From a blog post by Rep. Steve Davis about Family Day at the Capitol last weekend:
Today is the 17th legislative day of the session. It is called Family Day so that legislators can bring their wives and kids up for the day and show our family atmosphere. However I do not bring my family due to the spectacle presented by the fringe groups in front of our children. You have Labor Unions, “Working Families” wanting minimum wage increases, marches for racial equality, and the worst is GSLBT groups that try to prove they are families too(by exposing our young children to them kissing and holding hands). I will just say that I am very passionate about the issues but I did not get into politics to expose my children to adult issues. It is a shame that these groups try to exploit this event the way they do.
So, middle class working families who lobby their legislators are “fringe groups?”
Racial minorities who lobby their legislators are “fringe groups” as well?
I guess Rep. Davis would rather leave the messy job of legislating to paid lobbyists and campaign contributors rather than common folks. They wear suits and ties and look like they’ve got money, I guess.
Oh, and does someone want to give Rep. Davis a memo about how females can be in the General Assembly now?
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How about some Thought Police to go along with that?
B. Steve Davis R-Fayetteville
I’m not the thought police, but if you are a public figure and you are, in a public forum, going to make assinine statements like Davis did, I’m certainly going to let people know about it.
It is just my little way of ruining his credibility.
Interesting choice Decaturguy. Judging by their statements, I would think that someone who would be amazed that Obama is “clean and articulate” for a black guy is much more racist than someone who doesn’t want his family harrassed by mean-spirited crowds. That’s just me though.
If there were any, but I don’t believe there are any criminal statutes just for being a racist, sexist, gay-hating asshole.
Biden is a racist asshole too.
Ruining his credibility? Steve is no genius, but…I’m not sure this will be on Drudge tomorrow either…
Who is the “you” in this statement?
I love it that even his supporters thinks he’s an idiot. And from what I hear, not a real master of fiscal responsibility either.
True, but it’s in The Google when his re-election comes around.
Not a Davis supporter, but also don’t think he should be crucified over poor communiciation skills
It’s more than poor communication skills. It’s profoundly bigoted. As in, “it’s been a while since I’ve seen someone pack that much bigotry into such a small space” bigoted.
To what standard should constituents hold our elected officials accountable?
If his communication skills are so poor, maybe he should have rethought that blog idea. Or trying to tell the State how it should spend its money.
It’s more than poor communication skills. It’s profoundly bigoted. As in, “it’s been a while since I’ve seen someone pack that much bigotry into such a small space” bigoted.
I agree, he makes Biden look like a lightweight bigot.
You’re nitpicking about the “you,” but it applies to anyone. And if you can’t see the logic of my argument in that statement about Election Day being the only poll that matters, then it’s no wonder Democrats are in the minority in this state, Amber, if in fact you are a Democrat.
And I’m no Davis supporter or fan, but referencing the earlier point: if you don’t like him, you need to vote him out.
And if you don’t have the votes to get him out, then stop bitching and go do some grassroots campaigning.
Reporters love Google, and political reporters in Georgia read Peach Pundit. So, bitching on the Internet about a racist, sexist bigot like Steve Davis is a small way those of us with jobs and lives to attend to that take up most of our time can contribute.
Reporters are lazy, and I bet you a crisp Benjamin this doesn’t make it to print, not even in the Henry Daily Herald.
I mean, Davis has had this insipid blog for how long now? Does any of his bloviation make it into print regularly?
Yall go have a nice Valentines Day. I’m going to prepare a nice dinner with my “fringe group” partner of mine if he would ever get home from that respectable job that he has and pays a lot of Georgia income tax on.
Maybe not this time. But every so often they do. Regardless, you telling people not to bitch is only going to turn up the volume of said bitching.
And I’d bet you a crisp Benjamin you’re a last word freak who will add another snide remark just because you can’t stand for someone else to have the last word.
CobbGOPer,
Does it bother you that in about 10-15 years, CobbGOPer is going to sound a lot like DekalbGOPer would today?
Not really, I won’t be here when it happens
But hey, I appreciate the debate, even if it seems we’re talking past each other.
“Insipid.” That pretty well describes it. Part of motivating people to go to the polls is educating them about the nonsense some of these elected officials, like Davis, spew. People talk about what elected officials do and say. Blogs like this-and his-are a part of the microscope folks sign up for when they run for office.
Oh FFS, CobbCOPer! I asked a question. Nice way of not answering it and practicing some choice insults that sent my mind reeling back to 5th grade.
Whew! Wow.
Part of the reason CobbGOPer will be a relic in 10-15 years is because the Republican Party allows guys like Davis to define their party and that one play well in Cobb County circa 2015. I will continue to try to expose these guys for who they really are.
Ironically, CobbGOPer, all of the white folks will have moved back to Dekalb and Fulton, by then, huh?
Wow! I missed a lot today. I am sorry I offended anyone, but as a parent I will not subject my children to protests. And yes this would include protest in which one would show pictures of aborted babies or any other issues that are of mature matters.
