BREAKING NEWS Caprio: ‘I wish I had chosen different language’

BREAKING NEWS Caprio: ‘I wish I had chosen different language’

Democrat Frank Caprio is now backing down from his “shove it” slam against President Obama last Monday. But he stopped short of actually apologizing.

“Earlier this week, I made some comments regarding President Obama that have generated a lot of discussion. I have had a lot of time to reflect on my words and I understand the criticisms,” Caprio said. “I wish I had chosen different language, but now the focus has to be on what is important to Rhode Islanders.”

Previously, Caprio has refused to apologize or back down from the statement—and has even embraced it as a metaphor for how he would be a governor. “When I said ‘shove it’ to the President, what I meant was that I want to go up to that Statehouse and I don’t care who’s sitting on the other side of the table—whether it’s a union leader, whether it’s someone from the Legislature, or anybody else—if they’re not looking out for the best interests of Rhode Island, I’m going to go out and tell them to shove it,” Caprio said at the ABC 6 debate on Wednesday.

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A spokesman for Caprio denied that his statement could be characterized as an “apology.”

His statement comes after two polls showed Caprio’s support slipping among voters. It also was made public the day before President Clinton is scheduled to campaign for Caprio in Rhode Island.

The full statement:

Earlier this week, I made some comments regarding President Obama that have generated a lot of discussion. I have had a lot of time to reflect on my words and I understand the criticisms. I respect President Obama's decision not to get involved in the governor's race. President Obama was being loyal to someone who endorsed him, the same way President Clinton has been loyal to me for supporting Hillary Clinton.

The way the White House announced that there would be no endorsement caught me by surprise. I wish I had chosen different language, but now the focus has to be on what is important to Rhode Islanders. The only thing that matters is who would best govern our state. Who has the best plan to create jobs? Who is going to move the economy forward? Who is going to fight for children and families in Rhode Island?

I am running for governor to fight for Rhode Island families, and if given the opportunity to serve, I will always do what is best for Rhode Island.