America's Dumbest Democrat? Fred Hobbs Is Definitely A Candidate For The Title

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Fred Hobbs probably should begin thinking about abandoning his political career. And maybe the Ohio Democratic Party should start the movement to have him sacked. Hobbs is a member of Tennessee's Democratic Executive Committee, and he said last week that Barack Obama "may be terrorist connected for all I can tell."

From Andy Sher at Chattanooga's Times-Free Press the world is learning that Hobbs is now apologizing. Hobbs, a former state rep and smalltown mayor, says he got the idea that Sen. Obama was "terrorist connected" from watching FOX TV. He did not apologize for watching FOX. Sher got the apology letter Hobbs is sending to other Tennessee Democrats:

"My statement that Senator Obama 'may be terrorist connected' was incorrect and I apologize for making it." Hobbs added that his remark, "did reflect questions I had after what I had seen reported on FOX News, but I should have taken the time to check the accuracy of what I saw on television before speaking publicly." He told Sher that his comment was based "on something about Hamas endorsing him, but I think since then that's been withdrawn."

It was not clear yet if Hobbs would survive the firestorm. Pensito Review in Florida recapped the flap and said the comment sounded like it could have come from Karl Rove among other suspects. The Nashville City Paper broke the original story by asking why some Tennesee Democrats were slow to endorse Obama. Hobbs' explanation was a doozy:

" . . . I don't exactly approve of a lot of the things he stands for and I'm not sure we know enough about him. He's got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be." It was not clear yet if Hobbs would survive the firestorm.