Republican apologizes to Obama for calling him “boy”
posted at 8:34 pm on April 14, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Back we go to our verbal stumble insta-analysis: Sinister slip betraying his withered racist heart or innocent southern colloquialism thoughtlessly applied to the wrong subject? I was willing to split the difference and accuse him of condescending to Obama for being young — just a lad of 46, he is — but Davis himself is only 49.
Perhaps he’s simply bitter about the economic downturn and chose to express his frustration “small-town style.”
Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) has apologized for using the word “boy” to describe Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at a Republican fundraiser Saturday night in Kentucky.
“I’m gonna tell you something. That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button,” Davis said, according to an audio recording of the event that was obtained by The Hill. The lawmaker told the crowd that he participated in “closed, highly classified national security simulations” with Obama…
In the written apology to Obama, which he personally delivered to his Senate office, Davis wrote “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.”
“It’s hard to tell what is more outrageous – Rep. Davis’s condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.
Will it become an Issue? Doubtless Olby will squeeze a segment or two out of it, likely as a further illustration of how we can presume unconscious racism from the fact that Davis is a Republican, but there’s no way to pin it on McCain and the ambiguity plus effusive apology makes it hard for anyone outside the “Countdown” audience not to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. It’s worth comparing the buzz over this to the shrugs that greeted the AP editor’s “Obama bin Laden” goof earlier today, though (which Obama handled deftly). The best predictor of whether a verbal stumble will catch media fire is how closely it conforms to the opposition’s stereotype of the person saying it. Obama as closet Marxist? Check. Davis as closet Klansman? Check. Media that’s in the tank for Obama comparing him to Al Qaeda? Not bloody likely.
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How do you figure? If he isn’t racist, and has no racist intent, then calling Bambi a boy doesn’t make him a racist.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 12:07 AM
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:06 AM
That’s exactly what we’re getting at. Do you think a racist should be able to apologize for letting other people know he is a racist and go on with his job in public office?
VolMagic on April 15, 2008 at 12:08 AM
He may not be racist ANY of the time.. LOL
IF he calls white people “boy” and thats part of his vernacular and speech patterns, it could have just been a gaffe or faux pas..
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Conversly, if he isn’t a racist, then you can’t project your worldview on words he uses. That’s why I don’t like the rush to judgment without anything other than 11 dead words on a screen that give no intent, emphasis, or other visual cues as to the choice of words.
VolMagic on April 15, 2008 at 12:13 AM
I think we got him with our irrefutable logic mister. :)
VolMagic on April 15, 2008 at 12:14 AM
You are mired in a veritable mental quicksand of binary thinking.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:16 AM
So does this mean the media will start calling it the “b” word because it’s way to inflammatory to say on the air?
sheesh on April 15, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Yup I think you shot me right in your nuts.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Can I get a witness from the congregation!
You can certainly have a low opinion of Bambi’s experience, naivete, and worldview, and think of him as a boy, without thinking that he’s inferior because he’s black.
So, it was irrefutably stupid on his part. Whether it was racist, we certainly cannot know with the facts we have.
Hope springs eternal. Hard to change peoples’ minds with mere logic.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Like I said, I don’t know Geoff Davis, only those who know him would know the answer.
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Somebody tell this inbred to shut the hell up. Maverick doesn’t need his help. We got this racist right where we need him. We don’t need our own party’s idiot who’s looking for his village to bring down the best presidential candidate since Reagan.
THE CHOSEN ONE on April 15, 2008 at 12:23 AM
I compute the chances of that as 1 in 25,987,379 approximately of course.
- Mr Spock
BTW, you just implicitly agreed with my point. You have seen some light anyway. Congratulations.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:24 AM
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Again, when you have no defense, I guess insults will always do. Why don’t you quote some Twain and leave it at that?
VolMagic on April 15, 2008 at 12:24 AM
chakra hammer
volmagic
misterpeasea
suckers! You’ve been had!
He’s (MB4)
moving the goal posts on you.
