Let me answer as a former Antillean prime minister would respond.
He would say something like," Mr. president, before I start my discourse I have to let you know that half of the people inside this room are dummies "
some other participant got up and protested, “Mr. president I demand that these words are retracted”.
So the prime minister responded: With pleasure I will retract my words. A few moments ago I said that half the people in this room are dummies. Now I say: "Half of the people in this room are not dummies. "