"These words do not reflect who I am". I don't know how many politicians I have head say that. But let's be quite clear: if they were not taken out of context, they do reflect who you are. They are exactly how you behave and think when you are not challenged about it.

You may rethink it later and apologise, either because you genuinely think you were a dolt or because it is expedient to do so, and either says something about who you are as well. But spare us this "It's not who I am" guff.