Sun Nov 7, 8:21 PM ET
MILWAUKEE - A conservative talk-radio host has formally apologized for using a racial slur on the air, then joking about it for a week.
Mark Belling used the word "wetback," a derogatory term to describe illegal Mexican immigrants, in a discussion on his Oct. 27 show about potential voter fraud in Wisconsin.
"You watch the voter turnout on the near south side (of Milwaukee), heavily Hispanic, and compare it to the voter turnout in any other election, and you're going to see every wetback and every other non-citizen out there voting," he said.
He sarcastically apologized on the air last Monday, then joked about the situation for days and polled listeners about whether he should have apologized.
The comment sparked a protest of 300 people Friday at Milwaukee's WISN studios, which broadcast Belling's daily radio talk show, and caused one advertiser to pull ads from the show.
In his apology released Saturday, Belling said he would "try to grow and be a better person based on the lessons my terrible mistake has taught me."
Belling blamed the error on arrogance.
"It's clearly offensive and shouldn't be used in any context, whatever class of Hispanic immigrant that you're talking about," Belling said.
Belling's show has aired for 15 years and regularly tops the ratings.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=487&e=8&u=/ap/radio_host_apology
===== "I'm not too worried by hegemony / I know the cadre will look after me" - Magazine, "Model Worker," 1978