Let me guess, he's still a real credit to his people, though, right?

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) apologizes for his attempt to floss his teeth with his shoelaces:

U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Hebron Republican, compared Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman."

He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

"That boy."

Nice.

Leaving aside the hundred-plus years of ugliness you summon up by referring to a black man as "boy," the stupidity of Davis' spontaneous remarks is only eclipsed by that of his carefully planned ones. According to the copy of letter his office provided to The Politico, in his apology, Davis told Obama:

"My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity. My comment...in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you."

Because likening someone to a snake-oil salesmen is meant to highlight his integrity, right, Congressman? Seems to me, regardless of whatever else he said, Davis' opinion on that score is quite apparent. Further, as he specifically referenced the "boy" comment in his letter, this was clearly not intended as an apology for the entirety of his statements. The crux of an apology is a recognition of responsibility and Davis can't even bring himself to address what was actually offensive about what he said. The fact that he's going to such rhetorical pains to keep his words' baggage at arms length shows he knows exactly what they evoked, which underlines the weakness of his mea culpa all the more.