GOP Bigot Eruption: Rep. Geoff Davis Calls Sen. Obama A “Boy”
They won’t contain themselves. No matter how much John McCain asks his party and fellow conservatives to tone down the racial rhetoric, they will not be able to stop themselves. The idea of a black man beating their Republican candidate for the presidency will be too much to bear for the party of the Southern Strategy.
This summer the GOP Bigot Eruptions are going to go nuclear.
Cue the knuckle-dragging Geoff Davis:
Congressman Geoff Davis, took the criticisms of Mr. Obama a few steps further, likening the change slogan to the pitch of a “snake oil salesman.” He then relayed to the audience that he had taken party in a “highly classified, national security simulation” with Obama.
“I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button,” Mr. Davis said. “He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”
Once the “boy” remarks began to circulate on the Internet, the Obama campaign moved swiftly to criticize them. “It’s hard to tell what is more outrageous – Representative Davis’s condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America. Geoff Davis may hide behind offensive tough talk, but he has marched in lock-step with Bush-McCain policies that have devastated our national security, while Barack Obama has stood up against a misguided war in Iraq and worked with respected Republicans like Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel to secure loose weapons and nuclear materials from terrorists,” Bill Burton, the campaign spokesman said.
Davis later issued an “apology” but it’s a load of crap. He said what was in his heart and in the hearts of many on the right.
Embrace the racist inside, Republicans!
MORE: Pam Spaulding has more.
UPDATE: If you want to know why this sort of thing is going to be an ongoing problem for McCain and the GOP as Obama moves up to officially become the nominee look no further than the comments on conservative blogs QandO and Rick Moran. Both McQ and Moran know that this is really really stupid but at least one of their commenters simply cannot see the problem with calling a grown ass black professional man, let alone one as accomplished as Sen. Obama, a “boy”. They simply chalk it up to “political correctness”.
What’s next? Some con calls Obama a n****r and they shrug their shoulders and say “What’s the big deal?” I wouldn’t bet against it.
50 Responses to “GOP Bigot Eruption: Rep. Geoff Davis Calls Sen. Obama A “Boy””
Contact
Email: owillis@gmail.com
Twitter: @owillis
Facebook
Flickr
AIM: oliverwill
Google Reader Shared Items
Huffington Post Columns
Media Matters Blog Entries
Must Reads
Why Didn’t Obama’s DOJ Go After The New Black Panther Party For Voter Intimidation?
History: Democrats & Republicans On Civil Rights & Equality
Latest Entries
VIDEO: Epic David Vitter Prostitution Documentary Vid
Did Chris Christie Lie About What He Knew When He Attacked Obama? Sounds Like It
VIDEO: Jan Brewer’s Debate Fail
Overwhelming Majority Still Blame Bush For Economic Problems
AUDIO: Tea Party Senate Candidate Christine O’Donnell Has Epic Radio Fail
The Crisis Of Overmedicated Children
James Lee: Hostage Situation At Discovery Building In Silver Spring, MD
“Obamacare Worked Today”
Superman/Batman #75 By Frank Quitely
Glenn Beck Lied About Holding Washington’s Inaugural Address
Meta
Recent Comments
SpiderJ: Come on, Pryme, he’s the perfect GOP candidate. Christopher Christie! He’s Christ Twice! If...
jr: Going to hookers is “boys being boys” to LA Republicans
hnice: “Farris, how can it possibly be true that Obama would be trailing someone liberals seem certain was the...
Wilbur: Word’s clearly gone out from teabag central: when you’ve got no brain just yell your talking...
SaveFarris: If McCain can’t get that uppity n**g*r out of office come November Bush will! You betcha! The Hate is...
Breaking News
Timothy Wayne Hammerstone: Disney Worker Arrested For Child Porn On Xbox
Clay Sannar: Mormon Bishop Shot & Killed
Shooting Spree In Slovakia Capital Kills Six
Lindsay Lohan Stopped By Cops In LA
Yvonne Strahovski at 8th Annual BAFTA/LA TV Tea Party
Possible E. Coli Beef Recalled From BJ’s Wholesale
VIDEO: Britney Spears “Radiance” Commercial
Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper To Star In Action Comedy
Rumor: Cisco Offers To Buy Skype
Retargeting: Web Ads Stalk Users
Coverage
President Obama
2008 Election
John McCain
Humor
Iraq
George W. Bush
Health Care
Economy
NFL
Links
Fox News
Hillary Clinton
Race
Sarah Palin
Redskins
Newsweek
Tea Party
2006 Election
Racism
Oliver's World
Michael Steele
Maryland
History
Religious Right
Conservative
Superman
Crime
Liberals
Women
Mitt Romney
Glenn Beck
Democratic Senate
Immigration
Liberal Media
Black Conservatives
Weird
Twitter
Rudy Giuliani
Global Warming
Abortion
Dick Cheney
Fred Thompson
Foreign Policy
Religion
Supreme Court
Disclaimer
The views on this site are mine and mine alone, and do not reflect the views of my employer, Media Matters for America
Blogroll
© 2000-2010 Oliver Willis
[...] Oliver Willis on this crap: If you want to know why this sort of thing is going to be an ongoing problem for [...]