(If this is a double post, well of course, I apologize profusely and beg your indulgence. I hit the return key and something weird happened.)
rockhauler on April 15, 2008 at 12:25 AM
And even harder with your profuse illogic.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I can quote Yoda.. >:}
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Sometimes you leave the impression that you are Yoda.
Entelechy on April 15, 2008 at 12:28 AM
You all are just falling further and further behind, so it just looks to you like the goal post are being moved.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Yoda pwnz! >:}
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:29 AM
But Chakra Hammer, in fairness, you’re very good-natured, and good-humored, sincerely.
Entelechy on April 15, 2008 at 12:29 AM
“A few years later, in 1979, host Bert Newton made his own unfortunate gaffe when he said “I like the boy!” in reference to boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The term “boy”, while innocent in Australia, has racist connotations in America and saw a quick ad-lib by Newton save himself from an unfavourable reaction from Ali.”
Reaps on April 15, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Thanks.
But, how come we are quick to say this guy is racist, this could quite simply have been a gaffe or faux pas..(and not of the parapraxis type either)
(we need to know more about him, this is the first time I have ever seen his name before.. doesn’t seem like the type of thing that someone would want to be known for or associated with)
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Heh, Chakra, parapraxis is one of my favorite words.
To your question, it doesn’t really matter, and only he knows. What matters is how it came across, and that is utterly stupid. He didn’t do himself, his party, nor humanity any favors. It’s sad how limited people are in the most exhalted places, really sad.
Entelechy on April 15, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Ed, sometimes “boy” just means “boy.” In this particular case, the context was that Obama was young and inexperienced: just a boy trying to do a man’s job.
The American Spectator spent the entire Clinton Administration referring to Clinton as “our Boy President” to make the point about his lack of maturity. No one ever thought it was a racist term, or that he was calling Clinton an African-American.
I’ll agree that prudence calls for avoiding words that could be misinterpreted. But I refuse to accept turning a completely proper word that’s been in the English language forever into some sort of instant proof of racism.
I believe the proper thing to do is to try to be careful in your speech, and apologize if something comes out wrong. It will, sooner or later.
Anyone who’s spent much time talking knows that sooner or later you’ll say something that can be taken the wrong way. All you can do is apologize, explain what you were trying to say, and go on.
Let’s face it, the real reason he’s being tagged as a racist is not because he referred to Obama as a “boy,” while referring to his youth and inexperience, but because he’s a Republican (and therefore already presumed racist) who referred to Obama as a “boy.” If he were a Democrat, it would not even be news. Sadly, as a Republican, it just might be an unrecoverable error.
theregoestheneighborhood on April 15, 2008 at 12:42 AM
I’m not the one defending the indefensible and believing 6 impossible things before breakfast.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:44 AM
thanks and let me fix it it up a little bit..
(and not of the parapraxis type for malicious use either)
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:46 AM
I guess for some of you it just all comes down to what the meaning of sex is and what the meaning of boy is and what the meaning of is, is.
You would make Bill proud.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Somebody call the thought police.
It’s pretty bad when both liberals and “conservatives” sound like a bunch of liberals!
Do not forget that Barack Hussein Obama is a very dangerous man…he is a closet muslim and vicious America hating racist!
How he wins is by shutting down all forms of criticism of him by playing the race card.
SaintOlaf on April 15, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Is Geoff Davis a racist? The point Davis was making was Obama performed badly in a disaster simulation. Is Davis’s judgment uh colored by Davis’s racial bias?
We need testimony from someone else who participated in that disaster simulation to either support or refute the charge.
We also need to consider that the whole purpose of these disaster exercises is to confront the inexperienced decision maker with problems they have never faced before.
So did Obama learn anything from the experience, or will be be one of those bureaucratic weenies who is so good at building consensus that he escapes all blame when something blows up in his face.
Yet, here we are arguing over whether or not Davis is a racists.
rockhauler on April 15, 2008 at 12:51 AM
I don’t know him, it’s hard to know intent behind words, unless you know where someone is coming from.
