Public Eye
October 31, 2005 1:55 PM

Roberts Apologizes, Calls Choice Of Words "Unfortunate"

By
Vaughn Ververs
Topics
CBS News Issues
A question posed to White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan at this morning's "gaggle" by CBS White House correspondent John Roberts has attracted quite a bit of chatter on the Internet. Of course, the topic of the day is the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito, and the question from Roberts, was, "Scott, you said that – or the President said, repeatedly, that Harriet Miers was the best person for the job. So does that mean Alito is sloppy seconds, or what?"

Public Eye asked Roberts about the incident and reaction and here's what he said:
"At the morning White House gaggle, I used an unfortunate choice of words in a question to Scott McClellan. Please be assured that there was no pejorative intent to my question. I was merely attempting to reconcile past statements about Harriet Miers with the President's new nominee for the Supreme Court.

The early morning White House gaggle is an informal, free-wheeling and often irreverent forum, which is not broadcast and generally not publicly available.

Obviously, my tone this morning was a little too casual.

As we all experience from time to time, it was one of those 'oops' moments which we wish we could rewind and re-record.

I apologize to anyone who took offense to my poor choice of words. I can assure you I meant none."
UPDATE: Roberts also apologized to McClellan at the more formal, on-camera press briefing this afternoon. Following a back-and-forth between McClellan and NBC correspondent David Gregory, in which the press secretary mentioned there was no need to be rude, it was Roberts' turn to ask a question. He said:
"Scott, on the subject of rude, my apologies for my unfortunate choice of words this morning to you."

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by drmartin13 November 2, 2005 2:05 AM EST
So the debate in our country has devolved to a discussion of the term \"sloppy seconds?\" Sad. The radical right has picked a non-starter here. The term in question has entered the lexicon, without (despite what the right-wing talk radio hosts maintain) any sexual connotation. Nor is it misogynist. I could cite any number of similar phrases. Actually, it fits perfectly in the context of the question; i.e., an \"undesirable second choice.\" Maybe not the best wording for the White House, but considering the lying, cheating (various types), and criminal activity that has transpired there over the last 45 years (under both political parties) it\'s a nit. No apology required. And, BTW, the right-wingers don\'t have Roberts \"by the short hairs!\" [Another commonly-used phrase with an obscure sexual meaning which has crept into common use...].
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by jongarfunkel November 2, 2005 1:18 AM EST
Well after Howard Dean accused the administration of playing \"hide the salami\" with Harriet Miers, maybe people in Washington just can\'t separate sex in their mind from scandal?
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by soldiersmom November 2, 2005 12:15 AM EST
I\'m sure that I\'m a little late in sending this, but I do want to say how disgusted I am at the use of John Roberts\' use of the term \"sloppy seconds\" in reference to Samuel Alito. When I first heard of the reference yesterday, I did not know what the term meant...I figured it had to do with leftover mashed potatoes - maybe with some leftover hamburger crumbled into mushroom soup poured over the potatoes. But, no, it doesn\'t mean that at all. So, will CBS allow John Roberts to continue to cover the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court of the United States after he has compared Alito to a woman who engages in &&*%&-like behavior? No doubt it will. No wonder CBS\' credibility diminishes more and more every day.
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by November 1, 2005 9:30 PM EST
While I\'m no fan of the Bush Administration by any means, I certainly find Mr Roberts\'s innuendo to be unprofessional and suggest that CBS remove him from his post immediately. His comment was sexist and vile. I find it difficult to fathom what purpose there could have possibly been in it. If the previous nominee had been male, I doubt that Mr Roberts would have resorted to such language. For decades I have been an admirer of CBS News but these days I find it less and less a useful information source.
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by exkiro November 1, 2005 4:28 PM EST
I have spent 41 years in television broadcast and if the viewers don\'t make this an issue and A CAREER ENDER they can no longer think for themselves.
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by visitor111 November 1, 2005 3:33 PM EST
Sloppy seconds? I think Mr. Roberts was being kind. I\'d be surprised if Alito was team Bush\'s fourth or fifth try. Remember, the list of women and minorities the prez chose Miers from contained a number of names who asked to be withdrawn because of the caustic nature of the process. After listening to Scott talk out of the side of his neck for the last couple years, I can\'t imagine couresy or repect being the first thing on any reporters mind in a conversation with the white house spinners.
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by whynaut November 1, 2005 3:15 PM EST
Real news does not have an opinion. As John Roberts has once again demonstrated CBS News not only comes with an opinion but usually an attitude as well.
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by whynaut November 1, 2005 3:10 PM EST
As I read these posts I wonder why the left is so filled with hatred? Why is kwAwk so loathsome toward Rush the intertainer? Rush like me is just an imperfect \"sinner\", and Rush knows this. Perhaps kwAwk is a saint in his own mind, frustrated that the rest of us sinners do not recognize and accept his sainthood.
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by weserneye November 1, 2005 1:50 PM EST
John Roberts\' comment was nothing compared to the obscenities used by VP Cheney, F*** Yourself, and nothing compared to the obscene lost of lives in Iraq. G. W. Bush\'s tolerance of lawbreakers in his administration, a la Karl Rove, is obscene. Sloppy second is sloppy second and that is all that George W. Bush seems to be capable of. Fact is, Alito is ANOTHER sloppy second. Yes, the rabid defense of all Bush\'s men certainly sounds like a White House Damage Control Corp. Like it or not, all presidents and politicians have this corp if they can afford it. westerneye
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by theright November 1, 2005 12:56 PM EST
John Roberts\' apology was phoney as a 2 dollar bill. He is not sorry. His hatred for the Bush administration is extreme and he has no business covering the White House for CBS. CBS should get someone who is more objective. Reasign John or fire him.
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