Political Punch

"Words fail me."

I'm with you.

This is unbelievable.

that sort of comment shouldnt ever be tolerated, and the press is right to ask him what his intentions with that comment were; but too often the press overlooks sexist comments made about clinton, or about nancy pelosi. that steinem oped was right in saying that the media is much more conscious of racist rhetoric, and much more guarded, than it is about sexist rhetoric. and i also dont understand why the stories in the past week about the bitter comments, wright, et al, have all been written about not as possible obstacles in the general election. the stories have focused on how hillary clinton is making the case that they might be troublesome in a general election. the stories have become about what a shrew clinton is, not about obama's possible general election chances, which are legit concerns to raise.

Dave J. said: "Geoff has no reason to apologize. His statement was entirely accurate and appropriate. I know him and his family personally, and I can say with great confidence that there is not a racist bone is his body."

Typical answer from a Conservative/Republican. "His statement was entirely accurate and appropriate." Obviously you and Geoff don't have any brains. If you did you would know that some white guy referring to a black MAN as"boy" is gonna spark racial controversy or have you been living in a cave and fail to realize that.

Historically, in countries such as the U.S. and South Africa, "boy" was not only a 'neutral' term for domestics but also used as a disparaging racist insult towards non-white males (especially of African descent), recalling their subservient status even after the 20th century legal emancipation (from slavery, evolved to race segregation, viz. Apartheid) and alleged infantility, and many still consider it offensive in that context to this day.

The boy comment was bad, indeed. But, just for a second, listen to the rest of the message. Obama didn't do very well in the simulation and shouldn't be trusted in that situation.

Um hey letsbhonestnow -- From Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton: "It's hard to tell what is more outrageous - Representative Davis' condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America..." etc. etc.

Any time a Republican slips up even in the slightest, he gets crucified and has no choice but to apologize. Conversely, any time a Demagogue spews the most incendiary, elitist rhetoric, everybody and his dog rushes to his defense and explains it all away. The hypocrisy of it all is simply staggering. Like I said, let's be honest about it.

Let me also be clear. Obama is young, inexperienced and incompetent. He has no business in the White House. I don't give a rip how eloquent he may be. Just like Hillary, he got himself elected to the Senate for the sole purpose of launching a presidential bid. He's a rank opportunist who is taking advantage of his race to shield himself from true scrutiny and just criticism.

I never thought I would say such a thing, but here goes -- Geraldine Ferraro was right. But for Obama's race, no one would be taking him seriously. Peel away that little layer of teflon, and all you have left is a feeble joke that people laugh at only out of strained politeness. Geoff Davis hit the nail on the head.

Um hey Dave- Obama hasn't even addressed this yet- this is just people's own personal outrage here. Matter of fact this story happened yesterday and got coverage on like one show.... and your friend was the one that called Obama and apologized. If you look at it , it creates a pattern for the Republicans and I think that may be where everyone is questioning what your friend said whether he meant it racially or not. First thing to come to mind when I heard this was McCain's other surrogate telling us we could have our Tiger Woods.. Idk I am telling you what comes to my mind immediately following one of these statements- you don't have to agree with me. I remember McCain from years ago and have always respected him, this disappoints me more then anything - but I wasn't going to vote for him anyway- I would just like to see him play a little classier campaign here. Actually that should go for all 3 of them ..

Geoff has no reason to apologize. His statement was entirely accurate and appropriate. I know him and his family personally, and I can say with great confidence that there is not a racist bone is his body. Anyone with a functioning brain knows that Geoff’s statement was a commentary on Obama’s youth (relative to most of our presidents) and utter incompetence to discharge the office he seeks. It had no racial overtones whatsoever, except to the people who wanted there to be. Obama, who supposedly transcends race issues, shamelessly seized upon Davis' comment as yet another opportunity to play the race card in an effort to distract attention away from his own recent gaffes (which he "regrets" but does not retract).

Isn’t it interesting that Obama, whose comments were far more incendiary, demands and expects a pass for his words, or at least an opportunity to explain them away, yet he is quick to crucify Davis for far less? Obama (and his surrogates) ought to hold himself to the same standards that he applies to Davis, but of course that is unthinkable to the liberal mindset. Let's be intellectually honest here, shall we?

