yesterday:

“WASHINGTON (AP) - Under fire from Republicans and some fellow Democrats, Sen. Dick Durbin apologized Tuesday for comparing American interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp to Nazis and other historically infamous figures.

"Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line," the Illinois Democrat said. "To them I extend my heartfelt apologies."

His voice quaking and tears welling in his eyes, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate also apologized to any soldiers who felt insulted by his remarks.

"They're the best. I never, ever intended any disrespect for them," he said.”

As a member of the group of the “some” that feel that Durbin’s “remarks crossed the line,” I have this to say about that.

Sorry Mr. Turban…er, I mean Durbin…An apology isn’t offered with qualifications.

Either you ARE SORRY, or you ARE NOT SORRY.

So which is it, Senator Durbin?

I suspect that Senator Durbin is sorry that he has been called out on this issue, but that he is not truly sorry for the stupid partisan ideology that he vocalized and that caused the uproar in the first place.

Now people are calling for him to step down as the Minority Whip position as the number two Democrat in the Senate. After all, a few years ago comments made by Trent Lott when he was the Senate Majority Leader in a private venue—the birthday party for South Carolina Senator Strom Thurman—ultimately forced him to step down from his Senate leadership position.

I have to ask this question:

Are we responsible adults, are we all kids in Kindergarten here?

The simple fact is that the mainstream media is not going to hype Turban Durbin’s comments made publicly and officially (in a prepared speech delivered on the Senate floor) in the same manner that they hyped Trent Lott’s comments made in a non-official capacity at a private party.

What I would like to see happen is for our elected officials and our paid professional media to reach down, grab their pants or socks or some otherwise favorite body part, and get a large, industrial strength sized grip on a large portion of reality—enough to temper their own words and actions and/or their reaction to the actions of others.

Why can’t we run this country like a business instead of a junior high school class election?