Burns jokes about Italian-Americans at FAA
2006-09-29
Source: The Montana Standard
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rss feedRepublican Sen. Conrad Burns, who has gotten into hot water before for comments seen as disparaging various groups, joshingly remarked Thursday on the number of Italian-Americans at the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Montana senator, facing a tough re-election fight against Democrat Jon Tester, was heading an aviation subcommittee hearing of the Commerce Committee when two FAA officials, Michael Cirillo and Nicholas Sabatini, introduced themselves as witnesses.
"I'm wondering if that's all they're hiring," Burns said of the federal agency.
Burns campaign spokesman Jason Klindt said the senator was just kidding around with the two Italian-Americans.
"Lighten up. Robin Williams does an entire standup act on Scotsmen, and Conrad doesn't take offense to that," Klindt said of Burns, who is of Scottish-American descent. "Political correctness has run amok. I mean everyone just needs to lighten up."
Burns, 71, has made several gaffes during his campaign.
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