I see some people are saying that maybe Davis used "boy" to call Obama a friend. People, please don't be so naive. It was meant to degrade Obama and that is it.

Let's not confuse the context of this comment. Boy is sometimes used in the South to refer to a close friend or acquaintance. However, the statement was negative and there is know way to take the "boy" reference as not being a big deal. He is not Obama's friend and doesn't pretend to be. He didn't say "My boy Obama is this or that...." He said, "that boy." You don't have to put race in this situation. It smacks you in the face unless you want to ignore it. However, I bet CNN won't have a week-long forum about this comment.

Ill give the Congressman the benefit of the doubt on this one. I'm from Alabama and we call friends and family "boy" all the time when you are trying to be serious. It's just a figure of speech. I know if I called Obama boy I wouldn't think nothing of it just like the Congressman probably didn't or at least I hope he didn't. LOL

Perhaps he should of called Obama a "Monster"- apparently that is less offensive than calling someone a boy.

But it didn't outrage the broadcast networks enough to include it in their broadcasts I see.

Stupid, divisive REPUBLICAN remarks, but Obama's not even African American!

BARACK OBAMA is BIRACIAL!

"Boy"?

Yikes!

I remember when the side of KFC boxes carried the original lyrics to "My Old Kentucky Home" (Poor Uncle Tom Good Night) The State Song of Kentucky.

"The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the darkies are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day."

It wasn't until 1986 that the state of Kentucky swapped the word "darkies" for "people"

I guess we can be glad that Geoff Davis
didn't say, "That darky's finger..."

Davis stepped into it, no doubt, but I think this is really generated to spin the news cycle again.

On the other hand, before the hatemeisters get too much credit, I grew up in the South in the 1950s and 60s too.

Boy: pejorative slang used in many situations that are not always racial or involve blacks. Older men call younger men "boy". It isn't racial as much as it is dominating, somewhat like calling their dog a mangy mutt. As we say here, it's pissing on tree behavior.

When I was a kid as a member of the TV generation who learned to talk by listening to Bob Keeshan, one of my friend's grandfathers called me "Yank" for years. That was an insult, BTW.

:-) Go nuts.

Calling Hillary c*nt, b*tch, or monster are not that ambiguous. They are simply and directly offensive. The Annie Oakley thing isn't clever. It's just a put-down from a man who lost momentum. Otherwise, it's a cheap shot.

I'm looking forward to the debate. That ought to be good TV, but as divisive campaigns go, this one is succeeding wildly.

This man is only 3 years older that Obama. Calling another mana boy is just disrespectful

BTW, I think the most offensive comment thus far was the attack on voters - the Obama surrogates and the Obamedia pressuring Clinton to quit and let Obama win.

I seem to remember there being an election no so long ago where the person with the most votes didn't win, and democrats were kind of upset about that. Are we hypcrites to that degree now?

As for the "rules is rules" argument, here's a rule for ya. FL's and MI's votes are officially part of the popular vote total. DNC has NO authority over votes - that's state election law and those votes have been certified by the secretaries of state in those states. Obama nixed the idea of a do over, and he voluntarily removed his name from the ballot in MI, something Clinton and Obama supporter Dodd did not do. Apparenlty he thought better of doing that in FL, which again, reminds me of 2000 - Gore followed the state's recount rules and picked the counties he wanted recounted, and Bush refused to pick his counties saying, It's over! I won! I won! My Daddy's judges will give it to me!

So, Obama, per the rules, is only 94,005 votes ahead of Clinton. There is NO reason anyone in their right mind would quit.

The super delegates chosing the candidate who gets the most votes is CERTAINLY well within those precious rules.

IF Obama had consented to re-votes, we wouldn't even be dealing with this issue - OBAMA'S fault. The DNC CANNOT, without risking losing the general election, disenfranchize FL and MI - the DNC's fault for not dealing with this better.

NONE of this, however, is Sen. Clinton's fault, and she shouldn't be penalized to the point of having the nomination taken from her nor being forced out on a flawed delegate count.

I find it pretty slimy that Obama is jumping up and and down basically saying, GOTCHA, those are the rules, I win on a technicality (one that abuses the voters to boot), so you have to quit.

@russell:

Right back at ya. Put your Chevy against my Ford this weekend; Crown Royal if you win, Jim Beam if I do...

