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Congressman Sorry for Saying "Pansy"


JEFF FLAKE X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

U.S. congressman Jeff Flake, who said that his motivation for vacationing alone in the Marshall Islands was to feel less like a "pansy," has apologized for his choice of language.

Flake, an Arizona Republican, talked with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday about why he decided to spend a week by himself in deserted conditions.

"I did it mostly for physical exertion," Flake told Blitzer. "I love Teddy Roosevelt's speech he gave on the strenuous life." Flake said that ever since he left his childhood ranch, "I've felt like a pansy, I guess, and this made it feel like I was actually doing something again."

Flake’s spokesman, Matt Specht, e-mailed Ben Smith at Politico.com to clarify the statement.

"Congressman Flake didn’t realize that that word can have a negative connotation,” Specht wrote to Smith. “He simply meant 'wimpy.' He apologizes if anyone took offense to it."


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Reader Comments
  • Name: Bob
    Date posted: 10/16/2009 7:16:56 AM
    Hometown: Delray Beach, Fl

    Comment:

    When I first saw Flakes picture under the headline, I assumed he was a big old homo who used the term "pansy", then regretted using it because he felt he insulted his fellow gay bretheren. What a shock after reading the story to see he is "straight"!! You could have knocked all 195 pounds of me over with a feather! Straight-----PLEEEEEEEZE! Maybe to the first man who comes along! What "straight" man gets his hair highlighted like that? He is a big "pansy" if there ever was one!

  • Name: Bob
    Date posted: 10/16/2009 7:16:25 AM
    Hometown: Delray Beach, Fl

    Comment:

    When I first saw Flakes picture under the headline, I assumed he was a big old homo who used the term "pansy", then regretted using it because he felt he insulted his fellow gay bretheren. What a shock after reading the story to see he is "straight"!! You could have knocked all 195 pounds of me over with a feather! Straight-----PLEEEEEEEZE! Maybe to the first man who comes along! What "straight" man gets his hair highlighted like that? He is a big "pansy" if there ever was one!

  • Name: Bob
    Date posted: 10/16/2009 7:15:46 AM
    Hometown: Delray Beach, Fl

    Comment:

    When I first saw Flakes picture under the headline, I assumed he was a big old homo who used the term "pansy", then regretted using it because he felt he insulted his fellow gay bretheren. What a shock after reading the story to see he is "straight"!! You could have knocked all 195 pounds of me over with a feather! Straight-----PLEEEEEEEZE! Maybe to the first man who comes along! What "straight" man gets his hair highlighted like that? He is a big "pansy" if there ever was one!

  • Name: Pete Hanson
    Date posted: 10/16/2009 12:10:35 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    As a wimp (and a pansy) through and through, I'm offended by the congressman feeling both like a pansy and wimpy.

  • Name: Jeff Eastwood
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 6:30:36 PM
    Hometown: NEW ORLEANS

    Comment:

    If you're offended by someone who uses the word pansy to mean weak or wimpy then guess what? You ARE a pansy!

  • Name: Time
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 4:06:01 PM
    Hometown: Baltimore

    Comment:

    They guy's a flake and dumbaz.

  • Name: Takes One To Know One
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 2:24:42 PM
    Hometown: Boston

    Comment:

    Kettle, meet Black.

  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 2:21:19 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    And just to show he's not a pansy, he didn't wear his Number 30 sunblock. But the hair...oh honey! Those Marshall Islands can bleach you out like no one's business and make you look like a big ol' pansy...I mean "wimpy." Sorry, sweetie.

  • Name: dieter
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 2:16:11 PM
    Hometown: sacramento

    Comment:

    Mr. FLake could not be any more gay himself if he tried!

  • Name: James Duffy
    Date posted: 10/15/2009 1:54:39 PM
    Hometown: Rockville, MD

    Comment:

    While I do strongly believe in holding public figures accountable for bigoted remarks ... I think we may be overreacting here. Given the exact comment and context, I just don't think the guy was making an anti-Gay slur. True, the word "pansy" has been used as a derogatory term for a Gay man ... but it also can be synonymous with "weakling," and my gut feeling is that it's that latter definition in which the word was used. Any thoughts?



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