While I don’t think that calling a man a boy (as opposed to calling a man “boy” to his face) is always racist, it does fall within these simple rules of thumb I have developed for people in the public eye.
1. Do not call a black man “boy” or refer to him as “a boy.”
2. Do not describe a black person as “articulate.”
3. Do not use the word “niggardly,” even if you are prepared to quote the actual, non-racist definition.
4. No blackface. Ever.
How long till someone asks McSame to renounce and repudiate this remark?? I’ll hold my breath.
I gotta say, that pic of Rep. Geoff Davis, he sure looks like a bed sheet wearing fool. It’s gonna be one long summer as the knuckle draggers heads explode.
Calvin: I gotta say, that pic of Rep. Geoff Davis, he sure looks like a bed sheet wearing fool.
I’m curious. What about the picture makes him look like a member of the KKK? Looks like a standard smiling-headshot-against-blue-background Sears-type photo to me.
I find it a tad ironic that, in a posting about Obama being viewed soley on his appearance, you’re able to see such a specific negative thing in such a generic photo.
The guy a knuckle-dragging ass? Sure. But let’s not stoop to his level, or even bend the slightest toward it.
“What about the picture makes him look like a member of the KKK?”
Yeah, i thought he just looked like a grinning idiot.
Next they’ll be calling Obama an “elitist boy”.
Just as he’s a “Muslim” who belongs to a “racist church.” (I’ve actually heard someone claim this.)
No one ever accused these clowns of logic.
[...] the leftwing blogs have pounced on this, suggesting that it’s just another example of Republican [...]
[...] the leftwing blogs have pounced on this, suggesting that it’s just another example of Republican [...]
As noted elsewhere, “Geoff Davis” is not the guy’s given name. He was born “Dirk Hugecock Strongman” but after extensive, scientific telephone polling, discovered that “Geoff Davis” would work much, much better politcally, running as a Republican in the South.
Sean D. Martin:
Yeah, it is a standard photo, but then not all stock photos make their subject look good. I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is about the guy. At any rate, Geoff Davis is just another in a long line of Republican creeps.
4. No blackface. Ever.
Unless he’s Jewish. Then, it’s Ok!!
[...] GOP Bigot Eruption: Rep. Geoff Davis Calls Sen. Obama A “Boy” They won’t contain themselves. No matter how much John McCain asks his party and fellow conservatives to tone down the racial rhetoric, they will not be able to stop themselves. The idea of a black man beating their Republican candidate for the presidency will be too much to bear for the party of the Southern Strategy. [...]
All these repubs believe in the Christian Identity Movement
Scratch,
Regarding #3, I thought you might be interested in a post from our old friend dkelsmith:
Maybe it wasn’t the choice of words that made the senior office look bad.
“What about the picture makes him look like a member of the KKK?”
Yeah, i thought he just looked like a grinning idiot.
“Hey, little boy, would you like some candy? Can you help find my dog?”
Creepy, yes. Classic moment in Douchebaggery, yes. Klansman, I await further evidence.
Geoff has no reason to apologize. His statement was entirely accurate and appropriate. I know him and his family personally, and I can say with great confidence that there is not a racist bone is his body. Anyone with a functioning brain knows that Geoff’s statement was a commentary on Obama’s relative youth and utter incompetence to discharge the office he seeks. It had no racial overtones whatsoever, except to the people who wanted there to be. Obama, who supposedly transcends race issues, shamelessly seized upon Davis’ comment as yet another opportunity to play the race card in an effort to distract attention away from his own recent gaffes (which he “regrets” but does not retract).
Isn’t it interesting that Obama, whose comments were far more incendiary, demands and expects a pass for his words, or at least an opportunity to explain them away, yet he is quick to crucify Davis for far less? Obama (and his surrogates) ought to hold himself to the same standards that he applies to Davis, but of course that is unthinkable to the liberal mindset. Let’s be intellectually honest here, shall we?
