[The Dude]

(CNN) — Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Don Fowler apologized Sunday for recently joking Hurricane Gustav's expected landfall on the same day as the opening of the Republican National Convention suggested God was on the Democrats' side.

A YouTube video of the comments posted by the conservative blog RedState.org and showed Fowler joking with South Carolina Rep. John Spratt about the timing of the hurricane while on a flight from the Democratic National Convention back to South Carolina. The person who filmed the conversation is not identified.

“The hurricane is going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. The timing is, at least it appears now, it will be there Monday. That just demonstrates God is on our side,” Fowler said, while laughing. Fowler also told Spratt that “everything’s cool.”

Speaking to the Associated Press Sunday, Fowler said his comments were intended to make light of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's remark that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 was God's punishment for abortion and homosexuality.

On Sunday, Fowler told The Associated Press that he was making fun of comments made by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said the attacks were God's punishment for abortion, homosexuality and other sins.

"I don't believe in a God that's vengeful," Fowler said. "I believe in a God that's compassionate."

"This is a point of national concern. I think everybody of good will has great empathy and sympathy for people in New Orleans," Fowler also said. "Most religious people are praying for people in New Orleans. There is no political connotation to this whatsoever. This was just poking fun at Jerry Falwell and the nonsensical thing he had said several years ago."

South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson sharply criticized Fowler's comments, saying, “The outrageous behavior of two of the Obama campaign's highest profile supporters in the south is despicable, a cynical polarization of life and death. I call on Barack Obama to immediately denounce Fowler and Spratt and demand sincere apologies from these members of the Democratic leadership.”

[Sly Fox]

Suuuuure ... he was just caught making a joke and he had a 7-year-old comment by Doc in mind. That makes perfect sense.

[PeterParker]

South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson sharply criticized Fowler's comments, saying, “The outrageous behavior of two of the Obama campaign's highest profile supporters in the south is despicable, a cynical polarization of life and death. I call on Barack Obama to immediately denounce Fowler and Spratt and demand sincere apologies from these members of the Democratic leadership.”

This whole calling on people to apologize for rhetoric is getting old. When the left demands apologies for rhetoric, the right bristles. So why is the right now doing the same thing? It's called free speech, and people are free to make an a, er, Balaam's donkey, of themselves if they wish. The guy spoke his mind (tasteless and no tact, sure...but this isn't a phenomenon isolated to the left), so disagree absolutely, even take exception publicly, but get over the asinine sincere apology requests.

This reminds of the playground as a kid when a kid would run to the teacher to tell on another kid who called him a name in order to get the teacher to go over and coerce a contrived apology out of the offending kid (all the while he could care less, he just says what the teacher wants to hear.)

(I think it's just as silly when the left calls the right to apologize for rhetoric...the masses can see the absurdity of someon's comments and don't need a politician to point out to them the lack of tact in a given declaration...)

[SumItUp]

This whole calling on people to apologize for rhetoric is getting old.

[olldflame]

Based on recent developments, it appears God must be a Republican.

Actually, from a political perspective, a major hit on New Orleans with the anticipated improved government response would have worked to the advantage of the GOP.

[thepostman]

nope...George Bush hates black people...as so do republicans...come on guy!!!