A Maryland Democrat nominee for governor has apologized for his “inappropriate language” in responding to a reporter’s question by dropping an f-bomb.
Ben Jealous snapped at Washington Post reporter Erin Cox after she asked him if he was a socialist Wednesday during a press conference.
“Not to put too fine a point on it, do you identify with the term socialist?” Cox asked after Jealous had just dismissed the label.
“Are you f—ing kidding me?” the former leader of the NAACP replied. “Is that a finer point?”
“Thank you, sir,” was the reporter’s response.
I asked @BenJealous what he thought about Md Gov @LarryHogan calling him a socialist and whether he identified with that term.
“Are you f—ing kidding me? Does that put too fine a point on it?”
— Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) August 8, 2018
Jealous, who has been endorsed by Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, is challenging Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Portrayed as a far-left candidate by Republicans and his opponent, Jealous laughed at and dismissed the claims before his outburst.
“Him calling me a far-left socialist, that’s what the Tea Party called President Obama, it’s what Barry Goldwater called Martin Luther King,” Jealous said. “And when you see conservatives like Hogan name-calling, you realize that they’re scared.”
Jealous explained that he is a “venture capitalist,” and “what I do is invest in growing businesses,” as he went on to criticize Hogan’s record.
He appeared to be irritated with Cox’s repeated question about socialism when he dropped the f-bomb.
Take a look at how Del. Ebersole reacted when Ben Jealous dropped the f-bomb. pic.twitter.com/t2FnTVqqZC
— Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) August 8, 2018
Hogan’s campaign took the opportunity to call him out.
“The governor believes in raising the level of political discourse in our state and in our country, and cursing at reporters asking questions is the exact opposite of that,” Doug Mayer, Hogan’s deputy campaign manager, said, according to Fox News. “We need more people in public office who understand that words and tone matter, not fewer — we already have plenty who don’t in Washington, D.C.”
My mentions right now are crazy. For the record, I did not think @BenJealous was cursing at me; it was clearly his answer to the question about whether he identified as a socialist.
— Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) August 8, 2018
Jon Thompson, communications director for the Republican Governors Association, posted a video of the incident, calling it “unhinged.”
Unhinged: Maryland Dem gov nominee @BenJealous swears at a Washington Post reporter asking a question at a press conference: “Are you fucking kidding me?” https://t.co/vaLuNU6KQZ
— Jon Thompson (@JonThompsonGOP) August 8, 2018
Jealous later tweeted his apology to the Washington Post reporter, noting that he is a “former journalist” and explaining again that he is a venture capitalist.
I want to apologize to @ErinatThePost for my inappropriate language in response to her question earlier today.
As a former journalist, I know how important it is for a free society to respect reporters and answer their questions honestly.
— Ben Jealous for Governor (MD) (@BenJealous) August 8, 2018
I spent the last five years of my life working as a venture capitalist investing in small businesses and creating jobs in Maryland and across the country.
I believe we can make this economy work for all of us. That’s what this campaign is all about.
— Ben Jealous for Governor (MD) (@BenJealous) August 8, 2018
He appeared to finally answer the question more directly in another tweet.
Let me answer @ErinatThePost’s question once and for all.
I’m a venture capitalist, not a socialist. I have never referred to myself as a socialist nor would I govern as one.
— Ben Jealous for Governor (MD) (@BenJealous) August 8, 2018
Political analysts noted that the candidate should have clearly answered the initial question and that in today’s sound-bite driven media, the profanity would drown out the message Jealous was trying to convey.
“It just makes people ask, well, what is he?” Todd Eberly, a political scientist at St. Mary’s College, said, according to The Washington Post. “And why doesn’t he just answer the question?”
“In a click-driven media narrative, the only thing that gets covered is the curse word,” political scientist Mileah Kromer of Goucher College said.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- ‘Are we next?!’ Kilmeade breaks down shady FBI actions, concludes Trump justified in his outrage - August 30, 2022
- Grandfather throws down with aggressive kangaroo that attacked his dogs, but who really won? - June 4, 2022
- ‘My name is Dr. Robinson’: Proud abortionist snaps at Chip Roy calling her ‘Miss’ during hearing - May 19, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.