Republican apologizes to Obama for calling him “boy”
posted at 8:34 pm on April 14, 2008 by Allahpundit
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.
Blowback
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Anyone know any more about Obama and these “highly classified national security simulations”?
bnelson44 on April 14, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Every time I look at Obama, he looks 15 to me.
Connie on April 14, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Bill Clinton can say “boys” because:
a. He’s black
b. The boys are white
c. He’s a democrat.
d. All of the above.
JiangxiDad on April 14, 2008 at 8:42 PM
What the hell? He had to issue an apology for referring to Obama as a boy? Is this story lifted from the Onion?
gumble on April 14, 2008 at 8:43 PM
GET A SPINE! We say “boy” in the South all the time. We also say “Yes, mam” and “Yes, sir” to people younger than us. Again, GET A SPINE!
SouthernGent on April 14, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Nobody but nobody past the age of at most 10 years old could possibly be so dumb in 2008 in America as to not know that you do not call a black man, boy, let alone that boy unless you mean it as a racial put down.
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Geoff Davis as naive moron, check.
Obama making hay on racism, check.
Hannity defending Davis, check.
Media hyperventilating over Davis, check.
Chris Matthews spitting and drooling, check.
Olbermann still being an Olberkind, check.
Change of subject from Obama Bittergate to Davis, check.
Hillary continuing to focus on Bittergate, check.
McCain staying above the fray, check.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 8:45 PM
OMG!! A racist republican, we need hate crime laws so we can hang ‘em all
/sarc
Gwillie on April 14, 2008 at 8:47 PM
He does seem boyish. But so does Davis. No one believes he meant that Waaaaayyyyy out dated slur. NO ONE. Especially those leveling the charges. That they will glibly pawn the moral high ground so dearly earned by the righteous sufferings of those who were enslaved by hateful ignorance, is the saddest testament to the moral depravity that IS the Left Wing Movement of 21st Century America.
ronsfi on April 14, 2008 at 8:48 PM
He doesn’t have to be executed over it, but don’t excuse him either, no matter what people get called, anywhere.
More is expected of our ‘leaders’. What a bunch of nitwits, on both sides. It’s really scary to think about who ‘represents’ us. I guess we should look in the mirror.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 8:49 PM
note in above post the clever use of langauge to avoid using the word lyn** now that would really be racist.
Gwillie on April 14, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Ugh, it’s a southern thing, but dumb, dumb, dumb.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 8:50 PM
It is still a stupid thing to do. Really stupid.
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 8:51 PM
It’s not quite as far-fetched as screaming about “macaca.”
There’s really no point in using personal insults. There are plenty of legitimate Obama targets.
misterpeasea on April 14, 2008 at 8:52 PM
And I thought Sen. Robert “Grand Kleagle” Byrd was the only one who called him that.
Cicero43 on April 14, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Will there be anyone left in America who is not a racist by the time Obama and his media b*tches are finished?
snaggletoothie on April 14, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Upon short reflection, I’m unchecking this one with gusto – he’s not a “closet” Marxist. He’s a Marxist, and so is his lovely wife, Michelle.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Oh for crying out loud. Give me a break. I for one will assume that since he is talking about the possibility of nuclear war that saying “boy” referred to young and inexperienced and not his skin color. I think it’s pathetic that he had to go over and make a big deal out of apologizing. All of this political correctness BS is getting totally out of hand and it is driving a wedge between all of us and not bringing us together.
mrsmwp on April 14, 2008 at 8:54 PM
What a friggin’ dumbass. I swear there’s like a contest between the elite of both parties to see who is willfully more incompetent. Obama is still ahead, despite the attempt by this dumbass to outdo that.
doubleplusundead on April 14, 2008 at 8:57 PM
I’m very curious how the Clinton camp will handle this one. They must defend Obama, harp at Davis, for good reason, but prove that Berry’s not fit to be in the job. What a circus this year is, all gratis.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 8:58 PM
I don’t get what’s so bad about the comment and certainly don’t see what the racist connection is. What is the racist connection suppose to be?
gumble on April 14, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Boy still strikes a cord among many.
