Tampa, Florida

- It's the story Bubba the Love Sponge wanted heard, not misconstrued. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way.

Bubba recently came under fire for making comments on the situation in Haiti after a massive earthquake struck the impoverished nation.  He says the point he was trying to make was that the United States had enough problems of its own, without sending resources needed here to Haiti.

Those comments, he says, didn't come out quite right.

In an effort to explain himself, Bubba granted 10 Connects the one and only interview he's given to any television station.

"If I was to say something to the people out there, I'd say, I'm sorry for my brashness. I'm sorry that I probably wasn't sensitive or politically correct when I said what I said. I wish nobody would have died," Bubba said late Thursday morning during an interview at his Tampa studio.

So, what caused all the brouhaha on the airwaves and online? It turns out, several comments he made on his show and online  started it all.

Referring to the current situation in Haiti, Bubba stated, "Maybe this is actually a good thing. Here's the thing.  We would all agree that Haiti is just in shambles. It's just a horrible country. It's just dirt it's poverty they need a cleansing, maybe a million Haitians that will up not being around tomorrow. It's a cleanse."

That comment quickly became a topic of conversation on television stations and websites alike, but it wasn't that one alone getting people fired up and sounding off with their opinions.

He also made a comment on Twitter.

That same day, he posted this: "I say f*** Haiti.  Why do we have to take care of everybody.  Our country is in shambles"

We asked him, "What do you think about the comments that you made? How do you think people mistook them?" 

He told us, "Well, you know my comment on Twitter, 'F' Haiti.  I was coming in on the morning to work... 4:30 in the morning and listening to the radio.  It was all Haiti, all Haiti, all Haiti. I just irresponsibly typed in 'F' Haiti. That's my Twitter. I didn't think it through. I didn't want to see anyone die."

Bubba has maintained all along that his intentions were honest.  He says with all the many problems here in America dealing with a bad economy, a high unemployment rate and joblessness, that the money being sent to Haiti really needs to stay at home, helping people who here, such as children's organizations.

Bubba says he wishes more people would be active here at home.  As an example, he discussed his passion for helping first responders in the Bay area through his charity, donating more than six figures to various agencies, with a particular focus on families of law enforcement.

"I'm just the average dude out there that says it like it is, and sometimes my big mouth gets me in trouble.  I don't want anyone to have died. I don't mean 'F' Haiti. I'm over turning on my television and seeing Haiti, Haiti, Haiti," Bubba said.

He continued by saying, "I think a lot more people agree with my stance on Haiti, but they just don't have the nads to say it. I think a lot of people in the media agree as well... I think my comments are dead on."

Bubba apologized for making anyone upset over the Haiti issue, saying that he didn't mean to be insensitive.

But, he defended himself when it came to his right to share his opinion.  "My show is my show.  It's my opinion. I'm not a credible news source, although I'm as credible as most news agencies.  I will occasionally upset some people.  I'm an abrasive kind of guy! Look at me."

Bubba cited other natural disasters that did not get this kind of attention, he says, the way it should have. "I don't remember this for Hurricane Katrina or the five hurricanes in Florida or Midwest floods, three police officers in seven days.  We're not in the best of druthers financially in our country."

The husband and father of two said he had more people calling into his show agreeing with him, than disagreeing. We asked him, "What's been the response for you?"

He responded by saying, "Both good and bad?? I'd say 80/20.  80 percent for, and 20 percent against.  Some people agreeing with me, and saying, 'You're damn right, Bubba.' And, others saying I'm an idiot. I'll take that.  It's a good gig."

"I think the average guy... The average 43-year-old guy out there working his butt off and trying to feed his family doesn't want to see Haiti on his TV anymore.  I think he feels bad about humanity. We don't need to be the savior of a country that controls its own destiny."