Where is the Media on THIS one?

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Author Message   Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 6598 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 11:12 am:        Davis sorry for 'boy' remark Obama reference draws criticism Congressman Geoff Davis apologized Monday to presidential candidate Barack Obama for calling the Illinois Democrat a boy during a speech Saturday night in Boone County. "On Saturday night, I gave a speech in which I used a poor choice of words when discussing the national security positions of the presidential candidates," Davis wrote to Obama. "My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity. "I offer my sincere apology to you and ask for your forgiveness. Though we may disagree on many issues ... my comment has detracted from the dialogue we should all be having on legitimate policy differences and in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you." • http://news.enquirer.com/assets/AB105750414.PDF" target="_new">Read Rep. Davis' letter to Sen. Obama (PDF) • http://frontier.cincinnati.com/comments/threadview.asp?threadid=578">Tell us: Was Davis' 'boy' comment racist? During his talk at Saturday's 4th District Lincoln/Reagan Day Dinner in Boone County, Davis, a Hebron Republican seeking re-election, questioned the national security credentials and experience of Obama, an African-American, before an audience of about 400 from a recent "highly classified, national security simulation": "I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country." Davis is taking criticism because referring to a black man as a boy is considered by many as racist and pejorative. He also found himself embroiled in the emotionally charged discussion about race in this year's presidential race. By Monday night, the story was picked up by news organizations, blogs and Internet Web sites such as the Drudge Report. But even with all the criticism, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, a Boone County Republican, said he does not think that the comment will take a political toll on Davis. The comment "will have no legs" in the 4th Congressional District race, Grayson said Monday on KET's "Kentucky Tonight." Davis faces two lesser-known opponents - G.E. Puckett of Fleming County and Warren Stone of Independence - in the May 20 primary. The winner will run against Oldham County Democrat Michael Kelley. "He is not a racist," said Grayson, who also spoke Saturday night at the GOP dinner. "It was a misstatement. He apologized, which is the right thing to do. In this race, it will be a blip on the radar screen." Also on the KET program, Kentucky Democratic Vice Chairman Nathan Smith of Fort Mitchell said the comment will exact a political toll on Davis. "It's disturbing," Smith said. Davis campaign spokesman Jeremy Hughes said the congressman misspoke and was not directing a racist statement at Obama, but instead calling into question his qualifications for office. The reaction from Obama supporters and Democrats was stern. "It's hard to tell what is more outrageous, Rep. Davis' condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. State Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, the only African-American in Northern Kentucky's legislative caucus, said he was offended by Davis' remark. "I'm somewhat shocked knowing Congressman Davis that he would use that phrase realizing the sensitivity historically of the term and to defame Sen. Obama, who is like himself, an individual who has given so much for our country," Simpson said. "I'm somewhat taken aback. "It's very offensive using it in the vein he used it in." Ron Washington, a retired Northern Kentucky police officer who was the first African-American to serve on the Kenton County Republican Executive Committee, came to Davis' defense. "When Geoff first ran for office (in 2002), I got to know him, and I campaigned with him in black communities and neighborhoods," Washington said. "I know there is nothing racist about Geoff Davis. He is a good guy, and he is not the guy he is being portrayed to be." The comment was first posted Saturday on Bluegrass Bulletin. com, a blog written by Marcus Carey, a former 4th District GOP chairman who attended the dinner. "I have never heard Congressman Davis speak in any way which would suggest a racial prejudice, bias or hatred," Carey wrote. "And yet, in this highly charged environment where discussions about race are commonplace, there seems to have developed a hypersensitivity to the words being spoken by candidates and others." Campbell County Democratic Party Chairman Ken Mullikin said he could not believe Davis would make such a comment. "When you get somebody in an emotionally charged situation, they speak what is on their mind," Mullikin said. "That comment clearly shows what Geoff Davis really believes about African-Americans." But Northern Kentucky Republicans strongly disagree that Davis is a racist. They said it is Obama who has slammed small-town America and working-class people with his recent comments that those voters are bitter and clinging to guns and religion. "Geoff Davis is absolutely not a racist," 4th District GOP Chairman Kevin Sell of Alexandria said. "This is a man of integrity. All he was doing in that speech was questioning the experience of a candidate and the defense of our country. There was no question about that."   Tonya "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Tonya Post Number: 6998 Registered: 07-2006 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 02:25 pm:        "Where is the Media on THIS one?" I thought you pie-in-the-sky niggers LOVVVVVE this sort of stuff. They're not reporting the racism. Y'all told them racism don't exist...after they told y'all to tell them that, needless to say.   Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 6609 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 03:00 pm:        I know where the media is. It was a rhetorical question.