Rashida Tlaib apologizes for ‘distraction’ of calling Trump a ‘motherf–ker’ – By Naomi Lim (washingtonexaminer.com) / Jan 8 2019
The freshman House Democrat who called President Trump “a motherfucker” said Tuesday the only regret she has is causing a distraction from her party’s message to end the partial government shutdown.
“The use of that language was a teachable moment for me,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., told reporters at a Michigan Veterans Foundation event, according to the Detroit News.
“I understand I am a member of Congress, and I don’t want anything that I do or say to distract us. That is the only thing I apologize for, is that it was a distraction,” she said at the gathering held to hear from her constituents about the effect the shutdown has had on their lives. “We have a course that we have to stick to, and nothing I should say should distract us from that. The shutdown has to be at the forefront. That’s what I am here for. I’m here to shift it.”
Tlaib, a 42-year-old former state lawmaker, received a mixed response for last week encouraging her congressional colleagues to “impeach the motherfucker.” She made the comment at an event hosted by left-wing organization MoveOn.
But the Democratic Socialist said on Tuesday she reserved the right to be “passionate,” NBC News reported.
“I am a woman of color, and I know my residents are nodding because they believe me,” Tlaib told reporters. “And they have my back on this. But people like us never run for office and, when we do, this is who we are.”
