Pa. Senator Arlen Specter has found himself in some hot water are reportedly making some Polish jokes at a recent luncheon.
Now the Senator is backtracking from his comments and offering his apologies.
Specter was speaking at the annual Commonwealth Club meeting, a group of Pennsylvania Republicans who meet around the holidays in New York.
He reportedly asked the crowd if there were any Polish-Americans in the crowd. After seeing only a small percentage of guests raise their hands he proceeded to tell a few Polish jokes, according to the "New York Post."
Specter's insensitive joke catalog included one about the man who interrupted him once, saying, "Hey, careful. I'm Polish!" Specter said he responded, "That's OK -- I'll tell it more slowly," according to the NY Post.
No one walked out of the luncheon, according to sources, but it seems that Specter managed to offend both Polish and non-Polish attendees.
Specter called Michael Blichasz, President of the Polish American Congress to say he was sorry for his comments and to ask for Blichasz to share a letter with members of the Polish American community, according to Blichasz.
"In retrospect, I can see that they were inappropriate and I regret having made them. You may be sure I will never make the same mistake again," wrote Specter in the letter to the Polish American Congress.
Specter continued in the letter to reaffirm his longstanding relationship with the Polish community.
