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Erika Harold still can’t remember comments, but says “I was wrong”

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* Erika Harold was on WLS Radio today and had this to say about her alleged claim in 2000 that she’d place a foster child in an abusive home with heterosexual parents rather than putting the kid in a house with gay parents…

Harold, who was 19 years old at the time, told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” Friday morning on WLS that she does not remember making the comments, but if she did she is sorry.

“As I’ve stated, I don’t recall the specific exchanges alleged by those sources” said Harold. “If I said it, it was absolutely wrong. But what I’m happy to make perfectly clear, is that I support same-sex adoption, and same-sex foster parenting because we need more loving homes and places for children to be loved and cared for.”

Harold also admitted during the WLS interview that she most likely would not have supported gay adoption when she was 19.

“I have changed. Certainly at the time I would not have supported same sex adoption, same-sex foster parenting and that was wrong. Like many people during that time it was a different era. And there were a lot of people who held that position, and I think there are a lot of people who have evolved like me”, said Harold. […]

“There is a consensus that we need to provide children with more safe and loving homes and I think it’s important that people be able to evolve” said Harold. “In politics it’s important that you change your position if you realize that it was wrong. There’s no point in defending positions that you may have held just because you may have held them. I think we need to be a place where people can evaluate, and pay attention to changing norms and new evidence and have humility and say ‘I was wrong.’”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 12:55 pm

Comments

It took her weeks, but that’s the A+ answer.

Comment by West Sider Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Well done. Well said. Good on her.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:02 pm
Couldn’t they have gone with that the day the story broke?

Comment by Juice Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:02 pm
Fair enough…an acceptable response.

She can get away with one or two “I-don’t-believe-that-anymore” responses, but I have a feeling we’re going to reach critical mass once all the oppo is rolled out.

Comment by Roman Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:03 pm
===Couldn’t they have gone with that the day the story broke?===

They’re growing. Better late… plus it’s realky good, and pointed, and owning the moment.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:04 pm
I’m not a fan of hers, but I think this is an excellent statement, particularly that last paragraph. I just wonder what took her so long!

Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:04 pm
This is good.

Sadly, in politics, we do not allow enough for growth, humility, or the admission having made a mistake in the past.

Comment by Urban Girl Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:07 pm
Well done. Well said?

It’s empty manufactured response with no merit. Politicians say anything in the nicest of words to continue on fooling the American voter.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:10 pm
My brother sent me a photo of when I was doing some modeling that I’d have to explain. I needed the money.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Lesson learned?

Good, bad or indifferent, best to get these out of the way, lickety-split.

As JB will learn, if he wins, regarding those toilets littering the Gold Coast alleys.

Kennedy and Biss didn’t have the money to do a one-off on those, but Rauner does. And will.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:12 pm
== Roman
How many does Pritzker have? In Pritzker’s failed 1998 campaign, JB suggested the American Muslim Council was a terrorist group. Then jump forward to the more recent Blagojevich tapes.

Comment by My thoughts Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:13 pm
Wow. A real apology. “I was wrong.” Brief explanation (rather than rambling excuses). “I was wrong.”

This is an apology that convinces me. Straightforward. Great last sentence, and the flip side is that we need to allow people to change.

(Yeah, yeah, don’t bring up Biss to me - he wasn’t 19 and it wasn’t nearly two decades ago, and his “apologies” have been more about “learning a [legal] lesson” than a change of viewpoint.)

Comment by RIJ Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:13 pm
===Well done. Well said?===

Yep.

We complain when people apoologize, don’t apologize, all of it.

She ate it. She owned it. She explained. She didn’t hedge.

===“If I said it, it was absolutely wrong.“===

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:13 pm
I don’t get how any person could or would chose the option of placing a vulnerable child in an abusive situation.

Comment by Because I said so.... Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:14 pm
She was 19.
When I was that age I was also in a beauty-like contest at my frat. I probably said a few things that I’d regret today. Especially when they hosed us down before the girl judges.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:16 pm
More concerned how her current views on ten year old pregnant little girls are going to impact her management of a large office of attorney’s.

Comment by Al Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:17 pm
Anyone who is willing to say they were wrong deserves to be believed until and unless they act in a way that contradicts the apology so let’s move on. If you don’t then you have a problem.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:17 pm
It’s more than fair to ding her as to the length of time. I agreed, agreed that when this came out she needed to personally respond.