I this a pattern with him?
Klan meetings? LOL
Has he made these types of statements before?
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Uh. It looks like MB4 is dropping all pretense of arguing in good faith and is now merely insulting people.
Oh, well.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Ahh.. I’m all racist out on this topic..
(bored.. )
the next alleged racist episode against Obama will happen in
3…
2…
1…
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 12:56 AM
Good Lord.
Look, he’s not necessarily a rabid KKK card carrying racist, but here’s the skinny:
Calling a black man “boy” is akin to saying “coon”, “darkie”, “jungle-bunny” and so on in many people’s eyes.
It’s not a gotcha, it’s not fabricated, it’s a frigging faux pas, not cool and will be viewed as racist and should be avoided at all costs.
If you’re from the northwest, northeast or Canada, or if you’re relatively young, not knowing this is somewhat, possibly excusable.
A 49 year old from KY? No.
It’s unbelievable how dense some of you are on this.
SouthernDem on April 15, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Strawman.
How he wins is when “conservatives” fly over the cookoo’s nest and defend the indefensible and say that the meaning of is, is really not is and lose there credibility on matters such as this.
That’s how he wins.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:07 AM
I am not the one who said that it was all or nothing.
What is it with all this binary thinking?
Is there something in the water?
The subject was what he said, not what he may or may not have done at some other time.
Some of you folks may think that you are fighting PC run amok, but you are not. You are shooting yourselves in the
nutsfoot.Maybe the left has a Karl Rove and he is using his mind control machine on some of you?
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:14 AM
And McCain say al-Qaida in Iraq?
Or Obama asking if the Iraqi government was directing extremist against itself..
Gaffes or malicious?
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:15 AM
Ever notice how nice, tolerant liberals fly off the handle and start calling names and reading minds?
And in addition to MB4, here’s Southern Dem, swooping in and doing the same.
So boringly predictable.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 1:16 AM
No. How he wins is by shutting down all forms of criticism of him by playing the race card.
Have you forgotten that we are not allowed to even say his middle name?
Is it just because we are infidels? Are muslims allowed to say his middle name?
These are valid questions that people are too racist to ask?
Dems have no room to talk about racism…they are FOR affirmative action and were/are the party of slavery.
Reverse racism is just as bad.
SaintOlaf on April 15, 2008 at 1:17 AM
I don’t know this “Republican’s” mind but its time to firmly say, I didn’t mean anything I said in any kind of racial terms…and leave it at that.
This will if not is already be exaggerated a hundred times over and apologizing just makes it that much easier to demagogue.
The demagogue guilty are no better than feeding sharks, to hell with them and tell them so.
The destruction we suffer from the PC sickness must stop as we can see from a Larry Elder article on Townhall, its not a new disease.
Obama or Not, America Still a ‘Racist Nation’
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/LarryElder/2008/04/10/obama_or_not,_america_still_a_racist_nation
Speakup on April 15, 2008 at 1:22 AM
Ever notice how some start throwing around labels like liberal?
You fight your little anti-pc battle all you want. Calling a black man “boy” is traditionally viewed as racist from generations past, thus always will be.
It’s a battle you’ll lose in the public eye. Pick a better battle.
Swooping out.
SouthernDem on April 15, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Boy oh boy.
baldilocks on April 15, 2008 at 1:24 AM
Southern Dem put it about as clearly as anyone could. If you can not even understand that even the Gods can’t help you.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:26 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcmlHjAG3BE
Watch 1 minute in
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ RYAN CROCKER: Senator, as I said in my statement, we have no problem with a good, constructive relationship between Iran and Iraq. The problem is with the Iranian strategy of backing extremist militia groups and sending in weapons and munitions that are used against Iraqis and against our own forces.
OBAMA: Do we feel confident that the Iraqi government is directing these — this aid to these special groups?
Do we feel confident about that, or do we think that they’re just tacitly tolerating it? Do you have some sense of that?
