Presidential candidate Tommy Thompson has an excuse.

At the Republican presidential debate, the question was: Should the boss be allowed to fire a gay guy just because the boss thinks homosexuality is immoral?

Thompson said yes. He said it emphatically. He said it "sincerely." He said it on television.

He's been apologising ever since.

Thompson says "There's nothing discriminatory about me." He says "I'm sorry." He says "It won't happen again." And he has variously offered these explanations --

• He didn't hear the question.
• He didn't understand the question.
• He's deaf in one ear.
• The battery in the hearing aid in his other ear went dead.
• He had the flu.
• He had bronchitis.
• He had to go to the bathroom.
• The dog ate his homework.

(OK, I just made up that last one.)