A sadly routine experience:
1-Make asinine statement, and have it show up on the news.
2-Deny making any such statement.
3-When evidence shows that you DID make the statement, claim you were taken out of context.
4-Make a not-pology saying you're sorry if anyone's feelings were hurt, but deny having said or done anything wrong.
5-Claim that YOU are the one being persecuted, because the "Liberal Media" is telling everyone what you said.
We see it all too often, especially among the religious and the politicians.