49-year-old Rep. Geoff Davis Just Called Obama "Boy"?

There's not a whole lot to say about this except to just point it out. 49-year-old Kentucky Representative Geoff Davis apparently had this to say about Obama at a GOP dinner in the state:

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

Davis's aide didn't dispute the accuracy of the quote.

Man, lesson one in politics may say don't get caught with a live boy, but not far down the list is don't call a black man "boy." (It's near don't call your wife a "cunt".) People make mistakes and tongues slip, and I seriously doubt Rep. Davis consciously thinks in equations like "black man = boy"...but that is one serious fucking Freudian foot in his mouth.

Talk about elitism. Here's the oldest kind.

(One last note--I'm pretty curious to know what Davis considered indecisive about Obama's performance in the simulation. Was it that Obama didn't immediately nuke Iran?)

Comments

[Syco]

IF he had said the n word this would be major news

[ladeyday]

Unless either "boy" or the "n" word could be used in a derogatory sense against YOU, I suggest you back your opinion out, 'casuse as they say in the good ol' south "that dog don't hunt".

[Syco]

Well thankfully it is.

[Halsey]

syco...he euphemized the n word..to boy... jeezus..I HATE it when the white men in the office use the word "girls" for WOMEN...I'­m 53...and (sadly)...­haven't been a "girl" for 33 years!...t­hey don't mean to be offensive.­.they are just idiots.. the difference is..they are not ELECTED officials.­.

"boy" is derogatory­...period.­.end of story...

[Syco]

well guys need an alternative to girls that is also one syllable.

[Ladylight]

As an African American I certainly understand what was meant by the comment. But I have to give the man a nod because he is at least open with his views, which I may add he is allowed to have. The world will never change if we dont get everything out in the open. As I said at least he is honest and not hiding behind comments like he is elitist or muslim.

[nihilon x]

Correct -- get it all out in the open...so we can soundly and uncompromisingly condemn such attitudes.

This is 2008 -- not 1958.

[PhoenixtheUndying]

can i write the campaign comercial?

[SolarPowerGuy]

Oooh, let me help!

You know how some GOPers like to say, "Barack HUSSEIN Obama"?

Let us not fail to note, (slyly, of course) that the Congressman from the south of the Mason-Dixon line who just slipped a little KKK code language into his speech is named Jefferson -- errr, Geoff -- Davis.

[HeevenSteven]

This will raise his stock in the GOP.

[Seattlelite]

To refer to a grown man as "boy" is typically used to minimize a person doesn't matter what race the man happens to be, it's meant to be an insult period. And this jack ass was trying to be insulting.

[JFB]

One does not make such a demeaning and loaded statement without knowing full well exactly what one is doing, and without knowing exactly how one audience will receive it. This is just proof that racism is alive and well amongst the Republican Party leadership. It is just not enough for him to be deemed “worst person in the world” in tonight’s Countdown. He needs to be run out of the political establishment. The Democratic Party should demand that he resign immediately. Of course he will not do so, but I would like to see his fellow Republicans be made to defend his racism.

Hey John McCain, should Geoff Davis be required to resign his position?

[CTO]

This really isn't that big of a deal. We can't reasonably determine what he meant by the term "boy". It could be that he was referring to Obama's relative youth and inexperience which has been discussed at length. I just hope Al Sharpton doesn't start yapping about getting this guy fired or sent to jail.

[adept2u]

Relative youth? He is 3 years older

[JFB]

The problem with your argument is that in the South everybody knows exactly what the use of this word means when used by a white man and said of a black man. It is inescapable within the culture. This was not a mistake.

[ladeyday]

and we are to assume that YOU are African amercan and can weigh in on this as "isn't that big a deal". If you are, then you are welcome to that opinion. Hwever, if you are not, then your opinion does not count unless you can agree or remain neutral. That's because YOU don't know what it would feel like. Now, you HAVE to admit that, don't ya think?

[JoInCalifornia]

I have an idea. Let's just drop all of this politically correct nonsense. I am a teacher. The nicest compliment that I can say about one of my favorite male students is "he's a fine boy" (and I teach AP to 17 and 18 year olds). But I dare not say that if the student happens to be Black, because I will be fired. Don't we all have enough trouble just getting along with eachother? Can't we stop pouncing on one another for innocently saying something which is deliberately used to cudgel another person with? I am soooo sick of political correctness.

