Fox feels "regret"

A follow-up to the Fox poll.

Mexican President Vicente Fox called two American civil rights leaders late Monday and told them he regretted any offense to African-Americans when he said Mexican immigrants in the United States take jobs "that not even blacks want to do."

Fox spoke separately by phone with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, according to a statement from the Mexican Foreign Ministry.

The statement said Fox invited them to Mexico to "join forces" on working for immigration rights and civil rights for immigrants in the United States.

Fox told the men that he "regretted if he offended the African-American community" and said he has "great respect for the African-American community," according to the statement. Rest of story

It really irks me that people of power are so cavalier with their words. THEY influence people en masse, they need to be very careful with their words. They're not kicking back with their beer buddies shooting the shit about their day, they are influencing the present and future climate of our world. (W, are you listening?)

Update: CNN has posted a follow-up article titled "Fox: Comment about blacks misinterpreted : Mexican president won't apologize, aide says"

President Vicente Fox's office on Tuesday insisted his comment that Mexicans work jobs blacks don't want in the United States was misinterpreted, a day after he told leaders in the U.S. black community that he regretted "any hurt feelings." Rest of story

Sir, I find your behavior in this matter reprehensible. Read between your lines, what you're really saying is: "I regret that anyone caught on to my Racist remarks." Grr.