Representative Geoff Davis (R-Obviously) refers to Obama as "boy"

[ck4829]

A REPUBLICAN congressman has apologised to Barack Obama after referring to him as “that boy”.

Addressing a Republican gathering, Geoff Davis, said: “That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button.”

Davis, who serves Kentucky''''s Fourth District in the House of Representatives, made the remark as he talked about national security at a Republican dinner on Saturday.

Davis has now sent a letter to Democratic presidential candidate Obama apologising for the jibe, which was widely reported on blogs and the internet.

http://www.happyghana.com/newsdetails.asp?id=3365&cat_id=3

[Elspeth]

1. Not surprised.

Just the beginning....

[Alexander]

2. "Geoff" Davis - as in "Jefferson"...

:puke:

[graywarrior]

3. And the hits just keep coming from those republicans.

They have no idea what they think or feel and just throw out words without a plan. No wonder we're in this mess.

[DAGDA56]

4. I'm not trying to defend the indefensible, but didn't this happen almost

a month ago?

[Wetzelbill]

5. Erica Jong did it yesterday too

After she ripped him in her whole HuffPost column for calling that woman "Sweetie." It was shameful. I love Erica too, but, damn, it was bad.

I think people often say "boy" unconsciously. Or just get into a habit of using it. Like McCain when he kept calling Rick Renzi it and they got into it. But yeah "boy" has an ugly history in this context, and don't expect this to be the last of it, for sure.

[Goodnevil]

6. Redneck term

They use "boy" to describe many men, not just black men. It's a southern thing:

"That ole' boy's crazy."

Nevertheless, he's a politician and should know better. Not only that, but it speaks to what kind of constituency and the what type of people he hangs out with to be able to speak like that.

[Bandit]

7. It is a method used to diminish a person, make them less than they are

And yes the folks in the South seem very used to this form of belittlement.

[Benhurst]

8. Yes, in this case it's meant to diminish Obama, and is similiar to calling a professional woman

"sweetie."

He should apologize.

[Goodnevil]

9. Yes, he should

It's no way to speak about a Senator of the United States, black or white. In private or in public.

I also would not think that Senator Obama constantly wants his message derailed by dealing with the racism of others.

I don't know him personally, but he strikes me as the type of person who would shrug that off and lead by example rather than fighting every single insignificant fight. One of the many things that I admire about Senator Obama is that he is very practical.

I worry that we will get off track of his really very inspiring message by always focusing on race. Something to think about...

I do think we always have to speak out and defend him and other African Americans whenever their honor is threatened. We can never accept indignities such as this. A clear message needs to be sent.

[OnTheRadio]

10. here the obamaites go again playing the race card n/t

[blondeatlast]

11. The operatives will do this over and over again, then apologize. It's a sneaky way of making

racism/sexism/what have you "acceptable" again.

That's precisely what the entire PC movement is about.

"How dare you take exception to my use of terms of hatred and derision, you PC whiner?"

[niyad]

12. HOW long ago did this happen?

you know, it absolutely amazes me that obama's supporters are, quite correctly, upset about this, but there is almost complete silence on the "iron my shirt" comments directed against Sen. Clinton (yeah, no sexism there)

[Enrique]

13. god, that's so funny his name is Goeff Davis

:rofl: