Richard Riordan, the Video!!!!

[lazarus]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0709041riordan1.html

He's a stupid dirty bastard.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. What the hell is wrong with that goon????

If he meant it as a joke, I don't get it. If he meant it as a slam to the little girl, then he should rot in hell...

Either way, he's a cheneying moran!!!!

[lazarus]

2. aye

And this moran is in charge of educating children here in California.

Ahnold said that the remark is "inappropriate in any context", but refuses to fire him. :wtf:

[lanparty]

44. You know, if a teacher had said that ...

... Riordan would try his damdest to get them fired to make political hay out of it.

[Warpy]

19. The kids seemed to get it

I think he meant it as a joke, although it was an inappropriate, rotten thing to say to a kid in front of her classmates.

[Fenris]

3. Riordan...that's Irish isn't it?

I wonder if he realizes that that is the sort of thing the nativist Anglos in California would have said to him a hundred and thirty years ago.

[CatWoman]

8. aye, laddie

:D

[Fenris]

13. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

:D



:loveya: :hi:

[SeattleRob]

4. man....

Just watched it.... What a jerk! I think 6 year old Isis is more intelligent that Dickie.

[LibertyorDeath]

5. One more sick fuck republi-con

they are everywhere.

Busy spewing hate 24/7

It's what they know It's what they do

Republi-cons Specialize in HATE

[Shakespeare]

6. It's one of the creepiest things I've seen in a long time.

They've been playing it here in the bay area for several days now.

[Seemann For Congress]

7. As much as I dislike the guy

There was no ill-will behind that comment. He was having fun with a roomful of kids.

He made a bad choice using the word 'stupid', and I'm sure he regrets it. But we're talking about a guy who clearly can talk to kids and have fun, but made a bad decision with one word.

He actually seems like he's good with kids. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill.

And since the mother is cool with it, we should be too. Let him go on this one.

[Shakespeare]

10. And the word "dirty" was okay???

It was f'in' creepy.

[Creamed Corn]

11. I agree

After watching the video, it looked like he was going for "it means you have cooties" and missed. A bad joke.

[noiretextatique]

12. you forgot "dirty" in addition to "stupid"

it was a bad decision with TWO words made by a 74 year old man speaking ot a 6 year old girl :hurts: i'm afraid his porno persona snuck in there for a moment and overtook his grandfatherly act.

[Hoping4Change]

15. Bullshit the guy is a miserable failure with kids. No one with

any degree of kindness would say stupid dirty girl. Did you carelessly omit dirty or are you trolling?

[calico1]

16. I agree

Looked to me like he was trying to be funny. But someone in public office should know better, especially when dealing with children. They don't always understand that something is meant as a joke.

[noiretextatique]

17. your name means stupid and dirty

would you understand that as a JOKE?

[calico1]

24. Not literally. Of course not!

But people say really incredibly stupid and lame things thinking that they are funny. I have heard many, trust me. Reading what he said I thought he was a real jerk. But from actually watching the video as I said before it looked to me like he was making an attempt to be funny which he of course was not. But that is just the impression I got. Maybe he deliberately meant to be mean. I don't know because I am not from CA so I don't really know anything about him. But please do not interpret my impression of the video as support for Riordan or approval for what he said--because it isn't.

[noiretextatique]

27. he has a history of making "gaffes"

as in saying incredibily stupid things. sure...he was trying to be funny, but on which planet is telling a little girl her name means "stupid, dirty girl" considered funny? i think he sliiped off into a porno fantasy for a second.

[calico1]

29. But I agree with you! LOL!

I think that was stupid. He is an adult, she is a child. He should know better and especially being in public office. Looked like she was the more mature one. Are you from CA?

[noiretextatique]

32. yes, native of LA, but i live in oakland now

we have some especially disgusting repukes out here...must be all the sunshine :D

[Longhorn]

30. I have to agree.

I think he was trying to make a joke by coming up with something that is just the opposite of what this little girl is -- she's a "smart, clean girl" so "stupid, dirty girl" would be funny (he thought) because it's so obviously untrue. Was it dumb of him? Sure, but I until I get to the point where I don't make dumb statements now and then, I think I'll forego throwing a stone.

[Guaranteed]

47. EXACTLY....who here has never said something so stupid

as to offend somebody? Please step forward.