Time to sign off for me...g'night folks. (By the way, excellent point Ray Lopez - I thought much the same, but the Bush/Cheney years have shown why we may not want a strong Executive Branch).

My dad who past away at age 97 said that no matter what age he was the white man still called him a BOY. He wondered when he would become a man.

mattie: so much for what obama said about " getting compromise from both sides of the aisle" and "uniting people of all Parties", huh?

mg: you are showing your ignorance of what Hillary Clinton DOES talk about on a daily basis----she talks about her Solutions for America's problems in great detail. If you would just LISTEN to her----better yet----listen this coming Wednesday when she and obama engage in a debate. You'll hear that she has done her homework----understands the problems America faces, and has thought of a way forward to get past them. Sometimes she even attacks obama on the dumb things that he says.

MIGuy: That person must have been wise beyond their years! It is great to talk to someone rather than at someone, like my grandpa use to say! It is good to talk with you even if we sometimes disagree I would be proud to call you my friend!

Big surprise... some greasy southern country club republican lets his lips get the best of him. All you Clinton drones got to take a look at the company you're keeping these days.

Do you have any need to hear from some no-name, tassle-toed, sissy republican with a cheesy golf club insignia on his $750 sweater. Who votes for these people.

I'm standing up with Obama to send these mothers back to the stone age. guys like this aren't part of the news, but soon enough they'll be part of history.

@russell:

I'm no fan of P.C. run amok - it stunts conversations because everyone keeps tripping over their words hoping not to offend anyone else. There is nothing wrong with offending others by stating your opinion. On the other hand, deliberately demeaning comments are insults plain and simple. I don't think the congressman chose "racist" words and I certainly don't know him to call him one. The biggest problem I see is that calling our candidates names (such as 'boy') ultimately demeans our political system. We should have a bit more respect for the offices these folks hold and thank goodness someone wants to do a job where they subject themselves to such personal attacks.

To S.B., I am white. One day my mother and I stopped at a Denny's in Bartow FL. We waited and waited for someone to come and take our order. After forty minutes we walked out and I said to my mother "if we were African American we would have a lawsuit". Were my mother and I discriminated against or were they just busy or rude. I am not saying African Americans are not discriminated against but sometimes I think it just being sensitive.

Mr. Obama, if elected, will have the power to punish those who use such insensitive words. He will be able to appoint military commanders and high officials who share his contempt for those who use such insensitive words. He will be able to correct the mistakes of the past thru reparations and other redress. He will be the most powerful man in the world.

And about the woman calling the kids "little monkeys". Give ME A BREAK ! I am white and my Grama who would be 110 now used to call the white neighborhood kids "monkeys" all the time when they'd be acting up ! It's an old generational slang that they used at that time, like "boy" was used by the men. It's like calling kids "rugrats" now. Is THAT offensive ?

I'm not exactly white.

Obama hasn't experienced any discrimination based on the colour of his skin in this race, or in any political race he's been in, which is what the discussion is about.

Of course racism exists. Of course white people and black people are racist against blacks. It's conditioned into them.

You don't know who you are talking to. I work against racism on a daily basis. I don't think Rev Wright is racist against whites and have never said any such thing because I don't think its possible. I think he hates whites.

I am well aware of the very real manifestations of racism experienced by African Americans and other people of colour.

I will tell you something though. Many of the young white men that I know who support Obama are capable of some of the most vile hatred against people of color and women. I have heard it.

Supporting Barack obama doesn't mean they aren't racist. In fact, it could mean quite the opposite and be used as a justification.

You know the "I'm, not racist but..." justification or the, "my best friend is black but..." justification. It will be the "I voted for Barack Obama" but..." justification.

Again you don't know who you are talking to. You don't know what I do or have done to fight racism in myself an in others. I do not however feel the need to put up with mysoginistic criticisms of Hillary Clinton biased press coverage and voting to assuage white liberal guilt for a candidate that CANNOT win a general election.

Obama CANNOT win a general election. he is not qualified and he has huge liablilites which the republicans will exploit and FL and MI are dead zones for him.

Dems either want to win the white house or they don't. Obama is not that candidate for many and increasingly more reasons.

Excuse the typos in my original post. Here is what I meant to say--

The comment is offensive, but no more so than the sexism and agism that have been spewed at Clinton and McCain (b*tch, monster...).