Oliver
Great job, as usual. Big Tent even got upset by this before Talk Left went into its anti-Obama pogram.
Why do sites like Talk Left and Taylor Marsh get away with anti-Obama hate?
Just asking.
Especially since Armando, despite his Clinton Blue Dress, prefers Obama. How do I know: he says so when he isn’t attacking Obama’s character and weeping for Hillary.
Dave J.:
Relative youth? Relative to what exactly? Did you know that Obama is two years older than Bill Clinton was in 1992? How old was the Shrub back in 2000? Hell, Rep. Davis is only two years older than Obama. You don’t post as Chris Ford on Matt Yglesias’ blog, do you?
I call bullshit, Dave J. If Davis has nothing to apologize for, why did he?
He said what he was thinking. Shame on him.
Isn’t it interesting that Obama, whose comments were far more incendiary, demands and expects a pass for his words, or at least an opportunity to explain them away,
You’re not listening. What did Obama say that was “incendiary?” Context matters. Try it some time.
Rep. Davis is only two years older than Obama.
Bingo. Explain that to me please, Dave.
Last time I checked, Obama is running for president. Therefore it is entirely appropriate to consider is age, experience and competence relative to other presidents. Guys like JFK and Bubba were the exception, certainly not the rule. Compared to most presidents, Obama is a mere inexperienced boy.
Geoff apologized because that’s the rule for Republicans, who routinely get crucified over the slightest perceived misstep. Conversely, when Obama voices disdain and condescension for the great majority of middle class Americans, saying their belief in religion, or the right to bear arms, or immigration enforcement is nothing more than a cheap coping mechanism to deal with hard economic times, everybody and his dog runs to Obama’s defense to explain it all away. Obama doesn’t apologize. He expresses “regret” for clumsy wording (like Davis?) but sticks to the substance of his commentary.
You libs are all alike. You have long since abandoned intellectual integrity for the sake of political expediency. Kindly give me a break (I know, fat chance).
Dave J: Let’s be intellectually honest here, shall we?
Sure. When are you going to start?
..in an effort to distract attention away from his own recent gaffes (which he “regrets” but does not retract).
Would it be more honest for Obama to say he didn’t mean what he meant? Or more honest for him to regret that his phrasing made his meaning unclear?
Isn’t it interesting that Obama, whose comments were far more incendiary, demands and expects a pass for his words, or at least an opportunity to explain them away, yet he is quick to crucify Davis for far less?
He said people are frustrated about things they can’t control and when frustrated tend to embrace things they can control. It’s a shame that someone recognizing a basic fact of human nature and the current situation is considered “incendiary”.
But by whom? Let’s be “intellectually honest” here. Most of the rural folks in PA are not pissed over Obama’s words. It’s largely the other two campaigns that are trying to tell people they should be.
Dave J: Obama is a mere inexperienced boy.
No, at most you could say is he’s an inexperienced man. The use of the word “boy”, particularly when applied to a black man, is especially insulting. And to claim it is not and that there is not racial overtone attached to its use isn’t being “intellectually honest”.
Dave J: …when Obama voices disdain and condescension for the great majority of middle class Americans, saying their belief in religion, or the right to bear arms, or immigration enforcement is nothing more than a cheap coping mechanism to deal with hard economic times,… [emphasis added]
Not what he said. He didn’t say that was the only reason they would turn to those things. Let’s be “intellectually honest” and actually deal with what he actually said and the context in which he said it.
“Would it be more honest for Obama to say he didn’t mean what he meant? Or more honest for him to regret that his phrasing made his meaning unclear?”
If this is an appropriate standard for Obama, why not for Davis also? The issue here is the double standard that libs apply to conservatives than to their own. Obama’s condescension and elitism are worthy of criticism. If he wants to clarify his remarks, fine. But he should afford Davis the same opportunity. We all know that will never happen.
“Geoff apologized because that’s the rule for Republicans, who routinely get crucified over the slightest perceived misstep.”
True. That’s why McCain apologized when the “Bomb bomb bomb, Bomb bomb Iran” tape came out. Or Rove when he said that Democrats are appeasing the enemy. Or how Dick Cheney apologized to Pat Leahy for saying “go fuck yourself” to him on the Senate floor. Or how McCain tearfully apologized for his error when it was pointed out the Al Queda are Sunni, not Shia as he had stated in a major policy speech. Republicans apologize for everything.
Dave J: If this is an appropriate standard for Obama, why not for Davis also?
Who said it isn’t equally applied? Who said Davis can’t clarify his remarks? Did someone put a gag over his mouth?
