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After causing a stir by calling Indian-American Kamala Harris as “by far the best-looking attorney general”, President Barack Obama apologised to her for remarks that some branded sexist. |
Obama spoke to California’s top law officer on Thursday night after he came back from his trip to the state where he made the “offending” remark at a fundraiser for his Democratic Party.
“She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough... She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general,” Obama said according to a transcript provided by the White House only to cause a nationwide flutter among the chatteratti.
“The president did speak with Attorney General (Kamala) Harris after he came back from his trip,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters. “He called her to apologise for the distraction created by his comments.
“They are old friends and good friends and he did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments and her capabilities, and I would note that he called her in those same comments brilliant, dedicated and tough. She is all those things,” Carney said.
Obama “fully recognises the challenges women continue to face in the workplace,” he added.