Obama has inflamed racial tension and division in this country more than anyone in recent memory. His CHOICE of Wright"s racist, "black liberation theology" which blames "evil white people" for all that ails America is part of the problem. Obama's reference to "typical white people" didn't help. Nor does it help when he suggests that small town America is bitter and clings to guns and religion to explain their frustrations. You can't just throw out crap like that and not expect any blow back.
And that is the fundamental problem with Obama--he thinks that he is above it all. That he can judge and scrutinize us without himself being judged and scrutinized.

He is self-righteous. He is arrogant. He is condescending. He is a hypocrite and yes, he is bitter. He surrounds himself with radical, bitter people like Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers. Old school liberal/malcontents who feel that society owes them something and who scoff at patriotism (or in Wright's extreme case--invoke God's damnation on our country). Even Obama's wife seems bitter--confessing that she has never been proud of this country, until just now.

This country deserves and needs so much better.

Democrats and Republicans---UNITE AGAINST OBAMA!!!!!

wow, boy what was he thinking im sure hilary would have had him fired if he called her that girl!

dl: Read both my post before you do like Obama a go shoot you mouth off! I said in my previous post that it was the wrong thing to say because it was used by many to demean blacks especially during and after slavery, I said that he should not have said it!! In my second post I was just giving a amen to the fact that when I was growing up black elders and white elders called me boy I am sorry if you think that my experience makes you so angry and bitter and if that is the level of your intellect then be my guest and call me anything you like, as long as you call me to supper! Read before you post!

Thanks Amazed, I'll look for it. Sounds very informative.

A step forward - I hope you know what you're asking for! These discussions, and I've tried to participate in many online, always seem to devolve into the worst kind of name calling. It's very unfortunate.

I was really impressed with Obama's speech on race, because he hit on the issues that frustrate both sides, BUT that was a speech, not a dialog. People tend to climb on their superior, high horses when ever race comes up and throw around the "bigot" accusation in the most irresponsible way whenever anyone disagrees with them. It's hardly ever productive, particularly in this format.

But hey, I'm willing to read along.:)

Setting the Record Straight writes:
"Belle Starr, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. I grew up in South Carolina in the 1950s and I can tell you that I got called "boy" plenty of times ..."

My facts are straight enough, thanks. What I said is that referring to someone your own age as "that boy" (50 years after official segregation ended) is NOT the same as CALLING somebody "boy" to his face, as a substitute for his name -- and that Davis' use of "that boy" may well NOT have been intended as a RACIAL insult.

I did NOT say anything about segregation not happening, or the other stuff you suggest.

since when does the "Old South" have a monopoly on racism?

Teri B.: I wish you had caught this really good lecture on C-Span yesterday morning: it was by a lecturer who did a study/wrote a book about what reaction the MEDIA has had to any women candidates for President, from 1874 (Shirley Chisholm) to Present. It was so fascinating ! The top 2 things the Media ALWAYS reported on in THAT WHOLE TIME was that women "were not fit to become President" because:

1). They were too emotional
2). They couldn't handle a "crisis"
3). They were concerned only
with "trivial" things

This great lecturer debunked all of these myths, and gave the rationale for what was the TRUTH. Hope the show comes on again. I think all women should see it.

Well, Obama said he wanted to open up the dialogue about race. Let's talk race.

The Obama campaign also was going to disenfranchise one of ts delegates for calling her neighbor's children monkeys. They happen to be black. She explained that she also calls her own grandchildren monkeys, but the Obama thought police would have none of it. She was RACIST and she was not going to be a delegate. Not until the public outcry against these 1984esque tactics surficed.

I'll defend the comments. They were about Obama's age and inexperience. They had nothing to do with his race. Calling everyone who criticizes Obama racist is totalitarian. It will not fly in a general election.

It is offensive and has to stop. Obama is young and inexperienced. Someone called him a boy. So what.

Hillary is called much worse on a daily basis and the MSM publishes it on its comment threads and doesn't report on it as unusual at all.

Amazed: What you say is true all my friends white and black were called boy by our elders and no one took offence! But that was before PC took over!