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Can’t we all just get along.
JiangxiDad on April 14, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Oh crap. I’m going out to buy canned food. Squid, MB4, and I agree on something political.
MB4, here’s a rare post from me…you are right on with that comment.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I’m 44 and ANYONE younger than me is a BOY,Daddy taught me that you earn your manhood,Age + Experience= Wisdom,
Bob
Bobnormal on April 14, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Decedents of slaves in America say that it brings back the slavery issue, since Obama is NOT a decedent of American slaves, not sure that an apology was needed.
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:01 PM
I’m not going to exploit for political purposes
that boy’smy opponents youth and inexperience.- Ronald Reagan
See, if that is what one means then that’s how you do it.
Are there no Reagan Republicans left?
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I think the congressman should appologize just as soon as the right Rev. Jeremiah Wright appologizes for saying whites are the cause of all the worlds troubles. That White People are what is wrong with America and admits that it was black people who sold black people into slavery.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on April 14, 2008 at 9:02 PM
How’d this guy get elected? I mean, I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but that boy just ain’t right.
/31 yrs old
//Yeah, its a southern thing and means nothing
DaveS on April 14, 2008 at 9:03 PM
So when does our boy get in the race?
tarpon on April 14, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Chakra Hammer, and a few others, here, out of touch, check.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Wow I prefer to use much worse words when describing Obama….LOL.
I hope he keeps playing the race card, people are going to be so f>ing sick of it by November!
ArmyAunt on April 14, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Obama, whether you like him or detest him, looks about 12 years old. Isn’t that part of his appeal?
aengus on April 14, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Truth be told Obama looks very, very young for 46, which isn’t a bad thing at all. Quite a lucky trait to have.
Dr. Manhattan on April 14, 2008 at 9:04 PM
MB4, are you in the South? I live in Mont-gum-rey (Montgomery) AL now, and have close friends who are black, and yeah, the “boy” thing just isn’t done if you aren’t really good friends, and then you can just joke around with the “that boy ain’t right” kinda stuff, but not aimed at anybody you don’t know really, really well.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on April 14, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Some Black people sold Blacks into slavery, check
Reverand Wright is a bigot, a racist, check
Davis is a moron, check
You can hold more than one thought in one head, concurrently. Try it. It really works.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 9:06 PM
It’s a Jim Crow thing….for many years down here whites called black men “boy” … it wasn’t a term of endearment.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Reagan is the very first person I ever voted for at 18yrs old. I don’t expect every Republican giving a speech to be as gracious and articulate as he (although it is something to aspire to.) I’m just saying it seems like everything that is said offends someone or is used politically and it is doing relations between all people of different creeds, races, etc a grave disservice.
mrsmwp on April 14, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Get over it.
Jaibones on April 14, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Lovely.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:08 PM
How are you doing baldi?
Haven’t seen you in awhile ; )
http://armyaunt.johnmccain.com/
ArmyAunt on April 14, 2008 at 9:09 PM
I am curious.
Why isn’t it considered racist if 95% of the black vote goes to Obama?
If 95% of the white vote went to Hillary, you can bet they would think it was racist!
ArmyAunt on April 14, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Note to self… if someone apologizes you don’t “have” to be gracious and forgiving.
Got it. Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.
Hog Wild on April 14, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Eep. I voted for him.
its vintage duh on April 14, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I had two friends from Alabama and one of them even got all worried when he called a black guy, Leroy. When he said it he was thinking that was really his name, but he was not sure as he thought about it later. He was so relieved when he found out later that it indeed really was his actual name.
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Sorta black don’t crack.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:13 PM
1/2 of Obama is the evil white devil the other
1/2 is from African father(Not A Decedent of American Slaves)
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Hi ArmyAunt!