Davis can stand by his comments if he wants to. If Davis was sure that what he said shouldn’t be apologized for, then he shouldn’t apologize for it. He should stand up for it even if he takes criticism for it.
Once again, as he did with the Wright fracas, Obama has stood by what he said even though it may cost him politically. Davis could certainly show similar character if he has it.
“Unless he’s Jewish. Then, it’s Ok!!”
No, it’s when Liberman acts like a tool, betrays his party and has zero to do with his faith. Regardless, Hamsher retracted the post and apologised when the din of the wingnut dim bulbs grew too loud and her contemporaires raised a few eyebrows. This, at the time when RNC mouthbreathers wore purple heart bandages for laughs.
Thats when “outrage” looks more like kabuki performed by sugared-up pre-schoolers.
After hearing Hillary called everything from a bitch to a pimp by Obama supporters I guess my heart did not bleed when I read what he was called by republicans. I guess what goes around comes around.
PS. Did they ask him to “iron this shirt” yet and who will protest when they do?
If he wants to clarify his remarks, fine.
He did.
When politicians come to small towns and lie their asses off, folks get bitter about it.
I get it, why can’t you? What is so incendiary about that?
Sean, from what I have read, there is absolutely zero instances prior to this where Rep Davis has made remarks that could be construed as racist. He apologized, yes, but it seems his apology was more for using the term ‘boy’ to describe a sitting United States Senator, and not because Obama is black. Yet, Oliver brands this is as “GOP Bigot Eruption” and you have people here who probably never heard of this man before today (I haven’t) saying he ‘looks’ like a guy who would be in the KKK. It’s funny because since moving down to Florida, I’ve heard more people say the word ‘boy’ than I can count and it’s often said by both white and black men.
Then again, we live in a time when saying “cotton pickin” is racist, so what the hell do I know?
And no, Obama did not stand by what he said. He’s a good politician and he was able to make it appear like he wasn’t standing by his remarks while essentially repeating them.
I’ve said before, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. The number of accusations of racism that we’ll see coming from Democrats between July and November will probably be more than we’ve seen in the last 3-4 presidential elections.
Well, duh.
it seems his apology was more for using the term ‘boy’ to describe a sitting United States Senator, and not because Obama is black.
Well, that works for me. In any event, it was disrespectful.
He still looks creepy.
After hearing Hillary called everything from a bitch to a pimp by Obama supporters
Actually, I think the “bitch” thing came from a McCain supporter first.
Jay: …and you have people here who probably never heard of this man before today (I haven’t) saying he ‘looks’ like a guy who would be in the KKK.
(I hadn’t heard of him before either.)
It should be noted that I replied earlier to the KKK comment that I didn’t see anything in the photo that should give that impression and several other folks here seemed to agree. All in all I think many regular commenters here do try to be reasonably even handed.
Jay: He’s a good politician and he was able to make it appear like he wasn’t standing by his remarks while essentially repeating them.
Where did he do that? I haven’t followed every story on this since I try to confine myself to paying attention to real news, but in what I have seen Obama has regretted saying something in a way that got misinterpreted, but clearly standing by them. What did he say that made it appear that he wasn’t?
Jay: The number of accusations of racism that we’ll see coming from Democrats between July and November will probably be more than we’ve seen in the last 3-4 presidential elections.
That may well be. Passions are running high and folks tend to not think when that is the case and take offense where none is honestly intended (that whole cotton-picking mess being a good case in point). But I wonder how many incidents of racism will actually come from the Republicans and the right. Just because some may cry wolf too often doesn’t mean the wolf isn’t ever there.
Actually, I think the “bitch” thing came from a McCain supporter first.
Which McCain laughed at. And then, or course, he immediately “apologized because that’s the rule for Republicans”.
Here’s what he told the Philly editorial board:
Ok? Enough now?
Jay: The number of accusations of racism that we’ll see coming from Democrats between July and November will probably be more than we’ve seen in the last 3-4 presidential elections.
You may be right, and it will be terrible to watch. I’m sure you have been just as dismayed when accusations of terrorist appeasement and attempts to “destroy” the traditional family have been leveled at liberals in general.
Conversely, when Obama voices disdain and condescension for the great majority of middle class Americans, saying their belief in religion, or the right to bear arms, or immigration enforcement is nothing more than a cheap coping mechanism to deal with hard economic times, everybody and his dog runs to Obama’s defense to explain it all away.
This is the media’s read on Obama’s remarks but it’s also a total distortion of what we all know to be true.