[Redleg]

68. This is very different. He was speaking, in public, with children.

I have been a professor for 8 years now and I have never insulted a student, even when they did have it coming.

Now I don't believe he should be fired for this gaffe but goddammit, we shouldn't just let it slide like that.

[Guaranteed]

74. Well of course what he said was wrong, but the thing

is that I don't think his intention was to hurt the girl. He just had a "brain fart," as some would call it.

I agree with you, though, that something should be done. Probably the publicity surrounding it is enough.

[Avalon Sparks]

33. Maybe... Seeman

I was much more appalled when reading the story then seeing the clip.

I think he was trying to think of something funny to say, but he like most Republicans, has no inate sense of humor.

Then he went on to give those little 6 year olds the letters to a web site, and he repeated it even though the kids didn't seem to be listening. I was like.. .wadda ya think they are gonna write it down or something?????

He seemed clueless... this was another Repub staged political event, to make Repubs seem all warm and fuzzy with kids, only this guy didn't have a clue.

I have no comment on him being over Education or whatever, the people Repubs put in charge of any agency/division seem to be the exact opposite of what a good candidate for the position would be.
It's not like I'm shocked or anything...

If he was trying to be funny he should have said something like "It means silly, dancing, girl" but he appeared to really have put his foot in his mouth and be grasping to try to find something 'witty' to say.

I guess when I read it I pictured him saying it with a 'dirty old man' kinda sneer and creepy voice.

Watching it, seemed less offensive somehow and to me he just came across as a big asshole Republican he can't even "fake" humor and warmth....

I think the continous outing of this clip and continous newsplay is pretty good karmic justice for what he did.

If it where my child, I'd rip him a new one.


The little sweet Isis will probably grow up to be a DUer because of it. :)

[lanparty]

45. Oh, thats fun ...

... he made a dig on a 6 year old girl and her classmates were laughing AT HER!!!!! It's absoluetly cruel and insensitive. Something tells me that Riordan's children are probably psycologically wounded if he doesn't know not to do this at his age.


It actually reminds me of Dan Quayle trying to tell a kid she was only "technically correct" after she had spelled 'potato' correctly. It's so amazing to me that the biggest frauds are exposed by 6 year olds. Bush Jr had one of his most striking moments in a classroom full of yungins as well cowering like an idiot while our nation was under attack.

[ramapo]

58. Leave this one be

I just watched the clip. He was just being silly. Yes it was probably a poor choice to use stupid but it was not a mean-spirited remark.

[Redleg]

67. No I won't let him go on this. What he said was totally inappropriate.

Why the hell would he say something cruel like that to a kid? He could have said "it means smart, pretty girl."

[underpants]

9. Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak!

She had to tell him twice that it meant "Egyptian Goddess"

Then he tries to get three/four year olds to remember his web address

sorry IDIOT and FREAK!

[Cocoa]

14. the girl didn't want to hurt his feelings

this is my favorite part of the story

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/9933357p-10855351c.html

Lila said her daughter didn't correct Riordan because "she told me she didn't want to hurt his feelings. I got the impression she just didn't think he was very bright."

[Avalon Sparks]

34. LOL LOL

Lila said her daughter didn't correct Riordan because "she told me she didn't want to hurt his feelings. I got the impression she just didn't think he was very bright."

That is effing priceless!!!!! Thanks for the belly laugh.

[Ducks In A Row]

18. I can see what he was trying to do

joking with the kid, using words that were the supposed to be the opposite of the meaning of the name.

but using those words was definitely stupid.

He should have gone with "silly little girl", or "fluffy little cloud" or something like that.

People are over-reacting. He wasn't trying to hurt the girl. He was just being a typical non-thinking Republican. Anyway, it is a stupid name to give a kid. Those parents should have been smarter in name selection.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[electricmonk]

21. What the hell?!?

"Anyway, it is a stupid name to give a kid. Those parents should have been smarter in name selection."

I think Isis is a pretty name.

[bear425]

22. And exactly what gives you the right to judge...

The little girl's name selection? How is that of any consequence? Oh, I get it - you're just trying to "make a joke", right?

[Ducks In A Row]

48. I'm serious and I have the right as a member of the "village"

It's an odd name, and I think contributed to RR trying to joke around with it. That he was stupid in his choice of words doesn't dismiss the parents responsibility. They should have cared enough about their daughter's name bynot hanging something like Isis on her.

