Audrey Gibson Couldn't Just Admit She Was Wrong and Apologize?

Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson’s "press conference" Wednesday was a disingenuous attempt to deflect from two days of remarkable rhetoric that was both inappropriate and insensitive.  

Two days ago Leader Gibson said fighting anti-Semitism was "divisive."  Yesterday she described fighting anti-Semitism as the "wrong battle" and anti-Semites as the "wrong enemy." And Wednesday, rather than simply apologizing and admitting she was wrong, she blamed those who have called out her refusal to acknowledge anti-Semitism as a serious issue.  (Editor's note: See the whole of press conference on The Florida Channel here.)

She claimed she didn’t understand the bill but did not accept responsibility for her own supposed failure to do due diligence in advance. She blamed me for how she has been characterized -- despite my explicitly not calling either her or her remarks anti-Semitic. She falsely claimed a Jewish organization “apologized” to her for not adequately explaining why fighting anti-Semitism is important.

No one should need that explanation. And the only person who owes an apology is Audrey Gibson. However, rather than simply apologizing, she tripled down on this divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. If she really wished to apologize for stating that fighting anti-Semitism was the ‘wrong battle’ and that anti-Semites are not the "enemy," she would not blame others for her own prejudice. Her words were obviously disingenuous, without substance, and simply political talking points carefully crafted for an attempted political outcome.

It is my continuing hope that the other 13 Democratic members of the Senate who did not stand behind her for that press conference, including all of the Jewish members, hold her accountable. All I know is this: I’m awfully glad she’s not my leader.