That is hilarious.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I grew up in Auburn. War Damn Eagle,
boybaybee! Now stuck in Portland, OR. Hard to take college football out here seriously when the teams are the Ducks and the Beavers.And I’d agree, I called my white friends boy, not the black ones.
This is going to be hard to believe for non-Southerners, but the white Southerners, as a general rule, really don’t walk around trying to anger the black Southerners.
In fact, most people outside the South don’t realize just how many black people there are in the South. The whites and the blacks have to get along, there’s no alternative.
misterpeasea on April 14, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Okay we get it.
My mom is a descendant of American slaves. My biological father is an African (like Obama’s pops). Does that mean that I’m half “African American?”
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:16 PM
ArmyAunt, huh? I don’t get the question….the post is about an educated adult from the South saying something stupid. I didn’t say he’s a racist, closet racist, or anything else. Just as MB4 said,
It’s just that the racial climate in the South is still pretty tense in some ways, and educated, intelligent people know that and are careful.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Can only call you boi.. >:}
(Never know you could be gay) LOL
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:18 PM
It means you’re only half “authentically black.” Not exactly sure what “unauthentically black” is, but that’s what your other half is. According to the Rev. Sharpton.
misterpeasea on April 14, 2008 at 9:20 PM
only get 1/2 reparations.. LOL
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:20 PM
OK, for those of you who don’t see a problem:
Boy has been known, especially in reference to adult black men, in the South especially, to be especially derogatory.
Obama is an adult black male. It’s possible the Representative may not have specifically meant to use it in it’s slur form, but he should have frickin known better.
SouthernDem on April 14, 2008 at 9:22 PM
It’s sad when a majority of us cannot call an unwarranted insult exactly what it is. It’s pathetic to listen to Republicans minimize this. There is a level of decorum expected between elected officials.
Obama’s camp did not call or alledge racism. They called disrespect. Should he sit back like a wuss and say nothing? Accusing Obama of playing the race card when he hasn’t is shady.
I’d rather have thinkers on my side than sycophants for Hannity & Colmes.
It was mildly offensive, perhaps unintentionally so. He apologized. Done.
***
I didn’t know slurs had a shelf life.
The Race Card on April 14, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I can’t tell who the bigger maroon is
Sekhmet on April 14, 2008 at 9:23 PM
My mom came to visit us, and said the same thing. Something like “wow, I didn’t know there were so many black people still living down here.” LOL er, Mom, ? But we’re displaced Yankees, so she probably wonders why any melanin enhanced person would choose to live in the land of the Klan and Deliverance.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Oh, and Rock Chalk Jayhawk right back atcha misterpeasea.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Chakra Hammer still clueless, check.
Clue – baldilocks is a woman, a very decent and intelligent one.
The Race Card sets the record straight, again, check.
Entelechy on April 14, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Exactly.
There are plenty of times when whites say things that are not racist, but they are accused of racism.
Folks who defend Geoff Davis when he uses what he has got to know, unless he is brain dead, is an obvious racial put down, will have no credibility when they defend someone who is innocent and should be defended.
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:29 PM
The Myth of Republican Racism. This is for you, SquidShark. Apparently someon else wrote a dissertation length post about it, so I don’t have to. Here you go:
http://www.claremont.org/publications/crb/id.928/article_detail.asp
You’re welcome.
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Foghorn Leghorn is a racist?
I knew it, I said I knew it, boy!
Hening on April 14, 2008 at 9:32 PM
I am so tired of this ritual apology thing. I am waiting for someone with some stones to refuse to apologize for any insult real or perceived. I am waiting for someone to tell the hyperventilating offendee to ‘grow up and grow a skin’.
If I hurl an insult at you, I intend to insult you. If you get all upset and offend, I win. So grow a skin, and don’t let my remarks offend you.
If it was not my intent to insult you, then why are you offended? Because you want to be offended? You want to be Rodney Dangerfield, “can’t get no respect”.
