The blogosphere is abuzz today over comments made this weekend by Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis. As the Lexington Herald-Leader’s blog Pol Watchers
pointed out yesterday, Davis "compared Obama and his message for change similar to a 'snake oil salesman.'"
The Republican also used the word "boy" in reference to the Democratic frontrunner.
"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," he said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."
The Obama campaign offered this response, from campaign spokesman Bill Burton:
“It's hard to tell what is more outrageous - Representative Davis' condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America," Burton said. "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."
Davis has sent a letter to Obama apologizing for his word choice. As The Hill
notes, Davis wrote that “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.�?
"My comment has detracted from the dialogue that we should all be having on legitimate policy differences and in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you," he added.
{ It's hard to believe that anyone, especially a politician, would be so stupid as to refer to a black man as a "boy". It also make you wonder just how far America has come in regard to the equality of the races? No matter how far we have come this "mindset" still seems just under the surface for many of us. Even though this idiot apologized it leaves a bad taste in a lot of mouths. If I was Obama I would never want to be in the same room with such a man as Davis but politics makes for strange bedfellows as they say.
Here's Obama who sincerely wants to try and unite America and suddenly statements like that make you wonder if such a quest is even possible? Sometimes it really seems that for every step forward we go we take two steps backward? Sometimes it seems like we are indeed our own worse enemies? I just get so damn mad when I hear about things like that.
Why are we like this? Why do we do such things? Does this { as I fear} reflect on all of us? Do we just "shrug" and let it go? Are we all responsible? What do you think?}
Rose