says sorry to Obama for 'crude' remark

July 10, 2008

Thu Jul 10, 2:59 AM

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Civil rights leader Reverend

apologized to White House contender Barack Obama on Wednesday for

making a " crude " remark about him, which was picked up by a live

television microphone.

was apparently unaware his mic was still on after a Fox News

interview when he whispered to another guest that Obama, who is vying

to become the first African-American president, has been " talking

down to black people. "

The reverend then added: " I want to cut his **** off. "

" For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have

caused, I apologize, " said in a statement.

" My support for Senator Obama's campaign is wide, deep and

unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment.

" My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal

with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to

deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the

public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good

choices that often led to their irresponsibility, " said.

" That was the context of my private conversation and it does not

reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which

we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading

it. "

Later, in an interview on CNN, said he had said " something I

regret was crude. It was very private. And very much a sound bite. "

Obama accepted 's apology.

" As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama

has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental

responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in

their children's lives, " said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

" He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs,

justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about

our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course

accepts Reverend 's apology, " Burton said in a statement.

, 66, is a former associate of assassinated civil rights

leader Luther King, and made his own unsuccessful runs for the

Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.

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