No, I am not saying I want to start a fight, or incite a riot, or ignite a revolt and over throw the government. HHmmm, no wait, let me re-think about that last part.
rockhauler on April 14, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Dude(?), me neither.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Oh no. His name is Geoff Davis? As in Jefferson Davis? eyeroll. What a maroon.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Sorry, neither.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Words have meaning. That meaning can be altered by intent, context, emphasis, or other visual cues. I’d hold back on judgement until I saw/heard the use of “boy” in question. How you say something can be as important as what you say.
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Hening on April 14, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Whenever someone says “chickenhawk” I always think of the little guy with the big ego ;)
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Ive actually read it before, but since I dont think all republicans are racist, a little preaching to the converted, no?
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 9:37 PM
It is not just a Republican but ANYONE who says ANYTHING about the sacrosanct Hussein Banana O’Bamba is considered racist.
Didn’t I keep on telling you?
Hussein Banana O’Bamba is playing the race card, political correctness and especially Affirmative Action to put himself in the White House through the cowards and idiots who will vote for him.
Banana O’Bamba is succeeding in fooling the idiots.
Congratulations America!
You are being duped.
Indy Conservative on April 14, 2008 at 9:38 PM
{MB4, I’m not picking on you, your just really making me think with your comments. :)}
How do we know that he isn’t innocent? I have never heard any speeches or comments by Geoff Davis. Is he known to be a racist jerk? Was he giving a speech to white supremacists or the Klan — because unless he was I don’t think he would say something that he thought was overtly racist knowing how Obama’s campaign or the media or someone would publicize it everywhere. Maybe the guy just truly is an idiot but unless he has a history of this kind of behavior I for one will give him the benefit of the doubt.
mrsmwp on April 14, 2008 at 9:39 PM
Heh. Not if you worship at the liberation theology/Marxist altar. Great comment.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:39 PM
It was an unwarranted insult, the Congressman APOLOGIZED for it, and in turn was chastised. Not only did he apologize, he made a public apology, and made a written apology and hand delivered it himself to Obama’s Senate office.
In short, he tried to make ammends.
Obama calls half the country gun crazed, Bible thumping, racist unemployed hicks, and we DON’T UNDERSTAND so he doesn’t apologize.
One country, one standard. Please if there is a God in heaven, please let it come to pass.
Hog Wild on April 14, 2008 at 9:39 PM
A little context should clear the matter up. Is there anything with a few paragraphs before and after the offending sentence to give us a sense of the tone?
DaveS on April 14, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 9:37 PM
I thought I remember you taking the stance that Reagan’s “southern strategy” was implicitly, if not explicitly racist to capture the disenfranchised racist white southerners after the civil rights movement made the south turn red, no?
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:41 PM
So if you were Geoff Davis’s speech writer what would you have him say?
Something like – “Hey you there Leroy Obama, grow up boy and grow a skin boy!”
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:41 PM
I really don’t know Geoff Davis, however I really have to believe that he calls everyone “boy” that is inept and naive(Now he himself learned something), it seems like it would be political suicide otherwise and the instant apology over the choice of word seems to confirm it, why would he knowingly say it, only to apologize later?(If he called John Kerry “boy” we wouldn’t be talking about this}
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Wait. Guy’s named Geoff Davis? Like Jeff Davis? Like Jefferson Davis?
Oh he’s toast, poor guy.
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Race Card said that the congressman apologized, done deal. The rest of his (her?) comment was trying to explain the how and why of the offensiveness of a Southern congressman using “boy” in the given context.
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:42 PM
baldi HAY I said that first LOL
funky chicken on April 14, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Settle down. geezzz
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Missed it! Great minds…
baldilocks on April 14, 2008 at 9:44 PM
I thought this was another article, my mistake. Standby.
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 9:44 PM
How do we know for sure that OJ isn’t innocent?
I grew up in hardly any blacks Oregon/Washington and even I know you don’t say that to/about a Black man. Probably not even a great idea to say it to/about an actual Black boy (like a 12 year old Black male). You don’t even say it about a white adult male generally speaking.
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:47 PM
No but you can bet they would be at left wing web sites.
