With apology and barbs, Severin returns to the air

"Most especially to the members of the Mexican community and Mexican-American community, I regret my remarks and apologize for them," he said, reading from a statement in a mea culpa that ran two minutes and 30 seconds, at the start of the four-hour broadcast.

But it didn't take long for Severin to return to familiar subjects - abortion, the Supreme Court, Muslims - and switch from contrition to more churlish language.

He danced around at his microphone, cocked his head, and repeatedly compared himself to Lazarus, the biblical figure who is raised from the dead. He discussed his "love" for former vice president Dick Cheney and the possibility of impeaching President Obama, and questioned the qualifications of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

"It's over; the war is over," he declared not long after delivering his apology. "Does it sound like I'm happy to be back? To all who supported me . . . I will never forget you."

Then he added and repeated throughout the show: "For my critics, I want to say, in the ecumenical spirit of moving forward, I know where you live."

When a caller compared his return to the story of Rip Van Winkle - who slept for 20 years - Severin disagreed. "There's no crucifixion in that story. I like to think of myself more as a burn victim."

He later played sounds from a war zone and compared the explosions and gunfire to his past month.

"This is actual sound of me in the media over the last few days," he said. "My Kevlar worked! The truth is my Kevlar."

WTKK suspended Severin on April 30, after he described Mexicans as "leeches," "the world's lowest of primitives," and called Mexico's leading exports "women with mustaches and VD," among other incendiary comments.

Severin's remarks - made after swine flu broke out in the country south of the border - prompted complaints to the station from those who considered his comments hateful and threatening.

Some of those who took offense to Severin's words welcomed his apology but questioned its genuineness.

"His initial statements were very offensive, and we hope this doesn't happen again," said Eva A. Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrants and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "We appreciate the apology, but we hope it was honest and sincere. We'll see how things go from here."

Many of Severin's fans were ecstatic to have him back. Some called the program and compared him to their "sensei," or teacher. Others called him their daily medicine and said they were lost without his voice on their commute home.

Jim Rizoli, director of the Concerned Citizens and Friends of Illegal Immigration Law Enforcement in Framingham, said he understood Severin's apology.

"I'm very happy that he's back," Rizoli said. "I just feel he had to acquiesce to the powers that be. I think he had to give in to get his job back. I think he probably went over the line, but I think he's right in what he said."

When one caller asked Severin whether his comments were mischaracterized in the media and whether he was referring to Mexicans or illegal immigrants, he declined to respond.

"As much as I would like to talk about it, it's a challenge to apologize in a way that's empathetic and clear to everyone," he said. "I must say to you, going forward from here, my apology speaks for itself."

When another caller said he appreciated the views that got Severin suspended, the host compared himself with the star in the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

"I'm not Jack Nicholson after the lobotomy," he said.

During his initial apology, which he opened with at 3 p.m., Severin said his comments didn't meet the station's standards of "responsible, civil, thoughtful, and respectful" commentary.

"In making certain remarks, I failed this standard, and thus failed my colleagues, and you," he told his audience.

Officials at the station declined to comment. They had invited the media to the studio to record Severin's return, but when a reporter tried to ask Severin a question, station officials ushered the reporter out and said questions were not allowed.

Severin acknowledged that even for listeners not offended by his remarks, he "let you down by appealing to something less than the best and brightest in you, and for this I am also sorry."

His apology concluded with a "personal pledge that I will do my best to make ours the best show on radio. And, as ever, thank you for this job."

David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.