Romney
apologizes for anti-tar baby rhetoric

By
John Breneman

Clarifying his politically sticky use of the term "tar
baby" in a July 29 speech in Iowa, Gov. Mitt Romney said
he had no idea the term was racially insensitive.

Romney issued a heartfelt apology
to all tar babies, crack babies and test-tube babies, as well
as the NAACP and the lesser-known NAATB.

He said he never meant to offend fans of the legendary Uncle
Remus story about Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and the Tar Baby by
linking them to his state’s $14.6 billion Big Dig highway
black hole.

Meanwhile, aides have advised Romney that next time he needs
a metaphor likening the bureaucratically grotesque, and now
deadly Big Dig to a "sticky situation," he would
be better off using a more PC term such as "duct-tape
baby" or "epoxy baby."

Romney, widely regarded as one of the whitest white dudes
of all-time, has been criticized as a clueless "blue
blood" by local
black leaders. He’s also been called a "punk"
by the rapper Tar Daddy.

Romney denied reports that he angrily declared, "Tar
babies are responsible for all the wars in the world!"
But polls show 81 percent of voters believe he WOULD eagerly
make such a statement if he believed it would help him get
to the White House.

Related stories:
Why
"Tar Baby" Is Such a Sticky Phrase — Aug.
1, 2006 (Time)

Romney:
The next president — March 29, 2006 (By Chris
Elliott)