Hillary's 'joke' about Mahatma Gandhi isn't a real gas
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 06, 2004

ST. LOUIS Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton apologized for joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St. Louis, saying it was a lame attempt at humor.

The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund-raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, He ran a gas station down in St. Louis.

After laughter from many in the crowd of at least 200 subsided, the former first lady continued, No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century. In a nod to Farmer s underdog status against Republican Sen. Kit Bond, Clinton quoted the Indian independence leader as saying: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi s teachings said the remarks amounted to stereotyping and were insensitive.

After being approached by The Associated Press to clarify the remarks, Clinton suggested in a statement late Monday that she never meant to fuel the stereotype often used as a comedic punch line that certain ethnic groups run America s gas stations.

I have admired the work and life of Mahatma Gandhi and have spoken publicly about that many times, Clinton said. I truly regret if a lame attempt at humor suggested otherwise.

Michelle Naef, administrator of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, a Memphis, Tenn.-based organization founded in 1991 by a Gandhi grandson, credited Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, with long having supported the Gandhi message. But she said Saturday s remarks could be incredibly harmful.

I don t think she was, in any way, trying to demean Mahatma Gandhi, Naef said. To be generous to her, I would say it was a poor attempt at humor. Perhaps I m overly sensitive, but I find it offensive when people use stereotypes in that way.