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As Dems prepare for 'first ever gay debate,' Richardson tagged for using slur
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ShareJuly 11, 2007 10:34 AM
USA Today's OnPolitics Blog Reports: Along with the news that many of the Democratic presidential contenders will take part next month in what's being billed as the first ever debate focused on issues of concern to homosexuals comes this: One of the candidates, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, is apologizing for more than a year ago using a word that "most gay Latinos" find offensive.
The Los Angeles Times blog Top of the Ticket is following what's going on. Here's more on what it's all about:
The forum, set for Aug. 9, is being sponsored by the gay TV network LOGO and the Human Rights Campaign.
According to this story at 365Gay.com (which LOGO owns), "Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Chris Dodd have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate."
As for Richardson, Gay News Watch writes that during a March 29, 2006, interview on the TV/radio show Imus in the Morning (which since then was canceled because of racially charged comments made by the host), Richardson and Don Imus used a word that many Latinos consider to be a hateful Spanish term for homosexuals.
This week, Gay News Watch reports, Richardson publicly apologized by issuing a statement saying, in part, that:
"I would never knowingly say or do anything to hurt the (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual) community -- a community that I have worked hard for and supported my entire career. ... In the Spanish I grew up speaking, the term means simply 'gay,' not positive or negative. It has been brought to my attention that the word also has a hurtful or derogatory connotation, which was never my intent. If I offended anybody, I'm sorry."
Top of the Ticket says it confirmed with the Richardson campaign that the Gay News Watch report is correct.
July 11, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (9)
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These days, almost every word has a negative connotation to some group or other.
It becomes ridiculous, eventually.
Perhaps we should quit worrying about words, and start worrying about the meaning behind the words.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Jul 11, 2007 1:10:56 PM
Dogs on roofs of cars, politically correct police on every roof, who's feeding the smut mongers?
Posted by: sandra l | Jul 11, 2007 1:55:41 PM
The reasoning behind all this is to control us people!..their is no word that we should not be allowed to say because when you aren't allowed to say certain words all it does is give that word more power!!!(of course a person should use good judgement when using certain words and I think most of us do)
In the future a lot of us are going to be arrested and sent off to a prison camp or a "special school" when we say a word that is considered offensive by one group or another....This is being used to control us and condition us for what is coming in the future!! Wake Up People!
Posted by: freeman | Jul 11, 2007 4:57:18 PM
Is the term "FREEDOM OF SPEECH" as politically incorrect as it seems to be???
Posted by: cuznmikie | Jul 11, 2007 9:20:54 PM
I agree with you Freeman, things are getting way out of control!! I think the future of America is not good unless we all stand up and do something about it!
Posted by: Stephen | Jul 12, 2007 1:34:50 AM
I can't believe the stupidity of the comments in here thus far. Freedom of speech? Nobody is saying that the government should arrest Richardson. Freedom of speech protects your right to speak -- it does not somehow immunize you from harsh criticism about what you say. When you toss an item out into the marketplace of ideas, the market is perfectly free to refuse to buy it. You are all a bunch of insenstitive idiots. If you want to stand and cheer when offenseive, bigoted statements are made, be my guest. But don't cry freedom of speech when you are ridiculed for it (like right now.) Gays have just as much "freedom of speech" to criticize Richardson as he does in making comments.
Posted by: LAGuy | Jul 12, 2007 3:12:04 AM
This is really going to hit Richardson where it hurts - right in the primary!
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Jul 12, 2007 11:22:09 AM
WHO CARES ABOUT THE GOVERNOR ?
HE'S GOT 43 VOTES, ALL FROM HIS FAMILY.
THIS RACE IS ABOUT THE BATTLE BETWEEN HILLARY AND OBAMA, AND SOME COMEDY RELIEF FROM "DON'T HATE ME BECAUSE I'M BEAUTIFUL" EDWARDS...
Posted by: LAUGHINGMARC | Jul 13, 2007 11:29:53 PM
WHAT IS THE WORD????
Posted by: Steven | Aug 22, 2008 9:36:06 PM
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