MSNBC host apologizes to Mitt Romney family after ridiculing photo

An MSNBC host and columnist for The Nation has issued several apologies on her Twitter account after poking fun at a Christmas-card family photo of Mitt Romney.

Melissa Harris-Perry and fellow panelists on her show had a good laugh about Romney, a prominent Republican, holding an adopted African-American grandchild on his knee, surrounded by white kids.

That didn't sit well with parents who've adopted kids from other racial backgrounds, not to mention popular CNN host Don Lemon, who is of African descent.

"I am sorry," Harris-Perry tweeted today. "Without reservation or qualification. I apologize to the Romney family."

Then she issued another tweet: "I work by the guiding principle that those who offend do not have the right to tell those they hurt that they r wrong for hurting."

Next, she tweeted: "Therefore, while I meant no offense, I want to immediately apologize to the Romney family for hurting them."

Next came this message: "As black child born into large white Mormon family I feel familiarity w/Romney family pic & never meant to suggest otherwise."

If that weren't enough, Harris-Perry followed up with another tweet: "I apologize to all families built on loving transracial adoptions who feel I degraded their lives of choices."

Whew! That doesn't rank as one of those non-apology apologies that so often gets condemned these days.

Despite Harris-Perry's efforts to make amends, right wingers on Rupert Murdoch–controlled Fox News continue ripping into her.

Of course, that's to be expected. Harris-Perry works for MSNBC, which some see as one of America's primary liberal counterweights to the Murdoch empire.