She has now.

The length of time is another measure, and I understand and don’t dismiss it, but I was commenting on the words.

It’s well done and well said.

They need to learn from this, you may only get one pass on a slow response, This was that pass.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:19 pm
This is probably why Rauner views voters as having low intelligence. It’s because you believe every word.

The simple believe every word but the prudent gives thought to his steps. That’s a Bible verse.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:20 pm
===The simple believe every word but the prudent gives thought to his steps. That’s a Bible verse.===

The New Testament talks about turning the other cheek, and wronged again, give the other cheek.

Are we really going to go biblical on a mea culpa?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean becoming a fool.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:26 pm
==Well done. Well said. Good on her.==

Ditto.

Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:26 pm
===Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean becoming a fool.===

Can’t find that one.

Matthew, Mark, Luke or John?

See you in church.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:28 pm
Too little too late. I might not have said it, but if I did I was young and a lot of other ignorant people thought that way too.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:28 pm
- My thoughts -

No doubt, all candidates have to answer for past statements and previously held positions. But I’d argue there’s a limit to how many times one can successfully invoke the “youthful indiscretion” or “I’ve evolved” argument. Maybe I’m wrong, but I have a feeling Harold’s candidacy will be a good test.

Comment by Roman Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:33 pm
Someone in the Harold/Rauner campaign wrote this up and told Harold this is how you respond to that situation. This is all this is. A completely manufactured response. Please learn how campaigns work people.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:41 pm
===empty manufactured response with no merit===

Nonsense. I am much more concerned with the environment my son has to navigate, than the D vs. R scoreboard. The evolution she describes is pretty similar to what has happened to me and my family. It has made all the difference in creating a future for my son where he can live work and love without have to pretend to be someone else. The R’s certainly didn’t lead the charge, but remarks like this from Harold are an important signal that it is time to fight about something else.

We need to be willing to take yes for an answer.

Comment by Ebenezer Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:41 pm
===Someone in the Harold/Rauner campaign wrote this up and told Harold this is how you respond to that situation. This is all this is. A completely manufactured response.===

… and yet, up to now, there wasn’t a response like it.

I did it. I was wrong. I’m sorry.

You can’t take an apology like that, take it on it’s face, maybe it’s you… tough way to live.

But, please, go back to the biblical and tell me where I can find that “fool” thingy you responded with after…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Nonsense. I am much more concerned with the environment my son has to navigate, than the D vs. R scoreboard. The evolution she describes is pretty similar to what has happened to me and my family.

-mine too if I decide to run for office. I will have magically evolved from any unpopular positions too.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:46 pm
In the best possible way to handle it, she did.

Comment by People Over Parties Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:48 pm
“manufactured response” - Well, that’s odd, because almost all manufactured responses are horrible “I’m sorry if you were offended” BS non-apologies.

How refreshing to hear “I was wrong.”

Comment by RIJ Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:50 pm
==Someone in the Harold/Rauner camp wrote this up==

If that’s true, why haven’t we seen Rauner be able to make these sorts of honest apologies? /Maybe/ Harold has better people than the governor, but those decisions have to come down to the candidate ultimately. Good on her for saying she was wrong, not so good on her for taking so long to say it.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:51 pm
- Real -

You went biblical now your hand wringing is enviromental?

Just say you want to BE offended, but can’t find a way to justify why you can stay offended, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 1:56 pm
OW you responding to me under various handles?

Erika Harold can’t remember comment but I was wrong = manufactured hogwash. The simple believes every word.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:24 pm
OK so now Harold supports gay adoption. How about same-sex marriage? Has she ever said she supports that? How about protecting gays from discrimination in employment, housing, etc?

Comment by anon2 Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:27 pm
How nice that erika now supports gay people having rights they have had under the law in Illinois since 1995.
Now give your position on public funding for adoption agencies that discriminate against gay couples. your boy peter breen thinks they should get it. do you?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:28 pm
===“If I said it, it was absolutely wrong.“===

===…manufactured hogwash. The simple believes every word.===

So Harold saying it’s a wrong thing to believe… is wrong?

