House Republican to Apologize for Mocking First Lady's Figure

This isn’t exactly news, but it is sure to have the blogs and cable news shows abuzz during a slow-ish news week. OK, who are we kidding, people would be talking about it even if the news cycle were overflowing (we freely admit we would be).

A Republican congressman plans to call Michelle Obama to apologize for saying, essentially, that she has a big butt.

The whole thing started when Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner was overheard in an airport lounge in D.C. talking about the First Lady’s behind by a Democratic operative, who then quickly passed along his scoop to Fishbowl DC, a blog that covers Beltway media and politics.

According to the operative, the Wisconsin Republican was talking loudly on his cell phone about an incident he said occurred three weeks ago at a church auction, during which a woman approached him and offered some kind words about Michelle Obama. The congressman allegedly responded by telling the woman that Mrs. Obama should follow her own advice or, to put it in his words (or more specifically, the words of the anonymous Democratic operative who was recounting what Sensenbrenner said): "she lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself."

Fishbowl reached out to the congressman’s office for a response, which somewhat surprisingly gave one: "Mr. Sensenbrenner was referring to the First Lady’s healthy food initiative.  He doesn’t think the government should be telling Americans what to eat," a spokesperson emailed. "While he may not agree with all of her initiatives, he plans to contact the First Lady’s office to apologize for his comments."

So, there you have it.