Rahm apologizes for dad

Rahm Emanuel has apologized for something his father said.

President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff called the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee on Thursday to say he was sorry for his father Benjamin Emanuel’s comments last week to the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv. The elder Emanuel had said, "Obviously he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House."

According to a statement released by the ADC, Emanuel said, "From the fullness of my heart, I personally apologize on behalf of my family and me. These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family."

ADC president Mary Rose Oakar welcomed the apology. Earlier in the week the group had called on Emanuel to repudiate the remarks. Here’s the ADC’s full statement:

Emanuel Calls ADC to Repudiate Negative Comments About Arabs


Washington, DC | November 13, 2008 | www.adc.org | Today, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, recently appointed White House Chief of Staff to President-Elect Barack Obama, called American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) President Mary Rose Oakar to repudiate negative comments about Arabs made by his father Benjamin Emanuel .

In the phone call, Congressman Emanuel said, “From the fullness of my heart, I personally apologize on behalf of my family and me. These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family.” During the phone call, Emanuel added, it is unacceptable to make remarks such as these against any ethnic or religious group.

ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “We cannot allow Arabs and Muslims to be portrayed in these unacceptable terms. I welcome Rahm’s apology and his pledge to meet with our Community. I also thank our members and friends who responded who expressed concern about this matter. ”