Tom Brokaw tweets bizarre apology after comments including 'Hispanics should work harder at assimilation' and claiming conservative Americans 'fear having brown grandbabies'

Veteran newsman Tom Brokaw has been forced to apologize for saying that 'Hispanics should work harder at assimilation' and claimin...

Veteran newsman Tom Brokaw has been forced to apologize for saying that 'Hispanics should work harder at assimilation' and claiming Republicans 'fear having brown grandbabies'.

The broadcasting icon took to Twitter to say he felt terrible that his comments had offended members of the 'proud' Hispanic culture

Brokaw made the controversial comments during a roundtable on the NBC show discussion on the government shutdown and President Donald Trump's demand for funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

 'The fact is, on the Republican side, a lot of people see the rise of an extraordinary, important, new constituent in American politics, Hispanics, who will come here and all be Democrats. 

'Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, 'Well, I don't know whether I want brown grandbabies.' I mean, that's also a part of it.' 

NBC newsman Tom Brokaw is offering an apology after going on NBC's Meet The Press and making comments about the Hispanic community

 

Brokaw said one of the issues affecting the GOP is that they're worried the U.S. is becoming flooded with Hispanic voters, who by and large register as Democrats

'It's the intermarriage that is going on and the cultures that are conflicting with each other,' Brokaw continued. 

'I also happen to believe that the Hispanics should work harder at assimilation. That's one of the things I've been saying for a long time. 

'You know, they ought not to be just codified in their communities but make sure that all their kids are learning to speak English, and that they feel comfortable in the communities. And that's going to take outreach on both sides, frankly.'

Nobody on the panel asked Brokaw to clarify who had told him that they didn't want 'brown grandbabies.' 

But later in the broadcast White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor for PBS NewsHour addressed Brokaw's remarks directly.

'I would just say that we also need to adjust what we think of as America,' Alcindor said. 

'You're talking about assimilation. I grew up in Miami, where people speak Spanish, but their kids speak English. And the idea that we think Americans can only speak English, as if Spanish and other languages wasn't always part of America, is, in some ways, troubling.' 

Brokaw's apology came in a series of rambling and misspelled Twitter-posts on Sunday evening.  

'I feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture,' he wrote.

'From my days reporting on cesar chavez to documenting the many contributions of hispanics in all parts of our culture, i've worked hard to knock down false stereo types. in my final comment in Meet i said ALL sides hv to work harder at finding common ground - which i strongly believe. dialogue not division [sic].'

Several hours later, Brokaw went back on Twitter where he continued to apologize for his words: 'finally, i am sorry - i never intended to disparage any segment of our rich, diverse society which defines who we are [sic].'

'Finally, i am sorry I failed to convey my strong belief that diversity - dynamic and inclusive is what makes America [sic],' he continued.

'Yamiche is a wonderful colleague and an important voice. i hv been trying to say i am sorry i offended and i so appreciate my colleague [sic].' 

NBC have stated they have 'no comment' to make on Brokaw's remarks. 

Brokaw followed up later on Sunday by saying he felt terrible if part of his comments offended anyone in 'that proud culture,' adding that he's worked hard to knock down false stereotypes over the course of his career

In a rambling apology, Brokaw resumed  tweeting late on Sunday night where he blamed his Twitter portal for the splintered messages