Son of Tommy Thompson apologizes for Obama birther comment

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Republican Senate candidate Tommy Thompson's campaign says his son apologizes for suggesting voters in the fall election should send President Barack Obama back to Kenya.

Jason Thompson, the son of the former Wisconsin governor, was caught on camera Sunday, October 14th making those remarks during a brunch hosted by the Kenosha County Republican Party.

"We have the opportunity to send President Obama back to Chicago or Kenya,'' said Jason Thompson, an attorney at a large Milwaukee law firm.

The comment drew laughs from the crowd, with one woman jokingly adding, "We are taking donations for that Kenya trip.''

The video was taken by a Democratic Party operative and posted at BuzzFeed Politics on Sunday.

Jason Thompson's comment was based on a rumor some Obama critics have promoted -- suggesting President Obama may not have been born in the U.S. Last year, the White House released President Obama's birth certificate showing Obama's father was Kenyan, but President Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961.

38-year-old Jason Thompson has been involved in his father's efforts to win a Senate seat and has represented the candidate at some events. Following Sunday's fundraiser, Tommy Thompson said he hadn't seen the video or heard his son's comments.

"The Governor has addressed this with his son, just like any father would do. Jason Thompson said something he should not have, and he apologizes," Thompson's campaign said in a statement.

Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin is running against Thompson. Her campaign's spokesman, John Kraus, said Monday that the Thompson campaign is becoming increasingly desperate and dishonest.

The candidate himself "has not apologized for these comments, nor has he disavowed them,'' Kraus wrote. "Thompson needs to start taking responsibility for what his campaign says and does.''

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brad Courtney also spoke at Sunday's event in Kenosha.

Priebus issued a statement Monday, saying he agreed with Gov. Thompson. "The comment was out of line and his son rightfully apologized,'' he said.

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