HILLARY CLINTON REGRETS GHANDI JOKE

WINS News ^ | 1/6/04

[areafiftyone]

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund-raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, "He ran a gas station down in St. Louis."

After laughter from many in the crowd of at least 200 subsided, the former first lady continued, "No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century." In a nod to Farmer's underdog status against Republican Sen. Kit Bond, Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi's teachings said the remarks amounted to stereotyping and were insensitive.

After being approached by The Associated Press to clarify the remarks, Clinton suggested in a statement late Monday that she never meant to fuel the stereotype - often used as a comedic punch line - that certain ethnic groups run America's gas stations.

"I have admired the work and life of Mahatma Gandhi and have spoken publicly about that many times," Clinton said. "I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise."

Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, a Memphis, Tenn.-based organization founded in 1991 by a Gandhi grandson, credited Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, with long having "supported the Gandhi message." But she said Saturday's remarks "could be incredibly harmful."

"I don't think she was, in any way, trying to demean Mahatma Gandhi," Naef said. "To be generous to her, I would say it was a poor attempt at humor. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive, but I find it offensive when people use stereotypes in that way."

[areafiftyone]

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[Hildy]

Who cares! However, if a Republican made this joke, THE MEDIA sure would care!

[jimkress]

Ghandi regrets Hillary Clinton's birth.

[Lyford]

I don't get it. Why is that supposed to be funny? And what is "offensive" about it?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Hillary, you're much better at humor when you think you're being serious.

[areafiftyone]

However, if a Republican made this joke, THE MEDIA sure would care!

How right you are. I only saw this in the local NY news site. Nothing in the major news of course!

[funkywbr]

Hey she "IS" a democrap so NO BIGGY!~} For as we all know there is not a racist (or FUNNY) bone in any Dems body!~}

[mikeb704]

"I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise."

Isn't the use of "lame" an insensitive insult to the other abled? I think ANOTHER apology is called for here.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[quark]

Of course, the radical left-wing media will ignore this ethnic slur by their Socialist heroine. Had Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison uttered such, it would have made the top of the fold in the NYT, WP, & LAT.

[exile]

Not much of a joke to begin with

[scan58]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

If she was talking about herself with that quote - I hope she realizes we're all still in the laughing stage and will be for some time.

[T'wit]

In real life, Gandhi drank his own urine, admired Hitler and denied his wife medicine for a treatable disease. She died.

He should have kept his job at the filling station.

[areafiftyone]

I guess its only a joke to people who make fun of Indians owning gas stations and seven elevens.

[mlbford2]

Some jokes get old after awhile, but Hil's pantsuit never gets old.

[Sub-Driver]

I think she should step aside like Trent Lott.........

[freedom1st]

I didn't know Indians were running all the gas stations now. I guess they are branching out from their monopoly on motels in the South.

[Blue Screen of Death]

The only Gandhi joke I know......

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ....what? (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) A super callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. (Previous parenthetical comment may have been a bit optimistic.)

[mikeb704]

Some jokes get old after awhile, but Hil's pantsuit never gets old.

Nope, just crustier.

[tracer]

Hillary!! sooon will learn that Americans of Asian Indian descent make up a large, wealthy, generous, politically concious, and influential segment of our population.

At least, for her sake, her quip about Ghandi was not a "Sikh" joke. My best friend at work happens to wear a beard and turban.......

[Cultural Jihad]

I don't get it. Why is that supposed to be funny? And what is "offensive" about it?

It is a stereotype that certain ethnic groups hold certain occupations. Look at the character in The Simpsons who works at the quickie mart as an example of a stereotype used as humor which really is a slam against someone's ethnicity. I guess since Democrats are basically racists such 'humor' is used in their campaigns.

[Rebelbase]

"Not much of a joke to begin with'

Very lame joke.

[Rebelbase]

"Not much of a joke to begin with'

Very lame joke.

[af_vet_rr]

Who cares! However, if a Republican made this joke, THE MEDIA sure would care!

and they would try and make us care for the next three or four weeks.

[Lucky2]

Trett Lott got booted out for a just attending an old man's birthday party! BTW, hildabeast used to run a whorehouse in Little Rock and her hubby was the main pimp and customer!

[hattend]

I don't get the joke, Hillary.

You fat cow! (please excuse my attempt at humor, Hillary)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They maybe smart but they're not into kickbacks like the Chinese Reds...

