Friday, March 14, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Jim Moran apologized Tuesday for his comments that Jewish support for war with Iraq was helping the administration move toward an attack.
Moran said he didn't blame some critics for urging him to step down, but he added, "I don't intend to resign."
The northern Virginia Democrat apologized for remarks he made at a March 3 forum at a local church. Moran, 57, told a crowd of about 120 people: "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq we would not be doing this. ... The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going and I think they should."
Moran said Tuesday he framed his comments in that way because he was responding to a questioner who said she was Jewish. "I regret doing that," he said.