Gen. James Jones Apologizes for Jewish Joke, Not at White House’s Urging

National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones (Ret.) has apologized for a joke that he told in a speech last week. According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, this was not done at the White House’s urging, but in response to “inquiries” to Jones about the remarks.

Gibbs was also asked why the transcript of the event did not include the joke, and he responded pretty much as I predicted he would.

Jones’ apology, issued earlier today: (via Politico)

I wish that I had not made this off the cuff joke at the top of my remarks, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by it. It also distracted from the larger message I carried that day: that the United States commitment to Israel’s security is sacrosanct.

ABC News’ Yunji De Nies asked Gibbs about the apology, and the jokeless transcript, at today’s briefing:

That’s exactly what I expected him to say, and a reasonable enough explanation. It’s still unclear, however, why the transcript wasn’t marked “as prepared for delivery.”

Gibbs was also asked if Jones’ apology came at the urging of the President, or the White House, and he replied that it did not, but rather, as the result of inquiries about the joke:

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