Internet Scam: Senator Cruz apologizes for disparaging comments
Senator, Ted Cruz of the United State has finally tendered his apologies over his disparaging comments on Monday, October 21 in which he referred to Nigerians as scammers.
According to local American media, Cruz, while taking a political swipe at the computer problems of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S, made the comments.
“You may have noticed that all the Nigerian email scammers have become a lot less active lately. They all have been hired to run the Obamacare website,” Cruz was quoted as saying on Monday in Houston.
Following his apologies Cruz has called for a peace meeting with Nigerian-Americans who have demanded a retract of the derogatory remarks.
Nigerians home and abroad have strongly condemned the statement, while the Federal Government through the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof Ade Adefuye, demanded an apology from Mr. Cruz.
Senator Cruz sent a letter to leaders of the Nigerian community in Houston, Texas, where the comments were made, said Cruz “regrets any misunderstanding.”
The letter signed by Mr. David Sawyer, the South-East Texas Regional Director in the Senator’s office.
The letter of apology reads in parts: “Earlier this week, Sen. Ted Cruz made a joke in which he used the term ‘Nigerian email scam.
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“Senator Cruz regrets that it is unfortunate that we’re living in a time where just about every joke can be misconstrued to cause offense to someone.”
“Cruz has never, nor would ever use a blanket term in a derogatory fashion against such a vibrant and integral part of our community. This usage was never directed to the Nigerian community as a whole.
“To the good people of Nigeria – a beautiful nation where my wife lived briefly as the child of missionaries – no offense was intended.
“I am fully appreciative of the range of mutual economic and security interests that make Nigeria an important friend to the United States.”
The Senator has been in the storm lately. He was recently forced to apologized to Filipino veterans for referencing the Bataan Death March during his marathon protest of President Obama’s health care law.
“I apologize for causing offense. I should not have said what I did,” the Texas Republican said during a meeting with Filipino veterans of World War II.
Cruz mentioned the Bataan Death March near the end of his 21-hour, filibuster-style protest last week as he thanked Senate aides, Capitol police officers and other staff who were at work as he controlled the Senate floor from Sept. 24 into Sept. 25.
Specifically, Cruz said that he wanted “to thank the men and men who have endured this, this Bataan Death March.”
After the Battle of Bataan in World War II, Japanese forces killed more than 10,000 Filipino and American soldiers during the forced 65-mile march to a prison camp. Tens of thousands of other Filipino and American soldiers who survived the march were held as POWs, and many died because of lack of food, poor conditions and abuse by their captors.
“I was trying to say they (staff) endured a long period of suffering not of their choosing, but I understand that that comment caused offense and I apologize. That was not my intention to do so,” Cruz said after explaining the context of his remarks.
