Congressman apologizes for criticizing Michelle Obama’s ‘lar

[Exile]

By Holly Bailey | The Ticket – 3 hrs ago

(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A Republican congressman from Wisconsin has offered a personal apology to First Lady Michelle Obama after he was overheard at an airport lounge criticizing her "large posterior."
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner was overheard loudly complaining on the phone in the Delta Lounge at Reagan National Airport outside Washington about Obama's healthy food initiative.
According to Fishbowl DC, which first reported the lawmaker's remarks, Sensenbrenner was recounting a recent conversation he'd had at church event in Wisconsin.
Obama, Sensenbrenner said loudly, "lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself."
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Daniel Bice, Sensenbrenner made a similar remark at the Wisconsin church he was referencing in his phone call, telling attendees there that Obama has a "big butt."
The Wisconsin lawmaker—who, it must noted, is a bit rotund--sent a personal note to Obama apologizing for his remarks, his spokeswoman Amanda Infield tells Yahoo News. She declined to go into detail about what the note said.
In a statement to reporters, the lawmaker reiterated his apology. "I regret my inappropriate comment, and I have sent a personal note to the First Lady apologizing," he said.
A spokesman for Obama did not respond to a request for comment.
It's not the first time Republicans have mentioned Obama's looks in criticizing her campaign to end childhood obesity. Earlier this year, Rush Limbaugh trashed the initiative, suggesting Obama doesn't physically appear to practice what she preaches.

[Exile]

Sensenbrenner apologizes to first lady over 'big butt' remark
e-mail print By Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel
Updated: 11:30 a.m.

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) has written a formal apology to first lady Michelle Obama for disparaging her appearance during a recent chat at a Hartford church.

“I regret my inappropriate comment and I have sent a personal note to the First Lady apologizing," Sensenbrenner said in a statement today. His office declined to release the letter.

The veteran congressman made reference to Michelle Obama's "big butt" while talking to a group of church members at a Christmas bazaar at St. Aidan's Episcopalian Church in Hartford earlier this month. He was suggesting it was hypocritical for her to launch a national campaign to combat obesity.

Perhaps Sensenbrenner - who was accompanied by an aide - assumed it was safe to make wisecracks about the first lady's posterior in such Republican territory.

But, as the old saying goes, this is what happens when you assume.

Ann Marsh-Meigs, a church member who heard Sensenbrenner's remarks, said he took several swipes at the first lady on Dec. 10. In one, Marsh-Meigs said, the congressman claimed Michelle Obama left a recent charitable event when the media did, though Sensenbrenner's handicapped wife continued to work.

"He then talked about how different first ladies have had different projects - Laura Bush and literacy - and he named two or three others," Marsh-Meigs said in an interview last week. "And then he said, 'And Michelle Obama, her project is obesity. And look at her big butt.'

"That's basically what he said," she continued. "It was a combination of her work on obesity and her shape."

The remark stunned the five congregants, according to Marsh-Meigs, who was the only woman at the table where the conversation occurred. She said she believes Sensenbrenner might have thought she wasn't paying attention because she was busy knitting.

"I was sitting next to him, and I felt he should be called on it,'" said the 72-year-old retiree. "I just said, 'I just happen to think Michelle Obama is a beautiful and elegant lady, and I think she dresses beautifully.' And then he said, 'Oh, well, I think she's elegant, too.' He just started back-pedaling.'

And he is now back-pedaling even more.

On Wednesday, No Quarter contacted Sensenbrenner's office to get his version of what was said at the church function.

Shortly thereafter, the longtime Menomonee Falls representative was overheard on a cell phone at Reagan National Airport discussing a recent incident at an Episcopalian "church auction," according to Media Bistro. Its story said:

"Our source, a Democratic operative who heard the whole thing, said he was 'very loud.' Sensenbrenner was overheard saying that after buying all their 'crap' (his word) a woman approached him and praised first lady Michelle Obama. He told the woman that Michelle should practice what she preaches — 'she lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself.'

"The operative said it sounded like he was on the phone with a staffer who was telling him that someone in the media would likely write about his comments (concerning something) to which he said it was heresy (sic) and just liberal media bias to print gossip. But 'he stands by his remarks.'

This account - which differs somewhat from the one given by the eyewitness - is now circulating online in media circles and lefty blogs.

Amanda Infield, spokeswoman for Sensenbrenner, said today that she didn't know who her boss was talking to while at the airport or the nature of the conversation.

"Mr. Sensenbrenner was referring to the first lady's healthy food initiative," Infield said in a statement. "He doesn't think the government should be telling Americans what to eat. While he may not agree with all of her initiatives, he plans to contact the first lady's office to apologize for his comments."

Some at St. Aidan's aren't pleased with the apology.

"It's weak," said Micki Hoffmann, a 65-year-old retired teacher.

Hoffmann said she had no problem with Sensenbrenner disagreeing with the first lady on policy issues. That, Hoffmann said, is all well and fine.

"What made us angry were his remarks about her body image - not her policies or positions - but her person," the Hartford resident said.

Hoffmann said she is asking for an apology from Sensenbrenner to the members at St. Aidan's.

But it appears she may be left waiting. Asked if Sensenbrenner would be expanding his apology to include the church, Infield again pointed to the public statement in which he apologized to the first lady.