Moseley-Braun Lashes Out At Columnist, Apologizes
CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun lashed out at
conservative columnist George Will and accused him of racism but
later apologized.
A syndicated column by Will that appeared in newspapers Monday
detailed allegations of corruption in Moseley-Braun's 1992
campaign.
"I think because he couldn't say nigger, he said corrupt,"
Moseley-Braun, who is black, said Monday following a Labor Day
rally with fellow Democrats at Chicago's Navy Pier.
The Democratic senator also made a reference to the Ku Klux Klan
by calling criticism by Will and other conservatives "a substitute
for their hood."
Moseley-Braun apologized later that afternoon, saying she lost
her temper and used language that was inappropriate.
"I was very upset that columnist George Will regurgitated wild
charges without telling the truth," she said.
Will's column rehashed many of the problems that have dogged
Moseley-Braun since she first ran for office in 1992, including
allegations that she and her former campaign manager and ex-fiance,
Kgosie Matthews, spent $281,000 in campaign funds on trips,
clothing, jewelry and other personal items.
The Department of Justice has declined to pursue the allegations
against Moseley-Braun, citing a lack of evidence.
In a statement, Will dismissed the senator's comments as
"cynical name calling."
"Calling her many critics names and smearing them as racist is
the senator's way of trying to change the subject," Will said.
Moseley-Braun is running for re-election against conservative
state Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, an investment banker.
(08 Sep 1998 01:29 EDT)
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