Rep. Davis apologizes for "boy" remark

[grannylib]

Source: CNN

"...I ask your forgiveness..."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

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Just caught this while surfing - Rep. Davis apologized to Senator Obama for his remarks, asks his forgiveness. More at link.

[tularetom]

1. Was it a REAL apology or

an "I apologize if anyone was offended by my remarks" repuke type apology?

Where you can apologize without having to admit your remarks were offensive.

[MercutioATC]

2. Well, you COULD just read for yourself, but here:

"In a letter to Obama, Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis said his “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… in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you.”"

[40ozDonkey]

3. It started out typical Repuke and then he remembered he's in a minority party now.

Then suddenly he was asking for forgiveness and offering his sincere apologies.

[rhett o rick]

6. I believe it was a true apology. But he was apologizing for the fact

that his true racism reared it's ugly head. What he means is "I apologize for saying what I was thinking."

[bluestateguy]

4. Oh please. Some press release entirely drafted by a staffer

Thsi clown probably never even saw the apology he "wrote"

I am calling for his resignation.

[AlinPA]

5. Apologies in politics?

[Zambero]

7. Boy???

Well yes, he did apologize, but since that formality has never carried much weight with the Fox News crowd whenever a liberal asks forgiveness over some remark, I can't wait to hear Sean Hannity's choice of words in defending this (apologetic) idiot!

[Maeve]

8. A bit more from CNN with link

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A Republican congressman has apologized to Barack Obama after referring to the White House hopeful as a “snake-oil salesman” and a “boy.”

In a letter to Obama, Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis said his “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… in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you.”

Davis spokesman Jeremy Hughes said the congressman delivered the letter to Obama’s Senate office himself Monday morning.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/14/gop-congressman-apologizes-to-obama-for-snake-oil-remark/

[slackmaster]

9. It doesn't count until he checks into rehab

:rofl:

[JoFerret]

10. Can't speak for or about Davis but

...it is sometimes hard not to think of Obama as a "boy" because of his relative youth, inexperience and boyish good looks. And boy - if you are in the midst of an argument with a Hillary hater going on about her being an old crone....etc.

I think of most men under 45 or so as boys so I really have to work at it.
And - as I said - know nothing about Davis so am not defending him or whatever. And yes - I do know the history of the word when applied to grown men. I am also aware of the word "sweetie" and "girl" as a put down also. Or can be. And so on through the linguistic minefield of our language/ history.

[valerief]

12. Who is under 45? Not Obama.

He's 14 years younger than Hillary Clinton. Not a big gap.

Clinton is 11 years younger than McCain. I guess that makes her a girl.

And what Obama inexperience do you mean? I thought they were on par, legislatively speaking.

[JoFerret]

14. oh fer crissake

give it a break.

[NCDem60]

23. Can you imagine

what the reaction of the Hillary campaign and womens groups would be if McCain had said, "That girls finger doesn't belong on the button." Even without any racial component it's an insult.

[last_texas_dem]

39. But Davis is only three years older than Obama

I could see where you're coming from if Davis was a generation, even just a decade or so older... but considering Davis and Obama are relatively the same age, I don't think there's really any reason he should get a pass for this.

(And yeah, I feel like a broken record, having already mentioned this a couple of times on another thread; I just think the similarity in age between the two is significant.)

[alfredo]

11. Geoff Davis is an asshole. I am not apologizing for that.

[MidwestTransplant]

13. Hmmm why say it in the first place if you like him so much

“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… in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you.”

[Disturbed]

16. "personal and professional respect"

If that were the case how could he have voiced those words in the first place?

The apology itself is a crock of shit.

[Winterblues]

15. Gee I didn't mean to call hima snake oil salesman

It was totally unintentional, I call everyone I am talking about snake oil salesmen. It is just common slang...:crazy: Oh and "boy" watch your mouth, ya hear....

[devilgrrl]

17. This DUer doesn't think "boy" is a racist comment...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3156491&mesg_id=3156519

:popcorn:

[Binka]

18. I Think I'm Batting 1000 When Those Nasty Threads Get Re-Posted

I've had all the OPs on ignore.