Too many parents give their kids "original" names nowadays. They should realize they are leading to "joking" like this with their "originality".

Children shouldn't be treated like this by their parents. Children are a serious responsibility and should be treated as such. If parents need reminding of that by the "village" than so be it.

Over-reacting to RR won't save that little girl in the future jokes made of her name.

[Warren DeMontague]

69. I Think "Isis"

is a great name.

I think "Osiris" or "Horus" are good names, too. And No, I'm not kidding, either.

The worst names are the ones that sound like they come from unoriginal yuppie parents who pick the exact same name as everyone else for that particular 5 year period. I won't cite examples, because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but if you look at people who were born in the mid-80's, for example, you will see a heavy prevalence of certain names. Kids born in the 90s, same thing. Heavily Overused yuppie monikers.

I like original names. Hopi, Sanskrit, Egyptian, all cool. I also like the crazy names hippies used to give their kids, and I'm bummed they stopped.. Viva La Difference.

[Ducks In A Row]

79. Original names are cool, if you're an adult

no one is stopping any adults are having a "cool" name. The courts make it fairly simple to change your name.

The children of hippies with original names are the ones who rebelled, became Republicans, and hung Bush around our necks.

Growing up with "original" name as a child is a different story and not something to burden any child in whatever society he/she will be a part of.

[Warren DeMontague]

80. that's an overly broad generalization.

I know lots of "children of hippies", some with funky names. I don't think they're overly to blame for Bush. Most of the ones I know are pretty damn progressive. I blame a coalition of greedheads and crazed evangelicals for Bush with a healthy dose of apathy, ralph nader, and Florida Vote-Rigging thrown in for good measure. I'm in my mid-30s, and I don't think my generation is particularly conservative.. When we were in college, the people I hung out with at least, were very pissed off by Reagan and his parade of idiocies. For every Ann Coulter or Matt Drudge, we've got at least a few Janeane Garofolos or Jack Blacks. I think sell-out baby boomers are at least as much to blame, but I do think Bush's disaster is a overall a cross-generational affair.

I agree it's mean to saddle a kid with a monkier like "Mergatroyd" or "Flipper" or "ESPN" or "Bosco", but I also certainly don't think everyone in this society needs to be cut from one of 10 different cookie cutter molds. Of course, I live in a part of the country where it's not totally discouraged to be different, even for kids. There are plenty of places in this nation I wouldn't think about raising a family, for lots of reasons.

I also don't think "Isis" is that weird, I think it's kind of pretty.

[goclark]

31. There is no excuse for his remarks!

He was appointed by Arnold to represent EDUCATION in the state of Cal ee 4 knee a. He is to set an example for TEACHERS, PARENTS and CHILDREN.

Looks to me like Arnold the Groper and Riordan the Rat should both get a day job in a porno factory.

[Ducks In A Row]

50. And over-reacting doesn't help either

I watched and listened to that video. He was playing and the kids were playing back.

It was a stupid choice of words, and different words should have been used. But it's not the end of the world. People don't set a good example for those children by over-reacting and acting "childish".

:)

[goclark]

53. Those labels will live with that child forever

As an educator and a mother it is a VERY big deal.

[Ducks In A Row]

78. What happened in the class room was over in less than a minute

the over-reactions of everyone outside the class are what will "scar" that child. Too bad the adults couldn't just be adults.

None of this would have happened if the parents hadn't shrugged off their responsibility toward their daughter by naming her Isis (that name is the thing that will attract more jokes as she grows up, more scaring)

Parents should be concerned with the kind of parenting that allows that kind of harm to happen to a child.

[Amaya]

23. What a Scum!

That was totally inappropriate... joke or not. :mad:

[lazarus]

25. something else to remember

Riordan was Bush's choice for Republican nominee for governor of California.

[Manix]

26. ...he's an old repug hack....way past his prime.

..just like shrub on 9/11..sitting amongst others on his level.

[dr.strangelove]

28. I see nothing wrong

except a silly joke.

I did the same thing with my cousin recently when she told me that she won a soccer game and I kidded her that she was a cheater.

If you think dirty stupid girl, used in THIS context, is a ovr the line. I disagree.

