Mr. Tanner, Unforgiven

"Mr. Davis, I may not completely understand the question."

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When Tanner tried to defend himself, Davis cut him off ("Don't give me a long answer") and devoted himself to berating the witness. "Once again, you engaged in an analysis without knowing the numbers," he lectured.

Even that, however, was just a warm-up act for Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who, like Davis, is black.

"Exactly what are you apologizing for?" Ellison demanded.

"I hurt people," Tanner confessed.

"How did you hurt them?"

"The reaction of people to my statement --"

Ellison pounced. "So you are apologizing because of the reaction?"

Tanner retreated. "I caused that reaction, certainly not intentionally. I made a clumsy statement."

"So the problem is the tone?" Ellison pressed.

"I certainly had a bad tone and clumsiness."

This also failed to satisfy Ellison. "Are you just trying to curry favor?" he demanded.

"I feel that if I make remarks that people misinterpret --"

Uh-oh. "So people misinterpreted what you said?" a triumphant Ellison asked.

Tanner retreated. "I apologize for that," he said.