BP boss 'sorry' about 'small people’ remark - 'clumsily' used term

[The Straight Story]

BP boss 'sorry' about 'small people’ remark

Chairman said he 'clumsily' used term that spurred rancorous reactions

BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg’s apologized Wednesday for "clumsily" referring to people impacted by the Gulf oil spill as "the small people."

His statement followed a day of vitriolic reaction from folks in person along the Gulf and online who did not cut the Swedish-born executive any slack for trying to speak colloquially in a second language.

First, Svanberg’s first quote:
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“And we care about the small people. I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy companies or don’t care. But that is not the case in BP. We care about the small people.”

Toby Odone, a spokesman for BP, told The Associated Press: “What he means is that he cares about local businesses and local people. This was a slip in translation.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37739658

[wroberts189]

1. I can't blame him...

Most Americans are. The Corp's. are the big people now.

[kenny blankenship]

2. What he means is, he finds hobbits adorable

and he hires two of them to stand in the portico of his country house, wearing wigs and knee breeches, to open the doors for his guests.

[laughingliberal]

3. ROFL!! nt

[otohara]

4. Cheese Macaroni

my Japanese hubby has been here almost 30 years and still he get's words and English phrases all mixed up.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

5. Freudian Slip, mayhaps?

You, sir are the epitome of a small person... you, who rate people's value by their "power" and material acquisitions rather than by the good they do in their lifetime...

[WatchWhatISay]

6. I know he didn't mean what it sounded like, but exactly what did he mean?