In my post this morning RNC “self-deporting” enthusiasm out of the Republican base I noted that Reince Preibus was quoted by Business Insider as follows:
“Using the word ‘self-deportation’ — it’s a horrific comment to make,” Priebus said, in a forceful rebuke. “I don’t think it has anything to do with our party. When someone makes those comments, obviously, it’s racist.”
I was wondering how the RNC Chair could make such a comment since the policy was in the GOP 2012 Platform and the term used by Mitt Romney.
So I contacted the RNC press office before turning my post live, and the press office confirmed by email that the quote was “accurate.” (added) Here was my email to the RNC’s press contact at 8:55 a.m.:
Can you confirm that the following quote attributed to Reince Preibus in Business Insider is accurate:
“Using the word ‘self-deportation’ — it’s a horrific comment to make,” Priebus said, in a forceful rebuke. “I don’t think it has anything to do with our party. When someone makes those comments, obviously, it’s racist.”
If so, was there any context in which it was said which would change the apparent assertion that the term “self-deportation” is “racist”?
Please respond as soon as possible as I am writing about this.
After no response for a couple of hours, I wrote again and got this response at 11:03:
Hi William – that’s accurate.
So I ran the story, noting that all the major left-wing websites were having a field day with the quote.
Turns out both Business Insider and the RNC press office were wrong, as Business Insider now indicates in an “update”:
Correction, 12:26 p.m. ET: An original version of this story said that Reince Priebus referred to Mitt Romney’s comments as “racist.” He said it “hurts us.” Business Insider regrets the error.
The quote still isn’t great, but not nearly as damaging.
I expect to have the audio shortly.
Business Insider has a lot of explaining to do. So does the RNC press office.
Update: The RNC provides this audio, which confirms Preibus said “hurts us” not “racist”:
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