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:50 PM
baldilocks is a female… >:}
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
This articles strongest against my point about the “Southern Strategy” is to continue to refer back to Wallace voters, 1964 and FDR all of which are irrelevant to the argument.
I am not not sayin that we are a party of Racists, it is an entirely different thing to address the point that with more blacks voting democratic, we did (either on purpose or by accident) attract a huge number of those racists into our party. All this article really says is that we didnt do it on purpose.
Thank you, BTW, it was a pretty good read.
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Hmmm….
Would it be OK if we just called Obama’s evil WHITE Half Boy?
Romeo13 on April 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
It was, at the very least, stupid (and unnecessary).
Stupid either because he didn’t mean it in a racist way, and was oblivious to the possibility, or because he did mean it in a racist way.
It’s hard for this Southerner to believe that he was clueless about the connotation of “boy.” On the other hand, you can use “boy” to denigrate without it being racist. I’m against speech codes, and I’m against differential treatment based on race. Getting hysterical over calling Obama a boy when one wouldn’t get hysterical over calling a white politician a boy strikes me as a tad unfair.
Stupid, yes. Racist, possibly; hard to tell for sure.
misterpeasea on April 14, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Here’s the deal. Barack opined. He apologized. Davis insulted a colleague. He apologized.
Some people found Obama’s remarks offensive, others found them insightful. There is little disagreement that Davis was out of line. If not then why did he apologize. Apparently your complaint is with Davis for not being man enough, like you, to stand up to the tyranny of the left.
Expressing one’s opinion is good, even if your opinions are very bad. Ad hominem attacks and name-calling are not acceptable between colleagues even if the insulting language is accurate.
But I’m sure you’l defend it anyway. Don’t forget to wipe your top lip…You have a pink stache.
The Race Card on April 14, 2008 at 9:52 PM
At least the apology letter didn’t start:
clghitis on April 14, 2008 at 9:52 PM
MB4 on April 14, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Maybe thats why you’re so quick to jump on this one. Again, I’d wait for context, emphasis, intent, and other information, otherwise you are effectively nixing a word from the lexicon of a bunch of people. If, for instance, an Obama support said, “That’s my boy” or “Thatta boy” would that qualify as racist?
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Why is Kerry black would it be a racist comment, would an apology still be warranted? NO
As you can tell, Maybe Geoff Davis is truly color blind and sees Obama as white.
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:54 PM
MB4
if I were Geoff Davis, as a politician, I would repeat the comment that Obama was too inexperienced, too young, and too naive to have control of the US nuclear arsenal.
This is politics we’re playing here. If my remarks draw media attention, I would use that media attention to make my case that Obama was unqualified to be president.
In politics, and in war, you don’t win by playing ‘tit for tat’, you have to be multiple steps ahead.
rockhauler on April 14, 2008 at 9:54 PM
How about becasue in our hyper-sensitive culture any indication of racism, however far-fetch or imagined, is political poison, and he wanted to nip the problem in the bud instead of having to defend against an imagined heresy?
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Maybe Geoff Davis saw Obama as White(Obama transcends race) then corrected the error.
Chakra Hammer on April 14, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Squid Shark on April 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
no problem. I think the conventional wisdom is not sufficiently, er, nuanced. I have no doubt that some people who vote Rep. are racist (as are some who vote Dem.), I just think it is false to suggest that the Rep. party courted racists as an election policy. If that didn’t change your mind, however, I’m all outta ammo. Thanks for reading it though. :)
VolMagic on April 14, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Yes, we do. And it’s not a derogatory term. Even black men here will use it when referring to other black men. That said, as a white male, I don’t use it when speaking to, or referring to, a black male, because I know it’s likely to be misrepresented.
paul006 on April 14, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Used the term all my life. Hear my black friends use it. We use it in mixed race conversations all the time. It’s not the word, but the context it’s used in. This to me is a tempest in a teapot.
Kowboy on April 14, 2008 at 9:59 PM
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