Tony Norman
If nothing else, Gov. Ed Rendell is a man who knows how to apologize well.
Recently, Pennsylvania's less-than-tongue-tied chief executive ignited a minor firestorm when comments he made about Homeland Security secretary designate Janet Napolitano were caught by a hot mic.
In discussing Arizona governor's qualifications to be Michael Chertoff's successor with a confidante, Mr. Rendell came across as less than artful at best and a just a wee bit sexist. Rendell agreed that Ms. Napolitano was the ideal choice for the slot "Because for that job, you have to have no life." The notorious workaholic Pa. governor (who also happens to be a husband and a father) then added, "Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it."
Gov. Rendell has since apologized for the gaffe with what initially sounds like a dubious rationale: "But you could say the exact same thing to me, about me," he said trying to stuff that genie back into the bottle. It can get ugly with the governor sometime. "If anybody out there was offended, I apologize," Gov. Rendell said before engaging in ritual Seppuku public officials are required to engage in these days after stepping into a big pile of something.
I hope rumors about an eventual Cabinet level appointment for Mr. Rendell are true. He would certainly shake up President Obama's other wise straight-laced, sober and verbally-disciplined White House.
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Posted
Dec 04 2008, 10:46 AM
by
Tony Norman