Oh, great. Mel Lastman has made an international public ass of himself again. Maybe he should apologize… just like he did last time:

(An excerpt from Harper’s Magazine, September 2001. Readings. pp. 29-30)

[Regrets]
EXTENDING AN APOLOGY

From a June 21 press conference held by Mel Lastman, the mayor of Toronto. Two weeks earlier, before visiting Mombasa, Kenya, to promote Toronto’s bid to host the 2008 Olympics, Lastman told a reporter that he was “scared” to visit Mombasa because “I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me.”

Q: Mayor, do you think your comments hurt Toronto’s Olympic bid?

MEL LASTMAN: I am truly sorry, and I’m going to say it again: I’m sorry that my comments were inappropriate. And I want to apologize to everyone for my remarks, particularly anyone who was offended by them.

Q. Is sorry enough? Should you resign at this point?

LASTMAN: I’m sorry I made the remarks.

Q. But is sorry enough?

LASTMAN: I’m sorry I made the remarks.

Q: What damage do you think you did to the Olympic bid?

LASTMAN: I’m sorry I made the remarks. My comments were inappropriate.

Q. That’s not what I asked.

LASTMAN: That’s my answer.

Q. How much damage have you done to a multicultural city as the mayor?

LASTMAN: I am truly sorry.

Q. Are you considering resigning as a result of making those remarks?

LASTMAN: I am truly sorry I made those remarks.

Q. Are you considering resigning?

LASTMAN: I am truly sorry.

Q. What else can you add in terms of damage control? Bob Richardson [of the Toronto bid committee] said they are getting calls from around the world. What are you guys doing for damage control?

LASTMAN: I’m truly sorry I made the remarks. My comments were inappropriate.

Q. Are you going to continue to go to Europe and lobby for the bid and stuff as planned?

LASTMAN: I am very sorry I made the remarks.

Q. Are you very sorry about the remarks you made?

JIM WARREN [Lastman’s Press spokesman]: It’s not funny.