[bear425]

35. excuse me

But what adult, especially in his position, calls a 3-4 year old a "stupid, dirty girl"? That's just demented behavior.

[noiretextatique]

36. it wasn't a joke, and it wasn't funny...it was a stupid

and inappropriate thing to say...in ANY context...coming from a 74 year old man to a small child. and even MORE stupid and inappropriate considering his position.

[filterfish]

37. it was a silly joke, kids laughed...take it easy

i don't see the big deal here, he's a harmless old man

[noiretextatique]

38. harmless old man, my ass

that comment was straight from a porno film. he wouldn't get near any of my nieces. kids laugh at anything, and not all of them laughed.

[Warren DeMontague]

59. Obviously He's Becoming Dangerously Addled...

There's no question. And he's not going to win any awards for child care. What a doofus. He obviously belongs to the generation that was running around when I was growing up, where people routinely said mean, belittling, and generally nasty things to little kids as a matter of course. Does anyone say "Children should be seen- and not heard" to little kids anymore? Probably not, but we used to get that shit alot.

So, take him to task. Hell, call for him to resign, especially if he can't seem to help sticking his big shiny black loafer in his mouth. And he's one of the "friendlier" faces of California's GOP, to boot.

But, uhhh.. "Straight from a porno film"? I think that's more than a bit of a stretch for a comment that was basically thoughtless and mean.

[Hoping4Change]

39. "Take it easy, its just a joke" is the standard reply of a bully

which is exactly what riordan is.

[filterfish]

40. riordan's reply was not standard bully fare

he apologized there and then in a public statement...an apology should be enough

[noiretextatique]

41. some people are calling for his resignation

they aren't amused by his "jokes." this is not the first time he's made an inappropriate comment.

[lanparty]

46. Yeah and the national secretary of education ...

... called the National Education Administration a 'terrorist organization'. He was 'just kidding' as well. He apologized as well.

Somewhere there are teachers under threat for suspension and dismissal because their kids aren't passing these idiot exams. The Rethuglicans are all for firing teachers whenever they do ANYTHING wrong. However when their administrators display their freudian slips, it was just a "mistake".

[shance]

55. I see, more mercy for Republicans (and persecution for our Dem leaders)

Have you stopped to think how embarassed and humiliated that little girl probably felt? Shes young, but they get it.

And why the word dirty? Stupid dirty girl rings with some contempt and perhaps how he possibly views women. Its also a pretty juvenile comment. Like something a teenager would say.

But, hey, hes a rich Republican - he can say anything he wants.

[Warren DeMontague]

61. You know what?

As someone who grew up in the midwest as an outspoken member of a regligious minority (atheist), I got my ass kicked several times by older kids until I learned to keep my mouth shut on my often unpopular opinions regarding certain topics. (As some DU members may note, that particular lesson didn't stick so well) But, anyway, to me, a "bully" is someone who leaves you with bruises that don't go away for several weeks, or who holds your face down in the mud with several snorting, laughing, toady accomplices. That's a bully. This doddering old f*ck may be insensitive and stupid and even incompetent for the job that he holds, but I don't know if you can honestly label him as a "bully" from this one clip.

And I agree with the previous poster- while I agree what he said indicates incompetence and very bad judgement-- and was mean, to boot, overreacting to this kind of thing- calling it "child abuse" and/or calling for him to be "prosecuted" (which I have seen suggested here) belittles cases of genuine child abuse that do warrant prosecution.

[Hoping4Change]

62. You then have not been subjected to verbal abuse by

bullies who taunt and verbally humiliate their victims and their excuse is always that they were just joking. I wonder if that child will get teased now and called dirty and stupid.

[Warren DeMontague]

64. Oh, yeah.

You think I got my ass kicked as a kid for being an atheist but didn't get any "verbal abuse" with it? Gimme a break.

All I'm saying is that one insensitive stupid line doesn't automatically mean the guy is some kind of bully. An idiot, yes, but I think it's a stretch to call this a "pattern of verbal abuse". If those other kids call her dirty and stupid from now on, that would probably be cause for some kind of teacher intervention, but I like to give six-year-olds more credit for their innate humanity than I would most senile old republicans.

