September 3, 2009 1:34 PM
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Obama Adviser Sorry for Calling Republicans "A**holes"
Obama administration "green jobs czar" Van Jones has apologized for calling Republicans "a**holes."
Jones made the comment in February, before he became a member of the administration, Glenn Thrush reports.
Asked at a Berkeley, Calif., forum why Republicans in Congress are blocking Obama administration efforts, Jones replied, "the answer to that is they're a**holes," prompting laughter and applause from the crowd.
Jones added: "…and Barack Obama's not an a**hole. I can be an a**hole. And some of us who are not Barack Hussein Obama are going to have to start getting a little bit uppity." (Watch the video.)
Jones apologized for the comment yesterday.
"These comments, made before I joined the administration, were clearly inappropriate and I apologize for the offensive words I chose to use during that speech," he said in a statement. "They do not reflect the views of this administration, which has made every effort to work in a bipartisan fashion, and they do not reflect the experience I have had since I joined the administration."
Jones made the comment in February, before he became a member of the administration, Glenn Thrush reports.
Asked at a Berkeley, Calif., forum why Republicans in Congress are blocking Obama administration efforts, Jones replied, "the answer to that is they're a**holes," prompting laughter and applause from the crowd.
Jones added: "…and Barack Obama's not an a**hole. I can be an a**hole. And some of us who are not Barack Hussein Obama are going to have to start getting a little bit uppity." (Watch the video.)
Jones apologized for the comment yesterday.
"These comments, made before I joined the administration, were clearly inappropriate and I apologize for the offensive words I chose to use during that speech," he said in a statement. "They do not reflect the views of this administration, which has made every effort to work in a bipartisan fashion, and they do not reflect the experience I have had since I joined the administration."
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Brian Montopoli Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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