CROCKER: There’s no question in our minds that the Iranian government, and in particular the Quds Force, is — this is a conscious, carefully worked-out policy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040802607.html
gaffe or malicious intent?
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:28 AM
You owe me!
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:28 AM
Nothing wrong with labels. They’re a convenient shorthand.
Uhhm. “thus always will be”? In addition to reading minds, you can predict the future?
You obviously haven’t even read the thread, or you wouldn’t make vast generalizations, you’d respond to specific arguments. Don’t tell me, let me guess: you didn’t have to read the thread, you read our minds.
And yeah, I know you folks on the Left think political correctness is good, but I’m going to have to disagree. And the fact that you call it politically correct means you KNOW it’s a load of crap.
Shoo, fly.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 1:29 AM
Sigh. Just a few more insults, and I’ll be convinced.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 1:31 AM
Larry Elder is da man, I’m a Neolibertarian however i prefer the term that Elder coined Republitarian..
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:34 AM
No one is shutting down all forms of criticism. Don’t be a victim.
I will say his middle name if I want to, but I am sure not going to call him “boy!”.
#uck Islam.
Huh?
So don’t give them ammo and room to talk then.
Probably worse, but you are not being helpful by defending Geoff Davis’ calling a Black man, “Boy!”. Not at all.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:38 AM
was that his intent?
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:39 AM
Oh get off the insult/insult/insult macaca.
Don’t be a victim.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:40 AM
that is the crux of the matter..
you ever say something wrong?
Obama asked if the Iraqi government was directing attacks against itself..
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:41 AM
Are you implying that Geoff Davis is brain dead? Sounds like you are.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:42 AM
If Obama brain dead?(Ok, Geoff Davis needs to take one for the , team)
Obama is Brain dead
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:43 AM
Irrelevant.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:43 AM
Anyone that has ever made a gaffe speaking in public is brain dead, OMG no jokes about President Bush…
>:}
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:45 AM
I really doubt that it was a gaffe. I think you missed the whole point. Go back to start.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 1:50 AM
If “boy” was written down in his prepared text, then tar and feather him.
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 1:50 AM
MB4 is not human. It is a very advanced, highly classified Artificial Intelligence computer program designed to provoke readers into posting comments, hitting the refresh button, and posting more comments.
This generates page views, and revenue for HotAir.
Go ahead MB4 give it your best shot. Let’s see what’ca got.
rockhauler on April 15, 2008 at 2:08 AM
There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.
Holmes on April 15, 2008 at 2:13 AM
The fact is, if any white politician had said or done ANY of the many,many major “gaffes” that Barack Hussein Obama Bin Laden has said or done they would have immediately been thrown out of the presidential race.
That is racism! Fact.
SaintOlaf on April 15, 2008 at 2:15 AM
Nobody, that I can see, is defending it. Everyone, that I can see, says it was stupid. I’m pretty sure nobody would advise him to do it again.
All I’m saying is, he isn’t automatically a racist for calling Bambi a “boy.” And neither you, nor Ed, nor Southern Dem, nor any other mind reader can say with certainty that he is, based merely on that one quote. He might be a racist, but calling Bambi “boy,” without more, doesn’t prove it.
Intent matters, and you cannot know his intent. I have a hard time believing he intended to be racist in public. Whether he’s racist or not.
And, I’m not being a victim. I’m trying to point out that insulting folks does not do a thing to convince them, or make you look smart, or help you win the argument.
It merely makes you look like you have no substantive arguments to back up your position. Like most liberals.
misterpeasea on April 15, 2008 at 2:22 AM
Holy Guacamole!
Add defending to the list.
It all depends on what the meaning of sex is and what the meaning of boy is and what the meaning of defending is and what the meaning of is, is.
Move over Bill!!!
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 2:39 AM
Go back to start and begin again. Look for what is right in front of you. It is all in simple English.
And your position is like a table without any legs. Even worse than most liberals.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 2:44 AM
When my Dad who calls all his kids and nephews “boy” including me, and if he babysits by cousins kid(who is mixed, same as Obama) I better tell him not to call him “boy” >:{
I wonder if that would make my cousins kid feel “out of place”, like “hey gramps how come you call everyone else boy and not me?”
