Saxby Chambliss: Anti-Gay Slur Likely Originated From My Office

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said Wednesday that a derogatory slur left on an Internet discussion over the rights of gays to serve in the U.S. military appears to have originated from his office.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on the message in question on Tuesday evening:

The comment was posted on Joe.My.God., a blog dedicated to gay and lesbian issues, shortly after a Democratic bid to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" faltered in the U.S. Senate.

"All [gays] must die," wrote the commenter, identifying himself as "Jimmy."

The blog's readers traced the Internet Protocol address to the suburban Atlanta complex where Chambliss has an office.

At the time, Chambliss spokeswoman Bronwyn Lance Chester said that the office was investigating whether the message originated with them. She said that they were "moving quickly to understand the facts" and added that the Senator's office "has not and will not tolerate any activity of the sort alleged. Once we have ascertained whether these claims are true, we will take the appropriate steps."

On Wednesday evening, Chambliss' press team issued a statement signaling the slur likely came from the Republican lawmaker's home state office; however, investigators had yet to identify who was responsible for the making the derogatory remark. The statement said the case has been handed over to the Senate sergeant-at-arms and is still under review.

A spokesman for Georgia's other Republican Senator, Johnny Isakson, told the Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that the lawmaker's home-state office, which is located in close proximity to that of Chambliss, determined that the slur did not come from them.

Comments

[leyvadaniel]

04:30 PM on 09/30/2010

A decent politician in GA... shocking!

[watsonemily96]

07:09 PM on 09/25/2010

Where was ol' Saxby when this was written?

[Minion]

07:44 PM on 09/24/2010

We're still WAITING, Saxby.

[Koch Brothers]

06:14 PM on 09/23/2010

I have no idea why I'm not surprised!

[american2008]

02:10 PM on 09/23/2010

Boy, you gotta love the 24/7 outrage by Log Cabin Repubs on this huh?

[Frustrated in PA]

12:57 PM on 09/23/2010

Actually Senator Chambliss....BE HONEST for once in your miserable life.

It was not "all gays" it was "all fa&*ots must die." Don't try to whitewash this situation.

[supertim]

12:28 PM on 09/23/2010

this coming from a guy who compared a sitting US Senator, Max Cleland, a quadrapalegic no less, to Osama Bin Laden and who dodged the draft himself with a "bum knee" excuse

[bmc0718]

02:19 PM on 09/23/2010

Wow - that actually took my breath away, and not in a 'feel good' sorta way...

[supertim]

02:00 AM on 09/24/2010

here is the original ad...

Chambliss: My 2002 Attack Ad On Cleland Was ‘Truthful In Every Way’
"During an interview with Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) on MSNBC this afternoon, host Andrea Mitchell noted that John McCain is campaigning for him in Georgia today even though McCain had strongly condemned one of his 2002 attack ads. That ad linked his opponent, Max Cleland, to Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden..."
http://tiny.cc/m0u1c”

[bmc0718]

02:27 PM on 09/23/2010

One correction: Max Cleland isn't a quadriplegic - he's a triple amputee, a result of injuries suffered whil he was active duty military.

[toddag]

12:26 PM on 09/23/2010

So there is at least one Senator paying people, most likely with tax dollars, to tr_oll blogs. How many of the tr_olls on this site are working for elected officials?

[bmc0718]

02:20 PM on 09/23/2010

Yes, with tax dollars, as it's his congressional office, not his campaign office. The only way it isn't a paid staffer is if it's an intern, who is being supervised by a paid staffer.

[TaiJi2]

12:19 PM on 09/23/2010

Is it a threat? Is it a crime? WHO CARES! It's hate speech originating from a Senator's campaign office. 'Nuff said. Tar and feather the perp (figuratively, of course).

[FactsvsFear]

11:37 AM on 09/23/2010

These are some very bad people. I hope we never see these evil people in power again. And to all the Gay Liberals reading this now.... I understand your frustration. I am not Gay nor do I know what it feels like to be you, but I am a person with a good heart who cannot stand injustice and bigotry. It actually makes me feel physically sick. So I understand many of you are disappointed in this Administration but please vote and fight because these people who want the mantle of power back actually want you to die. They are evil and see you as a outlet for their hate. Please don't give up and fight to keep these soulless people from having control of our great country.

[Peter Deffet]

12:39 PM on 09/23/2010

Thanks for being an ally!

[legalloon]

11:29 AM on 09/23/2010

All they need to do is just not talk about it for a few days and it will all be forgotten. After all, this is a sentiment shared by these teabaggers, isn't it? After they win in November, they will be able to post such remarks with little fear of anyone saying anything!

[CheapTrick]

11:27 AM on 09/23/2010

“Um.. that wasn't really a "slur," so much as it was a "threat."

And let's be honest.... it's probably going to be part of the Republican Party Platform after the elections.”

[Peter Deffet]

12:40 PM on 09/23/2010

The word used on the blog comment was not "gay". It was a much more colorful word beginning with an F and ending with a T.

[gwinegarden]

11:24 AM on 09/23/2010

Damn! They told me not to click on 'Send'

[Contact1972]

11:09 AM on 09/23/2010

I'm sure Saxby will probably give the guy a medal.

[DoctorWhoDat]

11:09 AM on 09/23/2010

Saxby Chambliss are rea War Hero.......friggin creep....