Conrad Burns

From BillionQuotes

In late February 2006, Burns said President Bush has a skull of "solid granite," criticizing Bush's stubbornness in his continued support for transferring some U.S. port operations to a company owned by a United Arab Emirates government. A day after Burns made the remark at the Hill County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner, spokesman Matt Mackowiak said the reference to granite was not meant as an insult. "He says the same thing about his son," Mackowiak said. "It's a little joke he likes to use."

The Helena Independent Record, reporting on that incident, noted that "The senator has drawn attention previously for his choice of words." [1]. Columnist Bob Herbert was more harsh, saying Burns is "an accident that happens again and again and again. [2]

• In 1994, Burns told the editorial board of the Bozeman Chronicle that when asked by a constituent, "How can you live back there in Washington, DC with all those niggers?" he replied, "[It's] a hell of a challenge." When he was asked about the use of the racial slur, he said: "I don't know. I never gave it much thought."

• On February 17, 1999, while at a meeting of the Montana Implement Dealers Association in Billings, Montana, Burns referred to Arabs as "ragheads". Burns later apologized.

• In 2000, he offended a Billings woman when he pointed to her nose ring and asked her what tribe she was from.

• On December 21, 2005, Burns stated that "We've got to remember that the people who first hit us in 9/11 entered this country through Canada." This claim, which is false and is directly contradicted by the findings of the 9-11 Commission, drew criticism from those questioning Burns' grasp of domestic security. Canadian ambassador Frank McKenna demanded an apology from Burns. [3]