[sine_nomine]

Remember folks. She is insensitive. Only an insensitive person would say something like that. It does not matter that she apologized (sort of). It does matter that such comments only come from insensitive - and dare I say? -racist people.

Here is a funny joke. The movie Ghandi was so popular that they are going to make an Indian version of "Gone with the Wind." It will be called "Ghandi with the Wind." It ends with Ragheesh Butler saying, "Frankly my dear, I am not giving a damn."

[Happy2BMe]

"ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

First the Jews, now poor old dead dried up Gandhi!

It just doesn't get any better than this boys!

[Search4Truth]

"A super callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis."

LMAO!

[freedomson]

In real life, Gandhi drank his own urine, admired Hitler and denied his wife medicine for a treatable disease. She died.

He also slept nude with underage girls as a test of will against temptation. Thanks for pointing out that he was little more than a left wing kook.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Had Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison uttered such, it would have made the top of the fold in the NYT, WP, & LAT.

Had Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison uttered such, those newspapers and the rest of the Dem-Rat media would be calling for her resignation and confinement... But it is interesting: running a gas station in St. Louis is way beyond what Hillary is qualified for.

[mrsmith]

Hillary and Billy drive into a gas station in St Louis.
An attendant who looks like Mahatma Gandhi comes out to pump the gas.
"Just think Hillary you could be married to that fellow there instead of me!"
"Yeah, just think he came that close to being president instead of you."
"Yes dear, don't claw on me where it will show please."
"Okay, okay. Here, pour this nail polish on his turban when he's not looking. No use passing up a chance to pee on a peon haha haha hahaha."

[Yaelle]

Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

She probably has this on her mirror. Seriously. I think she is counting on this for herself.

I would like to see something like this: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then as they start to fight you, they find out some very bad things that you have done and you lose."

[night reader]

You fat cow! (please excuse my attempt at humor, Hillary)

Easy now! We don't need to get on the wrong side of PETA by comparing the Hildebeest with an honorable self-sustaining member of the bovine persuasion

[Rennes Templar]

"(When a man lies he murders some part of the world)"
I remember that line from the movie "Excalibur". It was spoken by Merlin, in response to King Arthurs question: "What is the greatest quality of Knighthood"?, and Merlin responded, "Truth".

Great to see that again, thanks.

[Uncle Hal]

It will be interesting to see what kind of coverage this gets in the national media. If it was a member of the GOP it would be front page headlines.

[doug from upland]

Hillary confided to the Vice President's wife, Tipper Gore, one day that Slick Willy hardly ever made love to her anymore. Tipper told her not to feel too bad. She knew several girls he'd cut off completely.

[RightWhale]

she is counting on this for herself

Sure, it is about herself. But the plan has already failed because it never advanced to the laughter stage.

[headsonpikes]

In response to this grave insult to the dignity of all Hindus, Apu will for the first time be voting Republican.

"That Hillary Clinton, she is such a fat cow - but not a holy one! I would not sell to her a Squishee to save her life!"

Ms. Crabapple's support for the HildeBeast is reportedly still safe, however.

[muleskinner]

Repub's just got the Asian Indian vote.

[HenryLeeII]

So Hillary is making jokes based on ethnic stereotypes and Dean has been revealed as making stock transactions based on insider information while governor. I'll be sure to tune into Dan Blather's newscast tonight for the latest details!

[evets]

He ran a Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield

[Rutabega]

That Fozzie Bear joke made me snort beer out of my nose! (My Swedish husband didn't get the joke!)

[antiRepublicrat]

The PC liberals begin to eat their own...

[ArGee]

That WAS good.

Shalom.

[r9etb]

he suffered from bad breath

This part is probably true: he drank a glass of his own urine every day, and was not at all shy about recommending that others do it, too. (Here's a google on Ghandi Urine to show you I'm not making it up....)

[Search4Truth]

"Which is the greatest quality of knighthood? Courage? Compassion? Loyalty? Humility? What do you say, Merlin?

All right. Truth. It must be truth, above all. When a man lies he murders some part of the world."

[Our man in washington]

I wouldn't be offended if a candidate I liked said that, so I'm not offended that Hillary said that.

But in general, I think Americans need to lighten up.

[Liberal Classic]

That excuse never works on my wife.