Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) made a questionable joke while addressing the Distilled Spirits Council at a gala dinner last night, The Washington Post reports.
While jesting about the proper pronunciation of Louisville, Rogers described a dinner with “the Chinese ambassador, who spoke broken English but was trying to impress his staff with his knowledge of the U.S.”
“It’s not Roo-ee-ville, it’s Roo-uh-ville,” said Rogers, delivering the punch line.
MIchael Higdon, Rogers’ spokesman, clarified the congressman’s remarks to the Washington Post on Thursday. “A simple and unfortunate attempt at humor that clearly fell flat,” he said of the event. “He apologizes if anyone took offense.”
In his defense, the room did laugh.
