Massachusetts governor apologizes for calling Big Dig 'tar baby'

BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney has apologized for referring to the Big Dig mess as a "tar baby" during a fundraiser with Iowa Republicans, saying he didn't know anyone would be offended by the term some consider a racial epithet.

Romney, who is considering a presidential run in 2008, acknowledged in a speech Saturday that he took a big political risk taking control of the state's troubled highway project after a fatal tunnel ceiling collapse, but said inaction would have been even worse.

"The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that tar baby as I can," he told a crowd of about 100 supporters in Ames, Iowa.

"I'll get the blame for anything that goes wrong," he said. "But I'm sure tired of people who are nothing but talk. I'm willing to take action."

Black leaders reacted with outrage at his use of the term, which dates to the 19th century Uncle Remus stories, referring to a doll made of tar that traps Br'er Rabbit. It has come to be known as a way of describing a sticky mess, and has been used as a derogatory term for a black person.

"Tar baby is a totally inappropriate phrase in the 21st century," said Larry Jones, a black Republican and civil rights activist.

"He thinks he's presidential timber," Jones said. "But all he's shown us is arrogance."

"He obviously has lived a sheltered life," said Leonard Atkins, president of the Boston NAACP. "He's completely disconnected with reality in terms of racial sensitivity. He just does not get it."

Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said the governor was describing "a sticky situation."

"He was unaware that some people find the term objectionable and he's sorry if anyone's offended," Fehrnstrom said.

At the same time, Fehrnstrom produced copies of editorials and columns from Boston newspapers -- both of which wrote about Romney's language choice on Monday -- in which they had used the term "tar baby" themselves. Some of the examples dated back to 1994, but one, a Herald editorial from 2004, focused on the Big Dig and asked, "What lawmaker wouldn't want to pass this tar baby to the guy who may be running for re-election in 2006?"

Fehrnstrom added: "It just goes to show you that not everyone is aware the term is considered offensive to some people."

White House spokesman Tony Snow sparked similar criticism in May when he used the term in response to a question about government surveillance.