Sen. Hillary Clinton apologizes for Gandhi joke at fund raiser

ST. LOUIS -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was "a lame attempt at humor."

The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Missouri's state treasurer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, "He ran a gas station down in St. Louis."

After laughter from many in the crowd of at least 200 subsided, the former first lady continued, "No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century." In a nod to Farmer's underdog status against Republican Sen. Kit Bond, Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi's teachings on Tuesday called the remarks stereotypical and racially insensitive, while an educator said the flap underscored the need for politicians to be cautious when trying to get laughs.

"Political speeches can't be like episodes of 'The Simpsons,'" said David Robertson, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor.

After being approached by The Associated Press to clarify the remarks, Clinton said in a statement sent late Monday that she never meant to fuel any stereotype -- often used as a comedic punch line -- that certain ethnic groups were synonymous with operating America's gas stations.

On Tuesday, she told reporters in Albuquerque, N.M.: "It was a lame attempt at humor and I am very sorry that it might have been interpreted in a way that causes stress to anyone. I have the highest regard for Mahatma Gandhi and have been a longtime admirer of his life."

The comment was disturbing to Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, the Memphis, Tenn.-based nonprofit founded in 1991 by a Gandhi grandson to promote his grandfather's teachings, including nonviolent resistance.

While crediting Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, as long having "supported the Gandhi message," Naef said Saturday's remarks "could be incredibly harmful" in perpetuating racial myths.

"I don't think she was, in any way, trying to demean Mahatma Gandhi," Naef said. "To be generous to her, I would say it was a poor attempt at humor. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive, but I find it offensive when people use stereotypes in that way."

Farmer spokesman Safir Ahmed said no one should be upset about "just a little flip remark" that preceded Clinton's reciting a Gandhi quote that's Farmer's favorite and is used in her campaign materials.

"As an Indian-American myself, I was not offended by what Sen. Clinton said," Ahmed said. The quote "was clearly something Sen. Clinton loved, and she referred to Mahatma Gandhi as one of the greatest leaders.

"I don't understand why anyone would take any offense or remotely think Senator Clinton harbors anything against Indian-Americans."

Senate Republicans criticized Farmer for not apologizing herself.

"Nancy Farmer should apologize for the remarks that were made at her fund-raiser," said Dan Allen, spokesman for Senate Republicans' campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

To Robertson, the professor, the flap demonstrates the potential peril of when humor by politicians falls flat.

"The more prominent the politician, the more they've taken positions on equality in the past as Mrs. Clinton has, the more this is going to be troubling to some people," he said. "It's understandable that groups want to make sure they're treated with complete respect."