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Some observers of the town-hall antipathy towards President Barack Obama have argued that there's an undercurrent of racism in some of the criticism, that there's still a lot of anger among a fair number of whites that the nation is being led by its first African-American president.

There no doubt is truth to that. If not, why would Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a Kansas Republican, tell an audience in Kansas that her party was looking for a "great white hope" to stop Obama? She made the comment on Aug. 19. A YouTube search didn't turn up the video but that doesn't mean it won't appear there eventually.

Jenkins has apparently apologized for the controversial comment. The Associated Press reported:

Jenkins spokeswoman Mary Geiger told The Associated Press Thursday Jenkins apologizes for her word choice and did not intend to offend anyone. A White House spokesman withheld comment ahead of Thursday afternoon's on-the-record briefing.

White House spokesman Bill Burton did weigh in on Jenkins' comment this afternoon. Here's his exchange with a reporter:

REPORTER: Real quick, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins made a comment to her constituents in Topeka that the GOP is looking for their "great white hope." Any White House reaction to that and any reading -- any racial implications in that?

MR. BURTON: I saw that report. I also saw that her spokesperson backpedaled and said that that was a poor choice of words. We obviously give Congresswoman Jenkins the benefit of the doubt.

So the White House has decided to be charitable, probably a good strategy since Jenkins' comment is exactly the kind of repulsive, race-baiting expression many voters will find radioactive. That could redound in Obama's favor.

Still, it's astonishing that a U.S. congresswoman, in a public meeting in Topeka, in the YouTube age, would say the Republican Party needed a "great white hope" to defeat Obama.