Wednesday, May 31, 2006
NY Dem: Put 'Bullet Between Bush's Eyes'
In an outrageous remark that has at least one Republican calling for his resignation, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi said Thursday that a fellow New York Democrat would "put a bullet between the president's eyes if he could get away with it."
Introducing Sen. Charles Schumer at commencement exercises at New York City's Queens College, Hevesi began:
"The man who, how do I phrase this diplomatically, who will put a bullet between the president's eyes if he could get away with it. The toughest senator, the best representative. A great, great member of the Congress of the United States."
Hours later, Hevesi was forced to issue an apology.
"I apologize to the president of the United States" and to the fellow state politician, Sen. Charles Schumer, he said, in quotes picked up by the Associated Press.
"I am not a person of violence. I am apologizing as abjectly as I can. There is no excuse for it. It was beyond dumb."
"I do speak extemporaneously," Hevesi tried to explain. "And I've never said anything like this."
Though Schumer spokeswoman Risa Heller said the senator was satisfied with Hevesi's apology, there's no indication that he objected to the remarks at the time.
The incident prompted at least one Republican to call on Hevesi to resign his office.
"Threats against the president are no joke, and this incident raises real concerns about Alan Hevesi's fitness to hold public office," GOP Comptroller nominee J. Christopher Callaghan complained.
In an outrageous remark that has at least one Republican calling for his resignation, New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi said Thursday that a fellow New York Democrat would "put a bullet between the president's eyes if he could get away with it."
Introducing Sen. Charles Schumer at commencement exercises at New York City's Queens College, Hevesi began:
"The man who, how do I phrase this diplomatically, who will put a bullet between the president's eyes if he could get away with it. The toughest senator, the best representative. A great, great member of the Congress of the United States."
Hours later, Hevesi was forced to issue an apology.
"I apologize to the president of the United States" and to the fellow state politician, Sen. Charles Schumer, he said, in quotes picked up by the Associated Press.
"I am not a person of violence. I am apologizing as abjectly as I can. There is no excuse for it. It was beyond dumb."
"I do speak extemporaneously," Hevesi tried to explain. "And I've never said anything like this."
Though Schumer spokeswoman Risa Heller said the senator was satisfied with Hevesi's apology, there's no indication that he objected to the remarks at the time.
The incident prompted at least one Republican to call on Hevesi to resign his office.
"Threats against the president are no joke, and this incident raises real concerns about Alan Hevesi's fitness to hold public office," GOP Comptroller nominee J. Christopher Callaghan complained.
