...is a Sacrement in the Ritual of Public Humiliation performed before on the altar of the Church of Washington over and over. First, the Gaffe. It takes many forms. It could come in a hearing, statement, news conference, speech, or any off the cuff remark in the age of YouTube.
Next, the Outrage: Druge, newspaper websites, blogs, cable news, network news, local news, next day headline, editorial, "expert," and if it's really bad, Nancy Grace.
Then, finally, the Apology. The Politico's Ben Smith notices a curious pattern that has developed over the past year:
In the course of the primary campaign, and perhaps in a preview of the fall election drama, Senator Barack Obama has accepted the apologies of three United States senators, a former senator, CNN and various lower-level supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton.
Isn't it great? And it's not even the general election campaign yet. Here's a preview:
On Tuesday, a talk radio host, Bill Cunningham, introduced McCain to an Ohio crowd by attacking Obama, and dwelling on his little-used middle name, Hussein.
McCain swiftly responded. "I regret any comments that may be made about" Clinton and Obama, he said. "I will take responsibility in any offense that was inflicted."
The next day, there was a different culprit, but the same offense: the Tennessee Republican Party sent out a press release dwelling on Obama's middle name.
And again the spotlight turned to McCain, who was asked about it at a San Antonio press conference.
"All I can say is that I have made my position very clear and I have made it time after time and I made it yesterday," he said.
I can't wait to see who becomes the next acolyte.
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