Tommy Thompson Blames Gay Gaffe on Hearing Aid, Bladder

Still dogged by questions about his since-retracted statement at the recent Republican debate that employers should be allowed to fire workers based on their homosexuality, presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson told reporters that the knee-jerk answer was an error brought on by a poor hearing aid and the fact that he desperately needed to use the men's room.

Said Thompson: "Nobody knows that I've been very sick. ... I was very sick the day of the debate. I had all of the problems with the flu and bronchitis that you have, including running to the bathroom. I was just hanging on. I could not wait until the debate got off so I could go to the bathroom. I didn't hear the question. All I was thinking about was getting off the stage. I said it, I'm sorry, and it won't happen again but it's not my record. ... There's nothing discriminatory about me at all."

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Tommy Thompson Says Fire the Gays, Then Retracts [tr]

Tommy Thompson Says Fire the Gays, Then Retracts

In last night's debate of contenders for the Republican nomination for President, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said employees should have the right to fire workers if they are gay.

From the transcript:

MR. HARRIS: Governor Thompson, same theme. If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?

MR. THOMPSON: I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have to got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.

MR. VANDEHEI: Okay. So the answer’s yes.

MR. THOMPSON: Yes.

MR. VANDEHEI: Okay.

AmericaBlog has video of Thompson's answer, but also notes that Thompson's campaign has apparently retracted the statement, saying that Thompson "misheard the question" and is opposed to discrimination.

UPDATE — Thompson later clarified to CNN: "I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question. I thought that I answered it yes when I should have answered it no. I didn't hear, I didn't hear the question properly and I apologize. It's not my position. There should be no discrimination in the workplace and I have never believed that. And, in fact, Wisconsin has one of the first laws, which I supported....So, I just made a mistake and that's all I can say. I'm sorry and I misinterpreted the question and I answered yes, when it should have been no...All I was thinking was that it was a question that came up and I did not hear it, I should have asked to have it repeated. I didn't and I answered it and I answered it wrong. It's not my position, it never has been. I have always been against discrimination and prejudice. In fact if you would have listened to the debate, they asked me a question about racism and I said that the president of the United States, whoever he is, has to take the point and has to be the person that does not allow discrimination or racism in any degree, whatsoever."