I never said these people dont have the right to protest!!!! This is every Georgians Capitol and they can do as they please, within the law.
These comments were not about me being exposed but rather my kids. And I hope we can all agree, it is definitely my right to decide what my children are exposed too!
And to make a point.
I do not support the minimum wage.
I do not support affirmative action or the VRA.
I do not support gay marriage.
I do not support commuter rail.
Color me what you will.
Happy Valentines Day, Love Steve.
Rep. Davis,
You didn’t respond to perhaps the worst insult of all:
B. Steve Davis R-Fayetteville
Fayetteville? I guess anything south of I-20 is all the same if you live in Decatur…
CobbGOPer: you constant drumbeat of the election is the only poll that counts is completely bogus. That would be fine except that here in Georgia, we don’t have choices. Many of the “fringe groups” that you mention are not allowed on the ballot in Georgia. Only those with a (D) or an (R) are allowed. So the idea that everyone has a choice as to who they would like to vote for is complete nonsense.
They’re allowed, it’s just that nobody votes for them and few of them can meet the required number of petition signatures to make the ballot… which makes sense because otherwise they wouldn’t be on the “fringe,” now would they?
Wrong, but I see what you’re implying here. If you want strong and electable third, fourth, or twenty-fifth party candidates, go live in Canada or Britain or some parliamentary system.
You see, here in America, when a strong “fringe” group gains enough attention, it becomes mainstream and no longer “fringe.” And, with enough popularity, the group gets sucked into one of the two parties.
Love it or not, good or bad, America has politically evolved into a two-party system. Complain all you want, but it is what it is.
Adam,
Georgia has some of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation (put in place by Democrats before the Democrats became the Republicans here, no less). It may be technically true that a third party can get on a ballot here, but it’s damn difficult.
Rep. Davis,
Maybe you are just that oblivious and that poor a writer, and maybe there comes a point where my point has been made and it’s time to move on, but thanks for not addressing the original issue this thread brought up at all.
And you further reveal the extent of your bigotry with this statement:
Exposed. Exposed to what? Exposure is a word used to talk about disease. Do you think the negroes have diseases?
Adam: you couldn’t be more off-base in your comments. For some reason, you are assuming that ballot access laws are the same across the country. They are not. Georgia is far and away the most restrictive state. I shouldn’t have to go to Canada or UK in order to vote for someone other than a D or an R. I know that I can go to other states, so why not Georgia.
And once again, in essence, 3rd parties are NOT allowed on the ballot. Please tell me the last time a third party or independent got on the ballot!
Will; 2006.
Seems to me like the Libertarians get on the ballot here all the time lately…
Or maybe I was just dreaming when Garrett Michael Hayes participated in the gubernatorial debates last year…
Rep. Davis,
What do you support?
“Exposure is a word used to talk about disease. ”
Not always. Exposure is often used regarding good things–the arts, other cultures, charity work, etc. You’re really working hard to make Rep. Davis’s comments more than they are.
Rusty, re-read his actual comments and try to find where he said fringe groups are bad or that their demonstrations should not be allowed. It’s not there, yet you call him a “racist, sexist bigot” among other things. With your English degree and journalism background, you should be able to break down written English better than that. All he was saying is that he wanted to shield his family from demonstrations by various groups and what he considers adult issues. How does that warrant the name calling he has endured here?
“Unless you’re bringing 100,000 people to the Gold Dome, no one will care.”
I think I have a suggestion for the route of this years Pride Parade…
People don’t have to actually come right out and use those exact words to be offensive. In fact, they rarely do. History should tell you that.
griftdrift,
Excellent suggestion.
jsm,
You and many others on this thread are working hard to write off his bigotry as ignorance and/or a parental decision. Won’t fly.
Besides, even if it really was ignorance (which I am not buying for a second), that doesn’t make it excusable. Not by a longshot.
You guys have read so deeply into Davis’ statements and passed such harsh judgment on fabricated prejudice that you can’t back out of it. Amazing.
jsm,
Care to explain what you even mean by “fabricated predjudice”? Just because you say something is fabricated doesn’t make it so. Do we need to get into hypotheticals involving your mother again? Rep. Davis’ statement was loaded to the gills with bigoted language. He is a disgrace to his office, and your attempts to defend him are disgraceful.
Give examples of the “bigoted language.”
Rusty,
It’s just not cool to drag someone’s mother into the argument. That’s uncalled for.
And full disclosure, I agree with Rep. Davis.
Erick,
Rep. Davis said that “family day” was a day that legislators bring their wives and kids to see what they do in Atlanta as if it were 1912 and there were no females with husbands in the legislature.
He then proceeds to call any number of ordinary citizens “fringe groups” and degrades their right to participate in family day.
And you argree with the moron?
I apologize for thinking better of you.
Decatur, isn’t that being a little touchy? I think treating the “wives” reference as a deliberate comment against female legislators is a stretch.
Or indicative of his subconcoius thoughts.
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