This will be spun (sort of like in the Trayvon Martin case George Zimmerman seemingly saying “coons” is being explained as “goons”) but it really does sound like fading Republican Presidential nomination contender Rick Santorum almost called President Barack Obama the “n word.” So I’m getting ready for the emails, the denunciations for posting this and pointing out what is quite obvious by a)what he almost says b)the look on his face as he stops himself.
“Well, he really wanted to say nice guy…he really wanted to say neophyte…he really wanted to say native Kenyan…he really wanted to say nephew since he was going to talk about Obama’s uncle…” (Now you don’t have to watch any talk show hosts or read any blogs on this story. You read it here first…)
Speculation and predictable spin is now gathering steam on Google. Unless this turns out to be some kind of fabricated clip, it will not erase the growing perception that Rick Santorum’s problem that led to his 2006 defeat and him grabbing defeat from the jaws of possible 2012 Republican nomination victory has been his own mouth. The story is gathering steam on Google News as well.
UPDATE: Be sure to read comments because there are some who genuinely feel he’s getting a bad rap on this. That could be the case as well. But I’ve added a new sub head due to the comments below. (Add yours) On the other hand, it does seem a bit like this… And during campaigns candidates often say things that draw extra scrutiny (excessive or warrented?).
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.