You want to stay offended. I understand perfectly.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:28 pm
=…you responding to me under various handles?===

Nope.

You’re a victim of your own unwillingness to forgive… as the Bible asks of us all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:29 pm
===The simple believes every word.===

And the perpetually cynical disbelieves every word.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 2:35 pm
Given that it was an absolutely terrible position to take in the first place, a complete recantation was certainly in order. But it sure took a while.

This position was not an ordinary policy disagreement where reasonable people disagree– she said it was better to live with abusive parents than non-abusive parents, and that belief was based upon a prejudiced view against gays and lesbians.

Also, I think a lot of those who reluctantly voted for Trump have learned the hard way what happens when they decided to ignore his more extreme positions on certain issues, in the hope that he didn’t mean them or wouldn’t act upon them. (”Take him seriously, but not literally.” How’d that work out?)

And one wonders how many complete recantations will be demanded of her, and whether she gives them. This is one position. She’s also said she is opposed to gun control. That was a terrible enough position in 2014 running in a downstate congressional district. What about now? and Statewide? As well-credentialed as Harold is, these are disqualifying at worst, and non-winners in Illinois at best.

Comment by LUC/ND Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:11 pm
You’re a victim of your own unwillingness to forgive… as the Bible asks of us all.

-It’s not a matter of forgiveness that I have against her. If she had a track record anytime in the past 20 years of showing her position has evolved then I would believe her. But she now announces that she has changed once she decided to run for office is nonsense. To believe that would be an insult to my intelligence.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:13 pm
== there’s a limit to how many times one can successfully invoke the “youthful indiscretion” ==
Nonsense. It can be invoked as much as necessary and whenever necessary, (provided people generally like you). And Harold was actually youthful, unlike Hyde.

Comment by anon Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:17 pm
===To believe that would be an insult to my intelligence.==

She apologized for what she allegedly said, she said it was wrong and explained how at 19 until now, she has changed her views.

Believe it, don’t believe it…

===It’s empty manufactured response with no merit. Politicians say anything in the nicest of words to continue on fooling the American voter.===

If someone says what they thought was wrong, and you dint believe them, again, it’s on you… nice words or not.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:19 pm
You’re a victim of your own unwillingness to forgive… as the Bible asks of us all.
—

Politicians should be held to a higher standard than the rest. I read the details of this accusation and those that were there stated it would be impossible for her to forget those remarks as it was the reason she lost that year. If someone truly forgot something of that nature or don’t recall making those comments they would demand the release of any tapes.

And for her to say she does not recall or remember those comments only make it worse because she is lying. Lying to the public as a candidate only makes for a lying politican once in office.

Comment by Real Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:24 pm
A well-reasoned and reasonable response

Comment by Morty Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:34 pm
===Politicians should be held to a higher standard than the rest.===

Yeah, that’s not happening in 2018.

===I read the details of this accusation and those that were there stated it would be impossible for her to forget those remarks as it was the reason she lost that year. If someone truly forgot something of that nature or don’t recall making those comments they would demand the release of any tapes.===

LOL.

She said it’s wrong. You just want to find a reason.

This says more about you then her.

If you’re the same as you were at 19… whew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:35 pm
===Lying to the public as a candidate only makes for a lying politican once in office.===

Wow.

Biblical and righteous.

You go with that. Let me know whose on your palm card, or that pedestal.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:38 pm
-If you’re the same as you were at 19… whew.

THIS:100%

Comment by Morty Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 3:49 pm
=No doubt, all candidates have to answer for past statements and previously held positions. But I’d argue there’s a limit to how many times one can successfully invoke the “youthful indiscretion” or “I’ve evolved” argument. Maybe I’m wrong, but I have a feeling Harold’s candidacy will be a good test.=

For her sake, I hope not, but not many people had the kind of spotlight on them at 19 that she did.

But old comments are going to be a bigger and bigger issue for all pols thanks to social media.

Comment by m Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:01 pm
It is a nice statement, but let’s not put words into her mouth. She said that *if* she said it, “it was wrong” (not “I was wrong”). The “I was wrong” statement at the end came with a very different, very general, context. She didn’t “own” an “I was wrong” statement, she gave it to the world.

Comment by Ed Itor Friday, Mar 16, 18 @ 4:35 pm