[hippybaby1970]

we know exactly what this ugly little man was talking about. i would not want someone like you teaching my children.

[Michale32086]

There is no need to get nasty..

You don't KNOW EXACTLY what the "little man" was talking about because you weren't there...

You read it on a web site and that is the extent of your knowledge.­.

Allow JoIn their opinion without attacking him/her for it..

Michale...­..

[JoInCalifornia]

I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class,
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class
I will not say that hippybaby1970's child will never be in an AB AP Calculus class

There, I controlled myself.

[Syco]

Barack isn't one of your students. He is a grown man and should be treated as one. Political correction has nothing to do with it. Now if he had said Negro then it would.

[JFB]

And I am soooo sick of people who have no sensitivity to the feeling of others. You actually think that it should be OK for you to call black men “boy” just because you can use this word to your white male students. Are you really so ignorant of history? How shameful. And you call yourself a teacher. My God, those poor children you supposedly teach. I am so grateful you never taught my children. Does AP stand for Absolute Perfidy?

Your disdain for political correctness has lead you to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I fear that this stated disdain might actually be a convenient mask of a racism that, if not checked, might well infect your students.

[LarBear]

JFB (Quote) "And I am soooo sick of people who have no sensitivity to the feeling of others. "
Such as people with black skin who refer to others with black skin as the "N" word? Or to females as Ho's? Or refer to people with black skin wearing lots of Bling and selling lot's of foul worded CD's, as successful? Or celebrate "Pimping".­.. Or to a "Black" Community.­.. Are WE still Segregated? Are you sensitive to what "Black" children re being taught? How about to whether their skin color makes them a "Black" Person?
Or is your rant only against "Whites"? Do you know, as a fact, this teacher does not have black skin?
A. P. Advanced Placement for Colleges and Universiti­es... Please Teacher... Do NOT teach children to think and act response - able... Just emotionally re-act....

[robXdion]

Hey Jo,

You are in California were everyone thinks they can't be racist because it's not the South. 'Boy' used in reference to AA males over the age of 15 is VERY loaded. You sound as clueless and stupid as Kelly Tilghman using the word "lynching" in reference to Tiger Woods. If you are a teacher, please watch the CBS documentary "Eyes on the Prize" and get a clue about the perspective of the ones you teach. White people crying about political correctness sounds like you are upset you don't get to offend others. WAAAAAAHHHh. Would you like someone else calling you "peckerwood", "cracker", "ofay", "gringo", "c*nt", "b---ch", or "broad"??? Probably not, right? Show others the same respect.

[DasBoot]

Why do you assume that a Republican from Kentucky does not think in terms of black man=boy? As MLK pointed out, for most male blacks that was their middle name until very recently.

The remark was made among friends. Kind of like when Trent Lott decried the fact that America did not vote for the segregation platform of Strum Thurmond in '48.

Let's face it: this is the kind of stuff many white right wingers still like to tell each other when they think nobody else is listening.

[ray3]

Unfortunately hate and disrespect apply to all colors, genders, and religions. To end it someone has to take a step.

[Chuckwheat]

Holy Cow!!

[wingman1]

Roll him in manure. It's his natural habitat based on this quote.

[Rockerbabe]

Oh really! Welcome to Hillary's life! So black men don't like being called "boy". Well, Mr. Whoever Your Are, women in general don't like being called bitch, whore, cunt, witch, hefer fucking bitch, etc., especially on national TV - but then again, that doesn't stop anyone from abusing Hillary and her supporters. If sexism can be so rampant without so much as a word from Obama (since he claims he is all about change); then why can't the word boy be used?
Oh, excuse me; I now understand that sexism is acceptable, but a slight like using the term "boy" is considered racist and well as we all know racism is bad, very bad. Black men abuse and misuse black women and all kinds of other women everyday, just like white, red and yellow men do, but that does not make sexism OK. So until the members of the Boy's Club, yes, the Boy's Club, start showing some respect and consideration for women, don't expect me and many other women to get to upset at the language Obama has to hear and read about - seems aweful mild from where I sit and hear.