[pdmike]

42. Not so fast here . . .

I've lived in L.A. all my life. RR was a very well liked mayor of Los Angeles for a number of years. When Gray Davis was running for reelection, the rumor has it that he engineered it so that Simon ran against him instead of Riordan because he knew that he would probably lose to Riordan whereas Simon was so far to the right, Davis figured he had at least half a chance with him as the opponent. He was right.

I am a long standing Democrat and very proud of it. I am ashamed of Gray Davis and I rather like Richard Riordan.

I know exactly what RR was thinking when he made that remark. He was making a joke - a very ill-advised joke but, nonetheless, a joke. He did not mean those remarks literally, obviously. He made the mistake of assuming that the little girl involved would know that he did not mean those words and would appreciate the humor.

This is not the first time that RR's humor has been misplaced. He has the reputation of putting his foot in his mouth with attempted humor gone awry.

Of course, those who disagree with him are now having a field day.
In the overall scheme of things, I don't think this ranks in the top ten.

Everyone loves it when someone else steps in it. I, for one, am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

pdmike

[Ducks In A Row]

51. Agreed

All these over-reactions, on the right and on the left, get so tiring.

[lanparty]

43. He probably heard it from ...

... his regular dancer at the strip-o-rama!!!

[Bluebear]

49. His dominatrix calls him a stupid dirty boy & he got confused

[Warren DeMontague]

60. You must have him confused with Bill Bennett..

Uh oh- did I say that? Legal Team- STAT!

[Th1onein]

52. I'm sorry, but at the risk of being flamed.........you can tell he was

teasing her.

[Bluebear]

54. OK fair enough, but how "stupid dirty girl" tripped off his tongue so easy

Why not stupid little girl, or silly little girl. You don't even find the wording odd?

[Th1onein]

75. Yes, I find it odd, but the way that it was said was teasing........

Sometimes people say stupid things without meaning anything mean or nasty. The man was clearly teasing the little girl.

[SunDrop23]

63. He was teasing her and there are much bigger fish to fry.

Let's concentrate on those things.

[Susang]

73. I think most DUers can manage to care about more than one thing at a time

But thanks for your concern. :eyes:

[Zynx]

71. Yeah. It was just a joke.

It would have been more acceptable had she been older, but I don't seen a big problem really.

[Karenina]

56. Can anyone convert this

to Quick-Time? I have Real Player but it won't open.

[Guava Jelly]

57. I gotta give him a coupon on this one

The ol geezer was trying to be funny.
Older people can say very mean things.
Anyone can tell he was joking..In a way playing with the kids.
Hell he probabaly jokes with his own grand kids like that..
I mean the child knew he was joking..
Sorry but give the fart a break

[poppabear36]

65. Blame the Gropenator on Riordan

Didn't Arnold decide at the last minute not to support Riordan for Governor and to run himself because he had a meeting w/ him where Riordan totally didn't have his shit together? Seems I remember that story.

[Spazito]

66. This man is a disgrace, imo...

anyone with one eye and half an a**hole would have responded with something like "I bet it means something beautiful" or "I am sure it is something wonderful", etc. To respond with "stupid, dirty girl" is appalling.

For him to think that it was something funny says A LOT about the man and his very poor judgment.

[Unperson 309]

70. Wow... EOM

[LibDemAlways]

72. The girl has an unusual name

and is probably sensitive about it. Believe me, I know this from experience. I grew up in an era of Nancy, Debbie, and Cindy -- and my unusual first name stood out like a sore thumb. I always dreaded the first day of school knowing that the teacher was going to butcher it and listening to the snickers of the other kids. It caused me my share of misery growing up. If an adult - particularly one in a position of authority - had publically called my name "stupid" and "dirty," I would not have been laughing. I might have tried to shrug it off at the time, but it would have stayed with me forever.

I don't care what Riordan says now, that comment was cruel and insensitive, and the bastard ought to resign or be fired.

[Las Vegas Canuck]

76. But you all are missing the key point….

Notice how these Republican Idiots (sorry, is that a redundant statement) seem to screw up when forced to make decisions in front of a group of school kids? If only he had been reading My Pet Goat.

From now on EVERY news crew has to be there when a Repub has a PhotoOp in front of children at school. The possibilities are endless.

[bear425]

77. That's exactly right...

What thinking person would call a three year old a stupid, dirty girl and think it was funny. It's just unconscionable.