MSNBC apologizes to Romney campaign

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- MSNBC has apologized for calling a tagline used by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign a "KKK slogan."

On Wednesday, MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts compared the Romney slogan "Keep America American" to one used by the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.

"It was irresponsible and incendiary of us to do this and it showed an appalling lack of judgment," said Chris Matthews on his show "Hardball with Chris Matthews." The Hollywood Reporter said Matthews said, "We apologize. We really do, to the Romney campaign."

Romney, meanwhile, attacked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in an interview with CBS News. Gingrich has become the frontrunner in the Republican presidential field, according to recent polls.

"Well, I think you've seen in this election statements from Speaker Gingrich which suggested a level of unreliability," Romney said.

When the interviewer asked for specifics, Romney went on to say: "Well, the statements that the -- that the Palestinian -- Palestinians are an invented people. Saying that Paul Ryan's plan is suicide, calling it right-wing social engineering. These things are not helpful."