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 3:10 AM
“In context” I see Davis’ comment/wording as a mere “regionalism.”
You got a problem with that?!
Lockstein13 on April 15, 2008 at 7:14 AM
Quick Story…I was in the 10th grade(1980) and at P.E.(Gym) told a black kid to “cool it, boy”, not knowing this was a “bad” thing to say to a male of color. Never before and never since would I say anything to hurt anyone’s feelings as far as heritage(I’m 100% Pollock myself). It was really just an honest mistake. Needless to say, the black kid started getting physical, thinking he was a bad ass that could get over on whitey. I blasted him in the mouth, and took out the silver front tooth. Moral of the story is white people don’t sit around all day thinking how to humiliate blacks, some of us don’t really notice color at all, and lighten up fer Christ’s sake. Prejudice is prejudice, and I called this kid “boy” as everyone white called other whites “boy”. An kid thing. “Jerome” wanted to duke it out, rather than calmly explain how he felt, and lost the silver for it. Hope he’s got a gold one today. Rascism exists because the MSM says it does, there’s money in it, whether they’re black or white. MLK Jr. wanted a colorblind society. If genuine, he’d be sadly disappointed today……….
adamsmith on April 15, 2008 at 7:53 AM
I hate race baiting and hypersensitive responses to innocent remarks. Yesterday I read all of the comments against the use of the word “boy” and I really thought it was much to do about nothing. I even joked about the “b” word now replacing boy on the nightly news.
I just listened to an audio clip of Davis’ remarks. I change my position. His use of the word “boy” in the context in which he used it, was uncomfortable and unfortunate. Given he used the word “man” shortly after using “boy” I have to attach negative intentions to his use.
Stupid and inappropriate. Don’t care that he apologized. It seemed premeditated to me. Now the voters will need to decide.
sheesh on April 15, 2008 at 8:19 AM
I’m 51 and lived my first 20 years in SC. I can say today that we guys periodically use the term “boy” colloquially and not as an insult. It’s obvious that the congressman wasn’t insulting Obama because of his race. The media is creating a story only because of the (R).
perroviejo on April 15, 2008 at 9:48 AM
I can’t stand bigots.
bridgetown on April 15, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Obama is a boy. He’s been coddled and sucked up to his whole life.
The man has written two memoirs. Two. For no other reason than people think he’s just so wonderful; not that he’s actually done anything other than get shoehorned into fame and notoriety for simply showing up, dialing in and being pretty. He’s never done anything extraordinary, nothing to deserve the accolades and fawning worship thrown at his feet.
The more I get to know about this hollow wraith of a man, the less I like him.
spmat on April 15, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Meanwhile Adults are having a conversation about things that actually have an impact on American lives…I know people keep trying to pound McCain’s age but given the behavior of the Dem canidates acting like spolied over privledged children sniping at Republican talking points because they just don’t get that there are Americans who love their country for the very freedom of right to bear arms and freedom of religion…Really wouldn’t you rather have an Adult in the White House?
http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/mccain-in-bust-a-move-moment-lays-it-out-for-imus/
Dr Evil on April 15, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Faux victim Obama screams like a cry-baby, making himself the boy in a man’s world.
That faux victim mentality is too absurd, removing words from usage:
Gay was stolen by the PC-Marxist homosexuals who now determine who may use the word and in what context the word may appear.
Monkey was stolen by the PC-Marxist black supremacist terrorists who determined that the word may NEVER be used. So where are the rights of the Indian-Americans who worship the monkey god? In all fairness, anyway, Africa boasts fewer jungles or monkey populations than India, Indonesia or South America.
Negro, French for “Black” may not be used, either, regardless that it honorably refers to past generations of African-Americans whose descendents keep changing their mind what name they prefer being called. They refuse to be “American” along with the Americans. Though they have been accepted, THEY won’t accept the rest of us.
