Representative Mike Pence's (R-IN) blog was updated with links to newspaper articles this morning at 6:42 am, 6:53 am, and 6:55 am. Can you guess why?
He would really, really like you to know that when he said this in Baghdad on Sunday . . .
At a news conference shortly after their outing, Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, and his three Congressional colleagues described Shorja as a safe, bustling place full of hopeful and warmly welcoming Iraqis — "like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime," offered Representative Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican who was a member of the delegation.
. . . he didn't mean it.
Not only is Baghdad not all that much like Indiana, he now wants you to know, but it turns out:
"Candidly, not too many of the people I encountered at least gave evidence of speaking English. The merchant I bought my rugs from clearly did not speak English," he said.
Could this possibly get funnier? Why, yes.
Have a click over to Mike Pence's Blog. I don't know how to do screenshots, so here is a text copy of part of the screen:
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on Pence Iraq remarks
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette today published an article discussing Congressman Pence's trip to Iraq and remarks about his journey here.
posted by Pence Press Office # 6:55 AM
And here is the Fort Wayne Gazette article that Rep. Pence really really wants you to see:
Pence clarifies Baghdad remark
Says market like one in Indiana in looks, not safety
By Sylvia A. Smith
Washington editor
By Sylvia A. Smith
Washington editor
WASHINGTON – Comparing a market in Baghdad to "a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime" was a poor description, Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th, said Tuesday after returning from a two-day trip to Iraq.
-- snip --
Nevertheless, Pence said, he shouldn’t have compared the Shorja market to a Hoosier street fair. He said he wasn’t trying to compare the level of security but to describe the layout – outdoor booths with lots of customers milling about.
And here's my favorite part of this article that Pence really really wants you to see. The reporters at the Star Press must have a good time answering these phone calls:
Reporters from national media have called the Star Press in Muncie to ask whether it’s normal for outdoor Hoosier markets to be the site of car bombs or sniper attacks.
Now let's go back to Mike Pence's Blog. This is the next item:
Indy Star on Pence remarks about Iraq
The Indy Star has an article today that further explains some of Congressman Pence's remarks about his Iraq trip here.
posted by Pence Press Office # 6:53 AM
And here is the Gannett News Service article in the Indy Star that further explains some of Mike Pence's idiotic remarks in Baghdad. Pence really really wants you to see this, too:
April 4, 2007
Back from Iraq, Pence explains market remark
Congressman says he didn't mean to suggest Baghdad venue was as safe as one in Indiana
By Maureen Groppe
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Mike Pence said Tuesday he didn't mean to suggest that Iraq is as safe as Indiana when he compared a Baghdad market to "a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime."
The Indiana Republican, who returned Tuesday from two days in Iraq with three other federal lawmakers, drew media attention after making the comment to The Washington Post after visiting a Baghdad market Sunday. That story was published in The Indianapolis Star.
-- snip --
"I would never have suggested that . . . a Baghdad market is as safe as the Bargersville (Ind.) flea market," Pence told reporters in a Tuesday call. "I just meant that that's what it looked and felt like: There were lots of people, there were booths. . . . For all the world, it felt very familiar to me."
For all the world! Swear to God, he felt an urge to go cow-tipping!
(I'm from Ohio, where we cow-tip, too.)
Now, going back to Mike Pence's blog. The next item that he really wants you to see:
Columbus Republic on Pence's view of Iraq progress
The Columbus Republic today features a story on Congressman Mike Pence's views and impressions of the progress made in Iraq here.
posted by Pence Press Office # 6:42 AM
And here's that article:
Pence upbeat on Iraq progress
GOP congressman encouraged by safety in Baghdad market
By Kirk Johannesen
Senior reporter
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., made his fifth trip to Iraq over the weekend and left with guarded optimism about the progress the U.S. is making in the war.
He also expressed regret Tuesday about a comment he made, saying it had been taken out of context as he tried to explain how a market his delegation visited in Baghdad reminded him of a flea market in Indiana.
He said he never intended to give the impression that Baghdad was as safe as Indiana. Pence said he meant the card tables and shops reminded him of a flea market in his home state.
Mike Pence's blog was updated with those story links at 6:42 am, 6:53 am, and 6:55 am this morning.
Apparently, Representative Pence (R-IN) has constituents who either don't like having their towns compared to Baghdad, or else don't like having to apologise for electing a moron every time they make an out-of-district phone call.
He's sorry.
"Candidly, not too many of the people I encountered at least gave evidence of speaking English. The merchant I bought my rugs from clearly did not speak English," he said.
He's really very very sorry.