Republicans Still Having Problems With Apologies

by Stuart Shapiro

In fairness, they are getting better at the apology business.  At least they are no longer demanding apologies from folks that they have wronged.  Now, however, they are apologizing to each other on behalf of those who disagree with them.  Lindsey Graham to Jon Kyl (h/t Washington Post):

“I stand here very disappointed in the fact that our lead negotiator on the Republican side… basically is going to have his work product ignored and the treaty jammed through in the lame duck. How as Republicans we justify that I do not know,” Graham said. “To Senator Kyl, I want to apologize to you for the way you’ve been treated by your colleagues.”

Now I don’t expect them to apologize for obstructing a treaty many of them have no real reason for opposing (other than the fact that it was negotiated by President Obama).  But could they just get the idea in their heads that you apologize for something you did, not something that was done to you?

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.