Cafferty/China Uproar Lasting as Long as the Great Wall

Jack Cafferty ruffled some feathers (or Files) during The Situation Room last week when he said, in a discussion of China, “I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”

The comment caused an uproar with some Chinese groups. The New York Times today quotes Jiang Yu, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, who says, “We are shocked at, and strongly condemn, the vicious remarks. We solemnly demand that CNN and Cafferty retract his vicious remarks and apologize to the whole Chinese people.”

CNN did issue an apology in a release yesterday: “CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty’s, nor CNN’s, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and [CNN] would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way.”

Cafferty also clarified his remarks on Monday during The Situation Room, saying he was referring to the Chinese government and not the Chinese people. CNN.com wrote, “It was unclear whether China’s Foreign Ministry was aware of the clarification when it held the Tuesday news conference.”

So…are we ready to toss some discuses?

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