No source necessary, this is *sigh* all over the news in the UK. When Gordon Brown thought his microphone was turned off he called a woman he was just speaking to "bigoted". He's now apologised to her and takes back calling her a bigot.

Here's what I think. The fact that he has apologised has made him seem weak to me. He obviously meant what he said and as a politician he should stand by what he said and not cave in so readily. If he thought the woman was a bigot then he should have stood by that statement. He should have stood by his opinion and backed it up, not apologise and take back what he said. He has every right to think someone is a bigot like the rest of us.

I don't approve of what he said, but he should at least stand by it.

Here's the video.

Really. I think being spineless is a prerequisite to being a politician, though.

This is the whole chat he had with the women. I see that the way she talked about people coming from eastern Europe could seem a bit derogatory, but I don't think she meant it like that and I think this was a big mistake by Gorden Brown. The next time the polls are updated will be interesting to see if this just blows over, or if it will lose him a lot of votes.

Politics appear to be the same all over. Reminds me of when Dick Cheney called someone an asshole. (I think he did anyway... someone called someone something.)

I understand that she didn't say anything remotely bigoted, that's why I said I don't approve of what he said. However, for whatever reason, he called the woman a bigot, he obviously meant it too. He can't just apologise and pretend it never happened, he should at least explain his comment. An apology in an attempt to back out of his comment is not what he should be doing.

It would be disastrous for him if he explained his comment and stuck by it, but to be honest this is disastrous for him whatever happens.

Also, I like my politicians to stick by what they say (I know, they don't), Gordon Brown is not sticking by what he said in this case, so why should he for anything else?

It doesn't matter if she was or not, it's that he was so spineless he went back on his word. If you are going to put a man in office he shouldn't back down so quickly.

Exactly.

Yeah... all it would take would be something like "She didn't really say anything bigoted, but i've been frustrated with the real biggots who keep pushing on the immigration issue and make honest citizens look bad."

The good politicians know how to spin.  Bill Clinton... during his first sex scandal when running for president (Flowers) actually not only deflected his discretion but was able to frame it at republican economic policy by claiming she made the claims for money, not because it was greedy or her fault, but because economic tmes and republican mismanagement of the economy did so.

poor gordan...the critics are gonna nail him for this one

Political trainwreck. I'm looking forward to the polls.