[Bluebear]

20. 'I'm ignoring the author of that thread.'

Funny thing!

[devilgrrl]

21. The OP or the author of the obnoxious post?

I don't have anyone on ignore. I usually put suspected disruptors in my buddy list... easier to keep track.

Well, you're not missing much. Some responded stating that calling someone "boy" wasn't racist - and I call bullshit!

[Island Blue]

22. Actually, what that DUer is correct.

It isn't "always" racist. Or even about race. I've heard the word used plenty of times in reference to a grown white man. Having said that, I'm not suggesting that Davis had no racist intent in the words he chose - he probably did. I'm just saying that the poster you linked to is correct. Sometimes you have to be from a place to truly understand it. ;)

[L4TRUTH]

19. Obvious Point

Senator Obama made a poor choice of words when describing small town America, yet he is being HAMMERED for it. This guy made a poor choice of words and I bet the repugs will lick it up. I think that Barack should come out with a statement of acceptance and note that 'he too has miss-spoken recently and knows what it's like'

[dogfacedboy]

26. No, Sen Obama did not make a poor choice of words. He just told the truth.

[Baby Snooks]

24. Just another son of the Confederacy...

Don't forget Kentucky was part of the Confederacy. And no doubt the good congressman longs for the days of the old plantation.

Maybe Barack Obama should forgive him. And then ask where his 40 acres and the mule are.

Congress of course should censure him. But of course Congress won't.

[badgervan]

25. Code Word

Having lived in the deep south for seven years, I know that when a southerner calls you a "boy", it ain't a compliment. It is a deragatory form of insult at the least, racial in some cases, and usually meant to cut you down, make you feel inferior. Although in my 30's when I lived there, I was called "boy" much more often after the natives learned I was a Yankee. Never did get used to it. Whole different world and culture south of the Mason Dixon Line... still.

[dogfacedboy]

27. Third-World areas often have customs that are odd.

[5thGenDemocrat]

29. Small point of order

Kentucky was NEVER part of the Confederacy.
And it would be ridiculous for Sen Obama to ask for 40 acres and a mule -- his father was African and had no connection to American slavery. But it might not be too much to ask for some simple respect.
I like the post which noted that Obama should just say that he understands, having misspoken himself recently, and leave it at that. Just because certain Republicans are dicks doesn't mean we have to be.
John
God, I am so damned sick of this whole campaign season. Maybe we can have the inauguration in January and open the respective 2012 campaign offices the next day. It's about where we've come to.
Anyone else sick and tired of it?

[question everything]

28. And this is the difference. People who use racist derogatory terms

against Obama rush to apologize, but see nothing wrong with using sexist derogatory terms like "bitch" and "whore."

(Yes, I know that "whore" is used often against politicians, but using it against Hillary is aimed as a sexist demeaning comment).

[ckramer]

30. Davis sorry for 'boy' remark

Source: c.com

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."



Read more: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS0103/804150376/1077/COL02

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Attack first, apologize later. Usual tactics if they don't get caught.

[bluestateguy]

31. He should resign

An "apology" (no doubt written by his staff does not suffice here.

[annabanana]

32. The fact that it rolled so easily off his tongue is telling.

I expect there are many many "good old boys" who will say this and worse many times before November.

[YOY]

33. No he's not.

Not yet he isn't.

[Buzz Clik]

34. It's all good, Geoff. That kinda thing can happen to any racist prick.

[Swagman]

36. is that him ?? what a dork !!

[Faygo Kid]

35. "Poor choice of words" - what a load.

Yeah, calling a 46 year old black Presidential candidate "boy" is just a "poor choice of words??"

[louis-t]

37. Geoff Davis, as in ???

Oh my.

[HuffleClaw]

38. which is more than either hilllary or obama have done when they've been caught speaking out of turn

the guy went in person to hand over his letter of apology when he could have sent some flunky. seems like he did the right thing to me. no waffling or justification in the letter, just a straight forward acceptance of his wrongdoing. what's not to like?