Non-apology apology from the Carmel Pine Cone

Remember All the Presidents Men, the book and movie about Watergate, and the "non-denial denial"? The Washington Post staff coined this phrase when a politician confronted with some accusation of wrongdoing, would issue a vague statement that sounded like a denial of some accusation or other but actually wasn't if you really thought about the words.

I was reminded of the non-denial denial when I read this week's Pine Cone. In response to a deluge of angry letters from readers offended by the smashed-Prius-at-least-it-wasn't-a-Bentley last week, the  Pine Cone printed a non-apology apology. To their credit, they did print the letters. At the end column, an Editor's Note explains that they thought this was a fun way to "gently poke fun" at the excesses of the Concours d'Elegance, which most people understood, and if you didn't get the joke, that's YOUR fault, you humorless drudge. You're not as smart as their other readers, and since your delicate little sensibilities were offended, well, OK, they apologize.

Here's the thing Carmel Pine Cone, you're not Stephen Colbert. You're not The Daily Show. You can't pull this sort of thing off.  Most of the letter-writers stated that they did understand it was a joke--they just didn't think it was funny.

Yes, comics do joke about tragic incidents (and can be quite funny), but it's really tricky to do well. Unfortunately your attempt flopped. I can see how, sitting around the news room, someone made a comment and it seemed funny. I was just surprised that they actually printed it.

Truth be told, the Pine Cone is not the only entity guilty of the non-apology apology. I see it all the time -- some public figure says something out of line, and when confronted, says "I apologize if anyone was offended."  In other words, I'm not sorry I said it, I don't think it was the wrong thing to say, I'm just sorry that you took offense to it.

We all suffer foot-in-mouth sometimes -- saying something that just doesn't come out the way you meant it. When it happens, just admit it...don't blame the other person.

So we'll let this one go Carmel Pine Cone. Now go forth and sin no more.

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"Editor's Note: Our front-page story last week - "Tree smashes Prius on Highway 68, but at least it wasn't a Bentley -- was intended to humorously note the irony of a tree crashing into a car during Concours Week, and to gently poke fun at the excesses of the Concours. Most people got the joke, but we humbly apologize to anyone who didn't or whose sensibilities were offended in any way."