What’s Up With Republicans And Apologies?

by Stuart Shapiro

There has been a recent trend of conservatives asking for apologies for their own misdeeds (h/t Steve Benen).  Witness.

Alan wrote about the Rand Paul staffer asking for an apology from the person whose face he stepped on.

Ginny Thomas recently asked Anita Hill to apologize for being harassed by her husband, Clarence.

And yesterday Yashwanth noted Ken Buck’s willingness to blame the victim in a rape case.

With that in mind, I am asking for (no wait, demanding!) apologies from the following parties:

• 1.  The lamppost I hit with my car in 1998.  (Really, you were just standing there, you should have moved)

• 2.  The student whose recommendation letter I forgot to write several years ago.  (You’ve caused me a lot of guilt).

• 3.  My friends who are  fans of the Cleveland Indians (can you stop complaining about no World Series since 1948, my Yankees haven’t won since 2009!)

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.