State Sen. Hendren apologizes for remark on Schumer's faith

— Announced U.S. Senate candidate Kim Hendren on Thursday apologized for referring to the faith of Democratic U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York to a group of fellow Republicans in Arkansas last week.

A Republican state senator from Gravette, Hendren said he told the Pulaski County Republican Committee that he disagreed with remarks that Schumer recently made about traditional values and foreign policy. He said he couldn't remember Schumer's name and referred to him as being a Jew or Jewish.

Hendren, the state Senate Republican leader, said he doesn't believe that he referred to Schumer as "that Jew," although conservative blogger Jason Tolbert reported that Hendren apologized for using that term. Tolbert, of Benton, was a volunteer for ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential race.

"It was a distraction, and it has offended folks, and I apologize," Hendren said. "All I can say is I am sorry. I went out and put my foot in my mouth over that."

So far, Hendren is the only person who has announced to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Little Rock in next year's election.

Lincoln's campaign manager, Steve Patterson, said, "Sadly, these remarks speak for themselves. Sen. Lincoln hopes the campaign can be about ways to help Arkansas working families get ahead, not about the offensive comments of candidates."

Other possible Republican candidates include former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin of Little Rock and state Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway.

Griffin called Hendren's comment "totally inappropriate. I have numerous political differences with Sen. Schumer, but I respect his faith and his right to worship and believe as he wants."

Hendren's comments "have no place in political discourse," Griffin said.

Baker said Hendren's remark "was obviously an inappropriate comment, but Kim Hendren has a good heart, and I appreciate the fact that he has apologized."

State Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb of Benton said he doesn't comment on statements by candidates, "but Sen. Hendren certainly does not speak on the behalf of the Republican Party of Arkansas."

Mariah Hatta, executive director for the state Democratic Party, declined to comment, saying: "I wouldn't want to take away from Sen. Hendren's national spotlight."

By late Thursday, Hendren expressed frustration over the way some people have interpreted hisremark.

"I have been called a bigot," he said. "It hasn't been a very pleasant day."

Hendren said he isn't anti-Semitic, "never has been," and sometimes agrees with U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who is Jewish.

"This is costly and hurtful on both sides," he said.

A spokesman for Schumer's office said the apology was accepted.

Arkansas, Pages 15 on 05/15/2009

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