By the way, Rich. I am ALL FOR a 1/2 black, 1/2 white President, or an all-Black President, but this obama isn't the one.

okay and I have a question...why is it that all the networks have tried to interview people on the street and have had a hard time finding people really pissed off about what Obama said...but yet somehow the Clinton campaign found a bunch in time to put out an ad and they all seem to have been found at the same time of day?... It's amazing how you can find so many people so angry at obama walking on the sidewalk...especially when you set up your camera directly outside Clinton campaign headquarters...lol

"a thousand bells ring when a white man in an unfriendly context addresses a black man as 'boy'."

That's just about EXACTLY what I said. The point is that Davis did NOT address Obama as "boy", but REFERRED to him as "that boy".

MIGuy: When I was growing up in rural america my elders called me boy all the time, I don't beleive that is necessarily a racist statement but it was insensitive given the fact that it was used in the south as a means of letting blacks know "their place"! I do think that we may be letting this get out of hand, I saw a story about a hispanic woman who was a delegate for Obama who told childern that were playing in her tree to "get off of their you little monkeys". First Obama's campaign asked that she not come to the convention because they said that what she said was racially insensitive! They later reversed and said that she was welcome. So the congressman should not have used the term "boy" and Obama should not have been so sensitive about the woman calling the black childern little monkeys! PC is getting a little out of hand.

Hey, Rich, don't tell ME about prejudice......my best friend in college (and I am white----she was black) was not allowed to use the bathroom in a town gas station near our university because she was "colored". I STILL say that the term "BOY" is USED BY OLDER MEN FROM THE SOUTH---->black AND white men, alike, used to describe younger males.

Barack Obama by the way went to the most elite private school in Hawaii.

He has no experience of discrimination or disadvantage in his history.

He has always led a white life of priviledge until he decided to attach himself to Rev Wright for political reasons to win elections on the south side of Chicago.

geevil perhaps they didn't report on the protests today because the Clinton campaign filled their blackberry's and voicemail with "Obama hates small town people" "Obama hates church" "Obama hates God" "obama hates the flag" Obama hates."

lol

I think there is only one candidate and campaign that really hates... ...and that would be the loser of the two. ...and if you didn't know...that was uh Hillary.

Oh come on Amazed,I've only seen one blatently racist remark here. I wouldn't defend this guy referring to Obama as "boy" for a second. I don't assume it was intentionally racist - it probably wasn't, given Obama's age. It was probably a more condescending reference to his age more than anything else, BUT he's a public official, and he should be much more careful, much more.

They're not defending racism, they're simply pointing out that people go bananas when anything even remotely referencing race is said about Obama, but no one raises an eyebrown when people make sexist remarks about Clinton. Women understand this - references to Clinton's "shrillness," pantsuits, and crying are pretty offensive to women, ya know?

People aren't racist just because they support Clinton, and constantly slapping down the race card can be very counterproductive to your cause.

Hillary Clinton has been called everything under the sun. Keith Olbermann said John Mccain needs adult underwear. I have four brothers and they have been called boy many times. I can see why Mccain wants to run against Clinton. If he runs against Obama, he will be apologizing every-other day for what some surrogate says, not to mention 527's. Obama needs to grow a backbone like Clinton.

Actually Obama NEVER appologized for what he said. he has done nothing but defend what he said and appologize if anyone was offended. Not even if HE offended anyone.

This is a classic NON appology.

He most certainly hs not admitted what he said was completely wrong and has not appologized for his views or for that fact that he was speaking about samll town Pennsylvanians behind their backs at a "closed" champagne fundraiser at the Getty mansion in San Francisco.

This was way more than a chardonney fundraiser. Way More! The Getty mansion when the press were not supposed to be recording anything was not a great place to disrespect middle America for someone who thinks he can be President.

Belle Starr: oh, please-----this isn't about a History lesson.....I am from just North of Louisville----born and raised-----and even people south of Effingham, Illinois call themselves "Southerners".

NJH: You GO !! I like your post.

Instead of campaigning FOR someone if obama gets the Nomination, I will organize campaigning AGAINST obama in the General Election !!

"Since when isn't Kentucky part of the south???"

Well, it wasn't part of the "Old South", which is where that comment came from. Kentucky didn't separate from Virginia until after the American Revolution, and was a border state, neutral in the Civil War. Kentucky is on the other side of the Appalachians Mountains from the "Old South".

