Update: Someone With A Brain Writes An Apology for Virginia Governor Regarding Slavery

Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell has issued an apology for his failure to include a reference to slavery in his proclamation designating April as Confederate History Month. Earlier today, McDonnell tried to justify the omission by claiming that slavery was not a pertinent aspect of Virginia's secession from the United States.

Suddenly, McDonnell has changed his mind. In a strongly worded statement that screams "ghostwritten," McDonnell has apologized for the omission.  He has also produced an addendum to the proclamation that recognizes the "inhumane" institution of slavery and its role in the Confederate rebellion.

Here is a snip from McDonnell's apology (viewable in full on the Washington Post website):

The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of slavery divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War. Slavery was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation. In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly approved a formal statement of "profound regret" for the Commonwealth's history of slavery, which was the right thing to do. . . .

Here is the text of the addendum to the proclamation:

WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history. .

Was honesty really that difficult, Governor McDonnell?