People: Nugent inches back from Obama ‘mongrel’ remark
Ted Nugent is sorry.
Sort of.
After several days of controversy surrounding his foray on the Texas campaign trail, the rocker/right-wing agitator expressed regret for using the words “subhuman mongrel” to describe President Barack Obama.
“I did cross the line. I do apologize – not necessarily to the president – but on behalf of much better men than myself,” Nugent said Friday in an interview with Ben Ferguson, a Dallas-based conservative talk radio host.
Nugent said he regretted “using the street-fighter terminology of ‘subhuman mongrel’ instead of just using more understandable language, such as ‘violator of the Constitution … the liar that he is.’ ”
The 65-year-old “Motor City Madman” campaigned this week alongside Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, forcing the GOP gubernatorial front-runner to defend their association after Democrats publicized some of Nugent’s more pungent remarks, including the slur against the president last month at a Las Vegas trade and gun show.
An Abbott spokesman said that while the candidate did not always endorse or agree with the language Nugent used, he appreciated his “forceful (advocacy) for individual liberty and constitutional rights.”
Other Republicans, however, were quick to denounce Nugent, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a likely GOP presidential contender in 2016.
Hulk to flex for WWE again
Hulkamania is running wild again in the WWE.
Hulk Hogan, perhaps the biggest star in the company’s 50-year history, is set to bring the red-and-yellow back to the sports entertainment behemoth and will host the April 6 WrestleMania in New Orleans.
Hogan returns to the WWE after a six-year absence and will be on Monday’s “Raw” on the USA Network. Hogan will also bring the muscle for the WWE’s launch of its own network: He will appear on “WWE Raw Backstage Pass,” airing live on WWE Network on Monday night.
“I definitely want to stay here in the WWE,” the 60-year-old Hogan said Friday. “I just can’t see myself ever being anywhere else. This is home. It always has been home. In the twilight of my career, what a great way to be part of the final hurrah for Hulk Hogan and all the Hulkamaniacs.”
The birthday bunch
Announcer Don Pardo is 96. Actor Paul Dooley is 86. Hollywood “ghost singer” Marni Nixon is 84. Actor John Ashton is 66. Actress Julie Walters is 64. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 55. Actress-comedian Rachel Dratch is 48. Actor Paul Lieberstein (TV: “The Office”) is 47. TV host Clinton Kelly (TV: “The Chew”; “What Not to Wear”) is 45. Actress-singer Lea Salonga is 43. Actress Drew Barrymore is 39.