Apology not quite enough

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Speaking from the floor of the House, the Charleston Republican on Tuesday told his fellow lawmakers he was sorry for offending them and portraying the House in a "negative manner."

"I want to express regret, real regret, and real sorrow over the publicity that this House has gotten in the last week," Altman said.

Victims of domestic violence would be justified in feeling his apology inadequate, albeit heartfelt. His comments appeared to be directed only toward fellow lawmakers, and he stopped short of mentioning the pain he caused victims of domestic violence or the embarrassment he brought on the state with his ill-considered remarks.

In a letter of apology distributed to lawmakers, Altman also briefly sought to portray his earlier comments as a free-speech issue. "But I hope we never get to a place in this body, in this state, when we are no longer allowed to speak our minds," he wrote.

But no one has sought to deny Altman his right to make offensive comments. Likewise, free speech does not include a right not to be criticized for callous remarks.

Last week, Altman appeared to blame the victims of domestic violence in comments he made after the House Judiciary Committee killed a domestic violence bill that would have strengthened some penalties.

"The woman (who is abused) ought not to be around the man," Altman told a WIS-TV reporter after the committee hearing. "I mean, you women want it one way and not another."

He added: "What self-respecting person is going back around someone who beats them?"

Such remarks understandably angered many in a state with one of the highest rates of domestic violence homicide in the nation. In less than a week, Altman also became a symbol of the insensitive mentality of some lawmakers on domestic violence issues. In the Judiciary Committee meeting where the bill was killed, lawmakers were heard making demeaning comments.

Adding to the uproar in this state was the fact that the House committee voted to dramatically increase penalties for cockfighting while voting to kill the domestic violence bill. Protesters marched on the Statehouse last week, accusing the Legislature of caring more about chickens than women. Altman's comments also caught the attention of the national media, which portrayed Altman as another deplorable example of a backward good-ol'-boy politician in a backward Southern state.

A positive result of the public backlash against Altman is that House Speaker David Wilkins announced that the General Assembly would likely approve a bill strengthening penalties for domestic violence.

Altman was right to apologize for his insensitivity. A little more contrition from this often-controversial lawmaker, however, seems in order.