Charlie Rangel has apologized for his slur against Mississippi:

There is no excuse for my having said that. I am fully aware that every American loves their respective state and city, and I’m afraid that my love and affection for New York got in the way of my common sense and judgment, and for that I sincerely apologize.

Well done.

It’s a good think that he didn’t get advice from Kerry. It probably would have come out something like this:

I’m sorry that the people of Mississippi are too stupid and crazy to realize the inherent and nuanced truth of my statement, when I asked who would want to live there. Of course, it hadn’t occurred to me, or any other well-bred, educated people, that the place is full of ignorant inbred rednecks who probably love the place.