Hate crimes were legislated in order to prevent Americans from preserving civil rights for all equally under the law.
maverick muse on April 15, 2008 at 12:15 PM
When does the orwellian drift stop?
It doesn’t.
peacenprosperity on April 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Hey…I’m 51 and I refer to Obama as a “child” all the time. Same thing he was thinkin’?
Army Brat on April 15, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Yeah, always will be. It’s as out of touch as “colored people”, “negro”, etc.
As I stated, if you’d read my post thoroughly, it doesn’t necessarily make him a racist. I have no idea what’s in his heart. He may have meant it to be innocuous.
But it’s antiquated and will be viewed by most, not representative of this thread but by most of the general population, as an epithet.
I hate PC and forced apologies as much as anyone on this board, but you just can’t change reality.
BTW, I left the Left a looong time ago.
SouthernDem on April 15, 2008 at 1:38 PM
You don’t need this to pin racism on McCain.
McCain already said that he hated gooks.
jim m on April 15, 2008 at 2:06 PM
I know Geoff Davis a little, and this story makes me cringe. He is not a redneck country boy – actually, he is a pretty sophisticated, urbane guy who owned a successful business and served in the military. His district is one of the more urban ones in Kentucky, including the Cincinnati suburbs where he lives. I’m not sure he is even a native Kentuckian. He has been very involved with Iraq war policy and was one of the first members of Congress to visit Iraq after Saddam fell (unlike Obama who has never been there.)
But it wouldn’t totally suprise me that Davis was playing to the crowd a little with his remark. I think he is smart enough to know this was a dumb thing to say and I would be confident in saying this is not a normal part of his coversation, as much as it might be in many parts of his district.
If Obama wants to jump on gaffes like this he had better be ready for more jumping on him about his “bitter” comments. Sauce for the goose………
rockmom on April 15, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Excellent dispatch.
Bravo. Your logic and pragmatism are much appreciated.
The Race Card on April 15, 2008 at 2:55 PM
While attending the University of Tennessee, I got my nose busted for calling a black kid boy. I’m from a small town and boy is what we called a boy whose name we didn’t know. I was 18 and didn’t have a racist bone in my body. There was some perception on his part that I had slighted him in some way. He became belligerent and I said “Just settle down, boy”. It’s Southern colloquialism, and I meant nothing by it. I just didn’t know his name. If I was from Michigan I might have said “Just settle down, guy.”
Anyway, I came away with a bloody nose and a new definition of the word “boy”. I’m giving Davis the benefit of the doubt even though he is not a college freshman. That term, “boy”, is not racist to me but I’m certainly careful how I use it, now. He will be, too. Just, don’t try to tell me that there’s a long, hard “A” in Appalachia. You might get your nose busted.
Barntender on April 15, 2008 at 7:36 PM
If he served in the military, it is almost beyond impossible that he would have been naive enough to have not known full well what he was saying and what it meant. I guess he probably just thought that “The Mikes” weren’t on. Well they were.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 9:17 PM
You are so full of it…. Tell me. Truly… Your eyes HAVE to be brown… right?
sanantonian on April 16, 2008 at 12:30 AM
I got a h-u-g-e belly-laugh out of this headline.
Here, -I’ll let my cat explain it:
Tina Hey on April 16, 2008 at 5:09 AM
I don’t usually disagree with Ed Morrissey, but he’s simply wrong on this one.
Sorry, Ed. You may be correct in noting that lots of blacks will take this personally, but you’re wrong about the person saying it.
I lived in Mobile, AL, for a decade, and in the south, “that boy” is a perfectly ordinary, comfortable indicative that’s used all the bloody time to refer to friends, neighbors, politicians, really anybody. It’s the same “boy” as in “good ol’ boy.” This is an instance where blacks take something as a slur that is completely innocent — like occurred with “niggardly” a few years ago.
I wrote about this a little yesterday on my blog site, if you’d like to hear a slightly longer exposition.
philwynk on April 16, 2008 at 10:04 AM
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