MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell Apologizes for 'Insensitive Phrasing' During Anti-Mormon Attack on Romney

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) has pledged that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints won't be exploited as a Democratic target during the 2012 electoral season. But what about the media -- will they, too, join in on this leftist pledge not to use faith against GOP candidate Mitt Romney (should he secure the nomination) during the general campaign? If what we've seen so far from MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell is any indication, there's no telling how LDS will be treated over the coming months.

(Related: Congressman on MTP Calls Out NBC and Lawrence O‘Donnell for Saying ’Nasty Things’ About Mormonism)

Last night, O'Donnell, host of the network's "The Last Word," apologized for disparaging remarks he made last week on his program. As The Blaze reported, he originally said, "Mormonism was created by a guy in upstate New York in 1830 when he got caught having sex with the maid and explained to his wife that God told him to do it."

And he wasn't done there. He went on to tie Romney into his rhetoric, while continuing to speak disparagingly about LDS's founder.

"Forty-eight wives later, Joseph Smith’s lifestyle was completely sanctified in the religion he invented to go with it," O'Donnell continued. "Which Mitt Romney says he believes."

On Wednesday, the host, who apparently issued these controversial comments in response to Romney's statement that Obama is trying to "establish a religion in America known as secularism," walked these statements back.

Mediaite reports more about O'Donnell's "I'm sorry":

During his apology in last night’s “Rewrite (which, technically, was a Re-Rewrite),” O’Donnell apologized for his “word choice” and “insensitive phrasing,” but not necessarily for the substance of his remarks.

“I am truly sorry if I said something inaccurate about Joseph Smith,” O’Donnell said, “and I am happy to provide time on this show to a Church of Latter Day Saints spokesman to correct any inaccuracy.” [...]

Watch the host backtrack -- sort of -- below:

(H/T: Mediaite)