[RobertArend]

And the "babe" in your Huffpo identity is....what­?

Respect yourself first.

[LABC]

Seriously, are some of you Clinton supporters as stupid as your posts indicates?This would be the time to just denouce this tool's remarks, period! Not have a "my blues are worse than your blues" seminar.Je­sus Christ, no wonder some of you Clinton supporters get dumped on - you have as much sensitivity and insight as a slug. This is not right....P­ERIOD!!

[LiberalFL]

Hey friend, you clearly have no understanding of American history at all, so leave your vitriol at home until you learn a bit.

I am a woman, I think sexism is disgusting and I call it out whenever I see it. But that isn't have this post is about. Its about a white southerner calling a black man "boy," and if you knew a damn thing about slavery/jim crow/civil rights, you'd know that "boy" is extraordinarily derogatory. Its what they'd say right before they'd rape black women and lynch black men.

And for all your harping about Obama not responding to sexism in the media, I don't see Hillary Clinton doing much to stop the racism in this campaign.

[Seattlelite]

"I don't see Hillary Clinton doing much to stop the racism in this campaign."

Why would she, she and her husband did their best in SC trying to resurrect it.

[DasBoot]

When did Obama ever use any of those terms, or one of his advisors? Bet you can't come up with a single example. By the way, the only time I heard Hillary referred to in those terms, it was by other women...

[JFB]

“Considered racist,” like perhaps it is not. You do our cause no help by dismissing the extreme evil of racism.

By the way, this has nothing to do with Clinton vs. Obama. As bad as sexism is, I have never heard of a woman being lynched because of her gender. You are totally lacking in empathy, and this is not a nice trait.

[Michale32086]

Not to be a stick in the mud and in NO WAY taking anyone's side, but women have endured countless evils throgought history equal to or worse than, lynching..

Even today in the Middle East and elsewhere, women are still subjugated and subjected to gross and inhumane treatment.­..

I am not defending racism in anyway, shape or form.. I am simply pointing out that women have endured equally despicable acts...

Now, whether that would be considered "sexism" is something that could possibly be open for debate..

Michale...­..

[Michale32086]

In the dictionary under OOOPs, there is a pic of Rep Davis..

I could see it if Davis was like 90 yrs old. In that case, everyone would be considered a "boy" or a "girl"..

But he doesn't look any older than Obama...

I agree that he has really stepped in the kaa-kaa...

However, I disagree with you on one point... Calling the wife the "C" word is worse....

See...?? I can't even TYPE the word for fear she will strike me down...

Michale...­..

[JFB]

HuffPost's Pick

Yes, the “C” word is horrendous, and Nick Antosca was doubtless referencing the recent revelation that McCain called his wife this in public, with reporters present, some years ago on the campaign trail. The use of the word “boy” by a Southern white man directly and unambiguously references lynching, and is certainly much worse: less of an insult and more of a threat.

[Michale32086]

Well said..

I concede the point..

Michale...­..

[Syco]

There is a city in VA that I refuse to visit because its called Lynchburg

[SolarPowerGuy]

"People make mistakes and tongues slip, and I seriously doubt Rep. Davis consciously thinks in equations like 'black man = boy' ...but that is one serious fucking Freudian foot in his mouth."

I dunno. The congressman from Kentucky is named "Geoff" Davis? Geoff, as in Jeff, as in... Jefferson?

A guy with THAT moniker just might not be as unconscious of his racially-charged words as you have (charitably) suggested.

[MerhabaAbi]

BINGO! We have a winner. In that neck of the woods, that will likely bring in some votes, I didn't (wink wink) mean it that way. Who sweats on election day anyhow? Now if only we are as willng to identify sexism as readily as we do racism, we'd really be getting somewhere.

[Syco]

Well sexism is going to be fixed after we get rid of racism

The agenda goes like this:
1.racism
2.sexism
3.banning the phrase reverse racism ( it doesnt make any damn sense)
4.Destroyi­ng Fox News

[SevereTireDamage]

oops.