Oh MI and Fl. No how obama supporters thinkhe's going to win without these two states and probably without Ohio and PA is a great mystery.

I'm waiting for Al Gore to step up and say something about Florida's votes not counting.

I find it hard to believe he could support the nomination of any candidate who only wins without those democrats votes counting.

The Democrats can kiss Florida goodbye for 20 years if that happens.

two points; mr. davis is not running for president (thank God). let his constituents deal with him.

davis unlike obama apologized (for his comments) instead of dragging the whole country through the mud. maybe that is the difference between a man and a boy. this man (davis) owned-up i respect him for that.

commander guy,

John McCain would rather run against Clinton because he is a true American. even if there is a .0000000001% chance of Obama winning he would rather lose to Clinton than see an elitist anti-American couple like the Obamas in charge.

...and I have never heard an official call Hillary a girl... I have Hillary talk about the kitchen or "being one of the girls" but I have never heard her referred toas a girl...oh no actually I did...that's right...Bill Clinton called her a girl.

The comment is offensive, but no more so than the sexist and agism that have been spewed at Clinton and McCain (b*tch, monster...).

Obama has inflamed racial tension and division in this country more than anyone in recent memory. His CHOICE of Wright"s racist, "black liberation theology" which blames evil white people for all that ails America is part of the problem. Obama's reference to "typical white people" didn't help. Nor does it help when he suggests that small town America is bitter and clings to guns and religion to explain their frustrations. You can't just throw out crap like that and not expect any blow back.
And that is the fundamental problem with Obama--he thinks that he is above it all. That he can judge and scrutinize us without himself being judged and scrutinized.

He is self-righteous. He is arrogant. He is condescending. He is a hypocrite and yes, he is bitter. He surrounds himself with radical, bitter people like Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers. Old school liberal/malcontents who feel that society owes them something and scoff at patriotism (or in Wright's extreme case--invoke Gods damnation on our country). Even Obama's wife seems bitter--confessing that she has never been proud of this country until just now.

This country deserves and needs so much better.

Democrats and Republicans---UNITE AGAINST OBAMA!!!!!

most clinton supporters are further away from Mccain than Obama supporters... and the SD's know that.

that's why this is all pointless at this point. Obama is going to be President and the world will hold us in a much better regard... we will not be beholden to all the old backroom deals (thank you presidential library...I would love to hear them now ...the following is spoken with a Bill accent "Uh you see sorry Mr. Criminal or Mr. Foreign businessman/official we won't be able to pardon you or give you that government contract...this time...you see my wife didn't win...and the library is built and please don't send the chinese mafia after me."

Hey, dacoach: we ALREADY KNOW what it's like for people to call Hillary Clinton that kind of name. Men AND women who are threatened by a strong, powerful woman call these women that to try to "tear them down". (That's TRY to tear them down).

Obama is immature. That's why we defend this guy.

Hillary is called that name all the time. By Obama supporters mostly young men, sometimes women like Ms Powers.

No one seems to take much notice.

You know what? black males are NOT the only people to be called "boy" by Southern-living people. It's a cultural thing among both older males. blacks and whites, alike.

Amazed, I've heard a lot of democrats say that they've been watching Fox actually because CNN and MSNBC are just long, slobbery Obama advertisements. I couldn't agree more. I mean they gave Campbell Brown her own show so she could wrinkle up her nose disdainfully whenever Clinton is mentioned.

So, yeah, I've heard from others that their coverage of the democratic primary is a lot more balanced - imagine that, Fox News balanced - who'd a thunk that could happen. But I just can't bring myself to watch Fox - can't do it.

"it's not a bit clear to me that referring to somebody not present as "that boy" is necessarily racist."

I'm afraid that show a lack of knowledge of modern American history then, in which racism, discrimation and segregation politics, and the Civil Rights movement are among the main subjects. Language was and is a main weapon in active racism, as you should know. For anyone conscious of the most troublesome part of American history, a thousand bells ring when a white man in an unfriendly context addresses a black man as "boy". That is why Jake is so shocked and many others with. Here's a white Congressman addressing a black Senator, who is the widely respected Dem frontrunner in the nomination race, as "boy". Because that's how white suprematist ideology denied black men their proper identity, citizenship and human status as men in the past.

