Howard Dean: I Apologize to Vets, but Not 'Right-Wing Nut Jobs'

Former Vermont Gov. and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean apologized to veterans Tuesday for comments he made about the movie "American Sniper," but said he wouldn't apologize to the "right-wing nut jobs" who criticized him.

Dean appeared on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, saying that people who watch the movie about Iraq war vet Chris Kyle were "very angry" tea party members.

Tuesday, on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews," Dean said he spoke without having seen the movie.

"I apologize to the veterans," Dean said, but added, "I make no apologies to the thousands of right-wing nut jobs who have been twittering me with nasty language, but I do apologize to the veterans. We owe them a lot and I think this movie was much more nuanced than I thought."

Those who tweeted him are "chicken hawks," he said, "and I have no respect for them."

Among the public figures who were critical of Dean's original remarks were Fox News Channel's Gretchen Carlson and actor Gary Sinise.

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