Congressman Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Barack Obama’s new chief of staff, called the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Thursday to apologize for his father's remark concerning Arabs. Asked by an Israeli reporter if Emanuel will influence Obama to be pro-Israel, Emanuel's father Binyamin responded, "Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House."
After the American-Arab group complained, Congressman Emanuel called the organization to apologize and offered to meet with officials.