"That Boy's Finger Does Not Need to Be on the Button"

While the putatively "liberal" media hyperventilate about a few words Barack Obama uttered in San Francisco last Sunday, lost in the din were the remarks at a fundraising dinner for Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and his compatriot Representative Geoff Davis who represents the good people of Northern Kentucky. Senator McConnell called Obama "incredibly naive" and Representative Davis called him a "snake oil salesman." But the truly offensive and, yes, "elitist," statement came from Davis when he said: "I'm going to tell you something. That boy's finger does not need to be on the button."

The good news is that Davis's campaign manager, immediately recognizing the racist nature of his boss's words, delivered an unambiguous apology to Obama's Senate office. The bad news is that the reconstituted Solid South under one-party Republican rule has not shaken its old Jim Crow roots.

This incident demonstrates why Obama is a powerful candidate for the general election. I mean, when was the last time you heard a Republican "apologize" for anything that comes out of his or her mouth? The GOP's Southern wing must be careful to silence its instinctive racism. Karl Rove's voter suppression tactics targeting African Americans are well documented. Remember John McCain's "black baby?" How about the "hands" political ad for Jesse Helms or the Willie Horton ad for Bush the Elder? Allen Raymond, the turncoat Republican operative, spilled the beans on the racist tactics the GOP is now expert at deploying.

And what about the high-flying Republican governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour? He's a former chair of the Republican National Committee, and he is always yucking it up with the Council of Conservative Citizens. The C of CC is the reconstituted "White Citizens Councils" of yesteryear during the era of racial segregation, and guess what, they're all Republicans. George W. Bush campaigned for Barbour in 2003 even though the C of CC had splashed photos of Barbour attending one of their barbeques all over its web site.

I guarantee you that if Obama is the Democratic Party's nominee the C of CC types inside the Republican Party are going to be difficult to muzzle because the thought of a black man with his "finger on the button" is just too much for them to bear. Congressman Geoff Davis just exposed the tip of the iceberg.

Comments

[fpie]

Davis' use of the word "boy" was intentional. Appologies aside he made his point with his constituants. This is standard operating BS for Republicans.
No one in America has any illusions about where the Republican party stands on the issue of race. The idea that they will be affraid to use it is silly. They have been dividing and conquering America for the last four decades. The only question is are Americans finally sick of the results or will we vote for another four years of self immolation?

[AnninCA]

I agree with you on this one, because of the apology. Using Obama's own words was pretty funny, in fact.

Sort of like saying: "Hey, you seem to say most anything and then just say, 'I mangled the words. Well, two can play that game.'"

[newpantaloons]

So, AnninCA, you're not only a rabid Hillary supporter (and aren't you embarrassed when she uses that fake accent that she uses when she wants to apprear to be a "good ole boy"), but now you're a racist, too? How can you defend these remarks?

[b2008]

Thank you. I've been saying this from the very beginning. I wish people would wake up to see the affects of this rhetoric on us. We are at each other's throats like never before because of evil people wanting us to fight to keep Hillary in this farce of a race. By any other standards, Obama would have been the winner and the race over. Switch the candidates around and you'll know the truth.

[GrainOSand]

From boys to bitter men.

[b2008]

From little idiots to big idiots. That comment don't deserve any other response.

[GrainOSand]

It really wan't begging for any response. But since you decided to respond to what you think is an idiotic utterance you would then be somebody who is moved by the idiotic. I can accept your characterization though because that is who you are and who am I to argue against that,

Boys to bitter men was meant to artfully say, boys have grown up to be bitter (and racist) men who call other men boys without regard for their accomplishments or humanity.

But of course it matters not what I meant, but only what you think. Now that I know the rules, all is right with the world.

[AnninCA]

That was a very funny apology, since he used Obama's own words on him. "I chose my words poorly."

I'm not so sure that wasn't a very subtle smackdown all the way around. If Obama is going to call the Penn. folks racists, then he should be able to take a few hits himself. If he gets bothered, then everyone can be as respectful to him as he was to them. We'll just all say, "I chose my words poorly."

:)

[Shelly1970]

AnninCA, while most people don't find you to be the most pleasant poster on here (even Hillary supporters like myself), your hate is sometimes a bit over the top. I was shocked when I clicked on your profile to see how many hours per day you spend on here doing nothing else but trying to smear Obama's name.

