Detroit Newspaper Offers Apology for ‘Hate’ Misquote

Three days after Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins (D-Mich.) was ousted by the voters, the Detroit Free Press apologized on its front page Friday for misquoting the black congresswoman as saying “I hate” the white race.

Collins had been quoted as saying: “All white people, I don’t believe are intolerant. That’s why I say, ‘I love the individuals, but I hate the race.’ ”

But she actually said: “All white people, I don’t believe are intolerant. That’s why I say, ‘I love the individuals, but I don’t like the race.’ ”

“We want to apologize for a serious mistake: We misquoted U.S. Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins in the July 17 Free Press,” Executive Editor Robert G. McGruder said in a letter to readers.

Collins on Tuesday lost a seven-way Democratic primary in her Detroit district, which is 70% black. She was defeated by a 20-percentage-point margin.

The quotation was not the only issue in the race. Collins, 57, came under fire for missing more votes last year than any other House member except one who had a liver transplant and another who was in prison.

In addition, the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee are investigating allegations that the three-term congresswoman misused her office, campaign and scholarship funds. Collins has denied any wrongdoing.

McGruder said the Free Press apologized Thursday to Collins. According to McGruder, Collins responded: “I’m not blaming anybody. What happens happens. God gives us a path to follow; sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s easy. I don’t have any bitterness; I don’t have any regrets. I hate being defined by a hostile media of who and what I am despite 25 years of public service.”

McGruder said he is reviewing the matter with the reporter and the editor involved and may take disciplinary action.

McGruder said Collins made her statement in an interview with States News Service of Washington, which provided the Free Press with a tape and a correct transcript. Collins had issued a statement in July saying she was falsely quoted. She also blamed a “deceitful” reporter for the story.

At the time, however, McGruder defended the original story. He said Friday that a reporter incorrectly typed the quotation. He said the newspaper, when challenged, failed to double-check. The error was discovered when States News Service reviewed its tape and transcript, he said.