By Meena Kar
Washington, March 13, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Dan Rather, who faced criticism from all sectors for his analogy to President Barack Obama’s health care strategy as that of selling watermelon by the roadside, apologized for his comment on Wednesday. He has used a reputed media outlet for the purpose where he has put up an article explaining his statement and also apologizing for using the analogy of President Barack Obama with a watermelon seller, saying the President “couldn’t sell a watermelon,” which has been marked by some a racist comment.

Dan Rather, who was a former anchor for CBS has also blamed in his article the media which has highlighted its statement as news. He has mentioned in his article that some online websites which claim to be catering news, only serve gossips. He went on to say that such news sites should understand what “news” is and what is not. Dan Rather, while apologizing on the article said that the watermelon analogy relates to his upbringing in Southeast Texas where he had seen on country highways vendors of all races. He then made it clear that it is not his fault that people today link watermelons to the African Americans which has resulted to this controversy. He went on to say that while using the analogy he had never thought of the racial color which is contained in the statement.

The controversy evolved when Dan Rather made an appearance at a popular talk show where while describing the Republican’s take over the moves proposed by President Barack Obama, he said that though the Republicans would agree that the President is a nice and articulate person, they would rather call him a failure as a leader.