Seriously. I say this because this is ONE thing I wish Hillary would do better at - apologize when she chooses her words poorly or goes a little overboard (racist surrogates like Ferraro, racist smears by Bill, for example).

Many of us here are just a LITTLE suspicious of your motive on here.

[naturesway]

AnninCA seems very even and fair and actually restrained as compared to the vile and naked hatred sent Hillary's way. AnninCA amazes me with her objective and fair posts. If you think her posts are hatefilled you are lying to yourself. It's just that AnninCA posts things that strike at the truth and that is what you are uncomfortable with. The truth.

[melonman]

I don't believe being called "boy" is on the same level as being called racist.

If you don't get that, you might be a little callous.

[AnninCA]

I think Republican politicians aren't going to be too worried about Obama's fragility, melon.

They will enjoy working in smack-downs.

And then asking for forgiveness, of course. :)

[Annette]

Calling a black man 46 years old a boy is racist. No ifs ands or buts. In the south to call a man a boy is to denigrate them. There is no way a 50 year old man did not know that, it was intentional and for a select audience. His problem is that it got out.

[b2008]

You know Obama never called anybody racist. How can those idiotic words fall from your lips like they are true? If you want to back up your own, please do so with the truth like: Yes, Davis was correct because that's what Black men are, BOYS!

That response would have at least been legitimate than the half-a*s one you tried to deliver.

[Syco]

Well if the shoe its.
Since when is it wrong to call people out for being racist?
Everyone is racist at least once a day.

[rickmv]

I'm not necessarily offering a defense but it might be helpful to know the age of Mr. Davis. If he is in his late 60's or thereabouts it might have to do much more with age than with race.

[EJ99]

3 years difference, so no - nothing to do with age. And while I'm not targeting you specifically, I feel enraged when I see - in other places, people offering up 'alternative' explanations for incidences such as this. Racism has effected my life and the life of my family for generations. Davis's comments have a history, a very very ugly history, that there is no avoiding.

[melonman]

So you think this right-wing cracker was referring to the age difference between him and Obama, huh? Don't pretend to be naive. He knew exactly what he was saying and so do you.

Growing up with racism doesn't excuse you for being racist. Guess what? There are folks who grew up in the Jim Crow south who weren't racist. It's possible to overcome your environment.

[jesselee]

i'm one of the unfortunates in northern kentucky represented by davis. i can't speak for everyone raised in the area, but i've always understood that the label "boy" is highly inappropriate for anybody who's not say... a male under the age of 20. most of the people i grew up with understand this as well. and most of the people who raised me and all those people i grew up with.... but the problem with men like davis in our area (and all over the country for that matter) is not that they turn a careless phrase now and then... but that they, themselves, are careless.

[b2008]

Seems to me more like "they, themselves, are racist" -- could that be another possible response? Just saying....­........

[charon]

"Geoff" Davis? Sounds a lot like Jefferson Davis.

[meanguy]

now THERE'S an enlightened comment...­about as mature as 'obama sounds like osama', huh?

[altohone]

The corporate media is now paraphrasing Obama's comment to make it appear more negative than the original unintentionally negative full quote... go figure.

McCain will use every negative slur from his party as a means to gain free media as he denounces them... as he has already done twice... though not yet for the comment in question.

I wonder if he will be returning their campaign donations too?

[WASanford]

Unlike you, I'm a white working-class male. I've read Senator Obama's talk in it's entirity. Mayhill Flowers report was posted in the "Off The Bus" section of the Huffington Post.. If it's still there, you can listen to the audio of his talk.

When someone tells you that you have antipathy to people who aren't like you (them in Obama's talk) or that you hold anti-immigrant sentiment, they've just called you a bigot! clinging to our guns and our religion because were having tough times is also somewhat insulting.

The funny thing is, the only time I've used a gun was I was in the army. While I consider myself a Christian, I don't go to church very often, and I happily live live in a mult-cultural community. When I was working, I woked with working-class poeple of all races. nor was I bitter.

But what the hey? It's all Hillary's fault or the Main Stream Media did it. Everyone's guilty but our beloved Obama.

