First Lady Cathy Malloy has apologized for criticizing the media for scrutinizing elected officials to an extent that makes it harder to seek public office.
During a panel at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, Malloy said the public does not appreciate those in public life.
The panel was organized by Emily's List, a group that seeks to elect Democratic women who support access to abortion.
Malloy, wife of Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, said she doesn't want sympathy, but people often refuse to seek office because they do not want to expose their children and spouses to public scrutiny, particularly from the media.
She emailed a statement on Thursday saying the media have been fair to her and her family.
“First let me say that I apologize for my remarks. I was trying to convey a certain sentiment, and I didn’t do a good job of expressing what I really feel. Although I don’t always agree with what’s written by members of the media, I do believe that they’ve been fair to my family and me. I made these comments at a panel hosted by Emily’s List, and I was addressing the question of why more people don’t get into public life, especially women. The point I was trying to make is that for those of us who do get into public service, there are sacrifices we have to make – including some of our privacy. Sometimes that’s frustrating. But we believe deeply in public service, and so we make whatever sacrifices we need to make. We don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for us, because we’re honored to be able to serve.”