It doesn’t matter if it’s caused by a bad divorce or a factory closure, people of all stripes tend to react to times of uncertainty by seeking our or reinforcing those aspects of their identity that they feel are secure and solid. When the world presents us with the unknown, we seek out and reconfirm the known and the familiar as a means of rallying whatever strength we need to move forward.
I don’t think there’s any denying this process. It’s deeply ingrained in us as social beings. It’s part of the human condition.
Obama did not denigrate this response as a “cheap coping mechanism.” How could he? In times of uncertainty in his own life, he turned to religion as a means of getting through and moving on. That’s why his comments were placed in an entirely sympathetic context. But he also extended his empathy with a critique.
While turning to the familiar and the certain is a natural response to insecurity, it can also leave us hung up and stranded. It can become a reactionary force which keeps us stuck in place, instead of moving us forward. When clinging to the familiar and the certain becomes an end in itself, that’s when it begins to inhibit our ability to affect real and necessary change in our lives. That’s the problem that Obama was addressing. But he was essentially criticizing politicians for failing to address the needs of rural people, not rural people themselves for acting like human beings. Decades of neglect and broken promises on the part of politicians have created a situation where people have become so entrenched in a reactionary mode that they are willing to vote against their self-interest to continue reinforcing the status quo.
I think that’s just obvious and requires considerable bad faith to read it as an attack on rural people or somehow elitist.
As for Jay and this comment:
The number of accusations of racism that we’ll see coming from Democrats between July and November will probably be more than we’ve seen in the last 3-4 presidential elections.
And this will in no way be connected to the increase in “gaffes” and “misunderstandings” coming from Republicans? You think Dems would have accussed Davis of racism if he had said: “That MAN’s finger does not need to be on the button…” You really think that?
“The problem was that I just mangled it, which happens sometimes,” he said.
I’m finding the ways in which the different candidates demonstrate their character particularly interesting to watch this time around.
Contrast, for example, Obama acknowledging that he mangled the points he was trying to make when he misspoke with Hillary’s blaming lack of sleep for repeating the same obvious sniper lie several times or McCain’s never clarifying or even acknowledging the many Shite/Sunni-type goofs he’s made.
Yes, I’m planning to vote for Obama and have a bias towards him. But I started off very undecided and it’s how he handles these types of things that has convinced me he’d make the better president.
I see it kinda like this.
My choices for President are:
My grandfather, and his stories about the war;
My mom, scolding me for doing something she thinks is wrong; or
My ridiculously smart college roommate.
LOL. Now that’s some quality encapsulation!
Me? I’m going for the college roommate.
The number of accusations of racism that we’ll see coming from Democrats between July and November will probably be more than we’ve seen in the last 3-4 presidential elections.
I’d say that’s a safe bet considering the number of non-white major party candidates running in those elections.
“Sean, from what I’ve read, there is absolutely zero instances prior to this where Rep. Davis has made remarks that could be construed as racist.”
Impeccable logic. A first-time racist is automatically not a racist. Who could argue with that?
He wasn’t being racist. He was just doing his Foghorn Leghorn impression.
“He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”
We need us a President who is willing to vaporize half the planet!
We need us a President who is willing to vaporize half the planet!
Yeah, I was thinking about this last night. Not knowing anything about this “simulation” (and why was he there in the first place), we don’t know the extent of this “threat.” It would seem likely that Obama exercised restraint. And that’s a bad thing. Somehow…
“He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.”
Yeah. What does that mean, actually?
Did he not make some decision that Davis liked, or was he actually unable to make a decision at all? Was he, I dunno, just sitting there reading a copy of The Pet Goat? Perhaps Davis is confused and mixed Obama up with someone else and a moment of crisis.
“Geoff apologized because that’s the rule for Republicans…”
Well, then Republicans sure like to break that rule. Enlightened Liberal gave some examples of where Republicans should have apologized for saying ridiculous and offensive things, but to this day, haven’t. Let me add to the list. Tom DeLay never apologized for saying that the EPA was the “Gestapo of government” (and on the House Floor, no less). Newt Gingrich never apologized for saying that Susan Smith drowning her kids was a reminder that people needed to vote Republican. James Inhofe never apologized for calling the EPA a “Gestapo agency.” Strom Thurmond never apologized for running a presidential campaign with a pro-segregation platform (yes, Robert Byrd was in the KKK, but hehas since expressed regret and remorse for having done so). George Bush 41 never apologized for calling Bill Clinton and Al Gore “bozos.” The current President Bush never apologized for making those WMD “jokes” at the White House Correspondents Dinner. The list could go on and on and on.
[...] He was not referring to the color of Obama’s skin, which is what drove the offense at Davis’ [...]