[Ashall]

As a Christian, I think Barack Obama was assuming that when the chips are down the one thing people can always count on is their faith, not just for those times when there's a death in the family but when there's no money to pay the mortgage, or to buy food for the kids or even to afford a gallon of gas to get you to work. To take your mind off problems, what do you do? Do you sit around feeling sorry for yourself or do you do those things that you enjoy so much they take your mind off all problems in the world? In order to understand Barack Obama you need a better grasp of the English language. He has a phenominal command of English. To call him naive is the wrong use of the word. He has a great understanding of what the job of president is all about and can handle it with ease.

[b2008]

I beg to differ with you. Antipathy is being used incorrectly here. It means a strong dislike or an aversion to. It never says anything about calling people racist or bigots. You are improvising your own interpretation of Obama's speech and that is what is causing the dissent among us.

Plus he was not speaking of you, per se, or anybody individually, he was using examples of what people had been saying to him on his journeys. He never specifically called any individual a 'GUN TOTING CHURCH GOING IMMIGRANT HATING person whatsover. You, like every other rightwinger, are trying to keep crap stirring the pot of HATRED. Stop blaming the people who are BEING HATED for the HATRED. That's what makes your post so idiotic.

Once again, with feeling, BLACKS ARE THE ONES BEING HATED HERE and you have the nerve to BLAME THEM FOR GETTING HATED. Go take a shower or something!

[desmirl]

We are a long way from flushing the stench of racism into our nation's sewer--where it belongs.

[Sylmason]

"snake oil salesman" the fool cried ..........­.concerned about having Barack's finger on the button, which indicates you can't trust an African American with America's safety, yet they've given Bush the idiot freedom to bankrupt Ameica....­......When the republicans get back into the white house again, it will be on a tour. We need to get these ignorant fools out of the senate and congress. This kind of rhetoric shames us all..

[Syco]

Like momma always said never trust a black man.

[b2008]

With some of the hatred being spewed here, racism is a disease that festers with each generation and only grows. Jesus is the way and He will do away with it completely. Keep the faith.

[MPeter]

It goes to tell you how incredibly racist and biased the media is--even the so-called liberal one. They have all been angling to destroy Obama, scouring for every misstep and looking for ways to trip him up while major stories involving powerful white leaders, repugs and racebaiting dems alike. It is so offensive but, this is America. We the small people are always being screwed. I am so F**ing angry this time, Repugs and stoopid, fat corrupt Dems who derail Obama will pay the ptrice. This is our democracy.

[BigBen]

Joe get real.Hilla­ry has been called a witch,a bitch, a pimp and even a monster by Obama fans and staff. So he better get used to getting the stuff in his face.He has not yet been called to "iron my shirt ". If you Joe thing the liberal press is responsible for Obamaspeak or misspeak as he calls it you are living in LaLa land in the city by the bay. If that boy cannot take the heat he better get out of the kitchen and leave it to a girl who can.

[robXdion]

Say whatever you want, sexism in America didn't include the wholesale enslavement, degradation, terrorism, and utter denial of nearly all facets of humanity racism has caused for African Americans. And as for you calling him a "boy" a weak punk like you would do well to keep it confined to the internet and not to a black man's face. But of course you already know this, don't cha?

[ShelW]

BigBen
Your ignorance is showing...

[foxilocks2007]

don't forget she was called a dyke & a whore also. i doubt that. i doubt she is getting laid at all. just so wound up she can't see straight. i'm glad she took a shot. she needs to start drinking a bit or get on mood stabilizers or something.

[JACKSWADE]

It is somewhat fasinating that Congressman Davis made the Boy remark while in front of
what he thought was a receptive audience..­.In 2008 there were those there who probably felt unconfortable hearing this and should have walked out in protest...­.As my father use to tell me he never saw a White man lynch a Black man by himself he had to be assisted by a few fellow cowards, and anyone that looked on and did not protest were guilty of complicity­....as were those that applauded or remainded silent while hearing congressman davis remarks...
The time has come for those of us that see a new america where hate speach is not accepted by anyone or the perveyor would be called out then will we see a MORE PERFECT UNION were we can truly trive as AMERICANS!