Rep. Apologizes For Comments About Constituents

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Aspiring politicians, take note: If you want to stay out of trouble, you probably want to avoid insulting a quarter of your constituents.

But that's exactly what Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota did when he told Politico why he doesn't hold town meetings: "25 percent of my people believe the Pentagon and [former Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld (pictured at left) were responsible for taking the twin towers down."

Now Peterson, a conservative Democrat, is scrambling to diffuse anger over the comments, the Star Tribune reports. Apologizing for what her called an "off-handed comment," Peterson said he "certainly wasn't trying to make fun of anyone."

"What I was talking about was simply that there are the people in Minnesota's Seventh District who have called me and talked to me about this question," he explained in a press release. "The other point I was trying to make is that there are people in the Seventh District who freely identify themselves as outside the mainstream -- on the left and on the right -- who try to hijack public forums like town hall meetings."

The Minnesota Republican party, not surprisingly, did not look charitably on Peterson's "outrageous and offensive" comments.

"Peterson revealed just how out of touch and disconnected he has become in Washington," GOP Chairman Tony Sutton said in a release, according to the Star Tribune. "Given his liberal voting record, the real reason Peterson doesn't hold town hall meetings is because he is afraid to face the residents of his district."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

10 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by toldyouso29 July 29, 2009 10:11 AM EDT: "Peterson revealed just how out of touch and disconnected he has become in Washington," GOP Chairman Tony Sutton said in a release, according to the Star Tribune. "Given his liberal voting record, the real reason Peterson doesn't hold town hall meetings is because he is afraid to face the residents of his district."

This is a stupid remark. If the man has over 25% of his constituents who believe a conspiracy theory then that is what he has. Not saying it does not change the fact. In fact, probably over 25% of Americans believe the same thing--if you bring up 9/11--even among Republicans--almost always--someone will claim it was an inside job to get attention away from Cheney and Enron and to justify a war.....that does not mean the Dem is weird or too Washingtonized--it means that the government does not enjoy (wonder why) a lot of people's trust after 9/11.; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 July 28, 2009 10:34 PM EDT: Mary Bono widow to Sonny Bono the former Congressman. stays out in Palm Springs and never has any town hall meetings. If she want to know how to vote, she looks at the emails from the GOP and it is done.; Reply to this comment

by stn_sage July 28, 2009 8:58 PM EDT

It sounds like Mr. Peterson is vastly uninformed!

Worse yet, it appears that he has made NO EFFORT to even look into information that clearly links various U.S. govt agencies to the 911 event!

That's your job, Congressman! And, you're not doing it!

Yeah, I'd say he needs to be replaced! But, that doesn't mean he should be replaced by a Republican! It's time people 'shop around'!

Reply to this comment


by ffoulkes-2009 July 29, 2009 1:12 AM EDT: Yer tin foil cap is a bit tight today, don't you think?


by stn_sage July 29, 2009 8:55 AM EDT: To DemWatcher3 & ffoulkes-2009:

First, you two chose to insult me versus making any intelligible reply to my comment!

Second, fyi, there are many factual videos that point out the DOZENS of flaws, misinformation, disinformation, and inaccuracies regarding the FACTS of 911! THAT, clearly show it was an 'inside job', not done by radicalized Muslim Arabs!

Third, you wouldn't know this however, because YOU don't want to know the TRUTH---because, YOU can't handle the TRUTH!

Finally, if you want to remain blissfully ignorant, that's fine, that's your choice, but don't criticize others who take the time to find out the truth! Extend to them the same courtesy of choice!

See all 4 Replies

by the_majesty July 28, 2009 6:37 PM EDT

Makes no difference what Peterson says. If Obama keeps up his racism and tries to disarm America. The good people of Minnesota will elect a republican that will fight for their rights.

Reply to this comment