For those who fail to understand how insulting and shocking this really is, please try to inform yourself on the history of this racist language, instead of acting as if nothing out the ordinary was put in into play by Davis' way of addressing Obama.

Teri B.: it's funny......I am a staunch Democrat, and used to HATE FOX NEWS. But lately all of the Mainstream Media are swooning over their love affair with obama-ness, so I am actually GETTING some balanced, objective political news from FOX NEWS. Best place for people to get what is REALLY happening without obama-spin for anybody who is interested......never thought I would say that, but it's SURE TRUE this year !

Teri B~
My thoughts exactly.

You've obviously never been called "little lady," or "girl," or any of the other many titles men use to demean women. Actually, in many cases these men DON'T mean to demean women; they're simply following the patterns of their youth. I think you could say the same about the "boy" comment.

But -- that's right. It's only an insult when it happens to a man. Were you outraged when some yahoo at a McCain rally said something about Hillary being sent back to iron shirts? THAT was offensive -- to women, that is. In fact, that was just as offensive as "boy." Were your undies in a bundle, then? When much was made of Hillary's cleavage, were you outraged then?

Or ... not?

"grown African American males were commonly referred to as "boy' during segregation."

Actually NOT: they might be REFERRED to, if the referrer was a certain kind of uncultured white country person, by the n-word.

BUT: the sting in "boy" is when it was/is used directly to address someone, as though it were his name.

While it may not fit with the political correctness of the moment, anybody -- black or white -- who lived in the south during the 1950s could confirm the accuracy of this.

geevill: I second that motion to vote for "other" if obama wins the Nomination. I also will not give one single red cent to the DNC campaign fund for the General Election if he wins the Nomination. Let the Wealthy, Elitist Democrats and all of those on-line contributors to his Nomination campaign fund him in the General Election.

Anybody ELSE ?

Obama was a member in a racist church for 20 years , and he is still a member in the same church.

Uh . . . Brit Hume isn't an elected official, and he says err . . . offensive stuff all the time. It's Fox News, what do you expect?

Since when isn't Kentucky part of the south???

BTW, Jake, I wish you'd blog some about the candidates positions on the issues. I listened to Clinton live on Ballot Bowl on CNN Saturday(doesn't CNN even have enough sense to be embarassed about that title?), and her remarks were detailed and insightful and offered real solutions! Nearly had me jumping to my feet clapping! Thank you! Someone finally saying what needs to be said on that front, but she wasn't antagonistic about it, just firm. Her reasoning follows what I've determined myself, as a total news and political junkie, and went well beyond.

Of course, in perfect form, Obama pretty much echoed what she said. Seems like he's been copying off hers and Edwards' papers about 95% of the time in this campaign, and I find it very frustraiting that this is rarely pointed out, obvious as it is.

None of the above commander guy.

I am an registered Democrat who voted for Clinton, but will vote for McCain in November if Obama is on the ticket.

I am not alone I can guarantee you.

Jan 8, 2008:
Brit Hume referred to John Edwards as "that boy" (Fox News Special Report with Brit Hume)
Jan 22, 2008:
Democratic Strategist Peter Fenn referred to Mitt Romney as "that boy" (MSNBC Tucker with Tucker Carlson)
Feb 7, 2008:
Karl Rove referred to Tim Russert as "that boy" (Fox News: Hannity and Colmes)

looks like Jake is back in good graces with the obama crowd thanks to his ridiculous overaction (I doubt jpt really believes it, he is trying to provoke people)

I guess insulting millions and millions of people does not equal one "alleged" insulting comment about Obama.

I do not want that MAN with his finger on the button. happy?

That is just a pathetic comment.

But here is the thing - this is just the beginning.

Still doesnot justify his non-sense.

Am watching FOX NEWS on TV right now, to get some "un-biased, balanced media coverage of politics".......get THIS:

FOX just said that a Congressman from Wyoming just switched his SuperDelegate vote from obama to Hillary because of obama's Mentor's rhetoric.......watch out for the rest of the SuperDelegate stampede to Hillary !!!!

A lot of folks so filled with vitriol tonight, going off topic. Doesn't matter whether you like or support Senator Obama - the question was whether he should be called 'boy'. Obviously not. Is it racist? I don't think so but some may rightly disagree. But if you deny the obvious, how does that support anything you are saying?