Democrat gets pass after calling rival 'faggot'...

General Zod · 10-08-04, 02:48 PM

Wow.. can you imagine if this had been a republican that said this?

--

http://pennlive.com/news/patriotnews...7258250840.xml

Sen. Vince Fumo issued an open apology yesterday to the gay community for his use of the word "faggot" in a name-calling tirade on the state Senate floor late Wednesday.

Fumo hurled the epithet several times at Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill, R-Lebanon, after the Senate Republicans moved to stifle debate on a number of Democratic amendments to their slots bill.

According to witnesses, Fumo stormed over to the GOP leaders during a break in proceedings and accused them of breaking a pledge that he and his colleagues would be permitted to present their amendments. Fumo used the term several times before the exchange ended. It was not captured on tape.

Later, the Philadelphia Democrat acknowledged to reporters that he had lost his temper and "made a mistake" in his choice of words.

Yesterday, Fumo phoned Mark Segal, the publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News. According to a press release issued by his office, he apologized for "a very unfortunate word choice. ... I am especially sorry about using the term because it is not the way I feel in my heart toward gays."

The expression of remorse was not meant for his Senate colleagues, Fumo staffers said.

"He feels that the error he made was in using a term that is regarded as derogatory toward gay people," Fumo spokesman Gary Tuma said. "He does not regret getting into an argument with Senators Jubelirer and Brightbill."

Fumo's apology was accepted by Segal and other gay rights advocates.

"Vince is the kind of guy, when he gets angry colorful things come out of his mouth," said Segal, who considers himself a friend of Fumo's. "But he is also the No. 1 supporter of gay and lesbian issues in the Pennsylvania Senate ... and deeds speak louder than words."

Others, including Jubelirer, were in a less-forgiving mood.

Jubelirer, a member of the state Senate for 30 years, said Fumo's outburst was one of the worst he'd ever seen. He said Fumo owes a direct apology to his colleagues.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an expert on political communication at the University of Pennsylvania, agreed.

"The people we elect are supposed to be role models, and they're supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard than everybody else," she said. "Not a lower standard."

Nor does Fumo get a pass because of his animated personality. "Name-calling like that isn't appropriate in any venue, but there have to be expectations for what is appropriate language for a deliberative body," she said.

Senate rules regarding order and decorum generally apply to floor debates, and the body was in recess when Fumo lashed out.

The chamber's Ethics Committee investigates complaints into illegal or unethical activities by members. "It is something that we may need to discuss," Jubelirer said. "This should never happen."

Fumo was angry over his being blocked from debating an amendment that would broaden a proposed ban on lawmakers having financial interests in gaming businesses. Fumo wanted the ban to prohibit all family members, including adult children, from deriving income from a gambling enterprise.

In theory, the amendment would affect Jubelirer's son, Jeff, who handles public relations work for Philadelphia businessman Manny Stamatakis. Stamatakis is interested in applying for a license to operate a freestanding slots parlor in Philadelphia.

Republicans said they curtailed debate in part because Fumo's amendment -- which included a more-expansive definition for "immediate family" than the law Fumo helped to negotiate this summer -- was "mean-spirited, and intended to embarrass people."

Fumo ended his statement yesterday by suggesting Jubelirer and Brightbill "owe an apology to the people of Pennsylvania for failing to confront the issue of legislators' relatives being able to enrich themselves through gambling."

The slots bill, passed on a 49-1 vote, moves to the House.

nevermind · 10-08-04, 02:51 PM

what a niggardly apology

nemein · 10-08-04, 02:52 PM

dick_grayson · 10-08-04, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nevermind
what a niggardly apology

Nice try using the adjective "niggardly" to fish for people thinking it has something to do with race.

Shoveler · 10-08-04, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nevermind
what a niggardly apology

I agree, but that's a queer way to put it.

Mutley Hyde · 10-08-04, 02:56 PM

I don't appreciate the negative connotation you're implying with fishermen.

Shoveler · 10-08-04, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dick_grayson
Nice try using the adjective "niggardly" to fish for people thinking it has something to do with race.

Fixed.

dick_grayson · 10-08-04, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shoveler
Fixed.

yes, you're right.

RevLiver · 10-08-04, 03:10 PM

Sometimes I wish US politics would feature some of the brawls we see in the parliaments of our friends in East Asia. Imagine the fun!

Groucho · 10-08-04, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RevLiver
Sometimes I wish US politics would feature some of the brawls we see in the parliaments of our friends in East Asia. Imagine the fun!

I'm sure a gay time would be had by all!

RevLiver · 10-08-04, 03:16 PM

You owe me $5 for setting that up for you.

dork · 10-08-04, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by General Zod
Wow.. can you imagine if this had been a republican that said this?

I tried. In my imagination he looked something like this:

dork · 10-08-04, 03:20 PM

By the way, in case anyone's confused: This is Pennsylvania state politics. Fumo is a state senator (and a major load).

CRM114 · 10-08-04, 03:21 PM

Who calls someone a faggot that is older than an 8th grader?

Well, there are some on this forum that don't mind calling women "whores" either.

Thor Simpson · 10-08-04, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by General Zod
he apologized for "a very unfortunate word choice. ... I am especially sorry about using the term because it is not the way I feel in my heart toward gays."

Whew. If, in his heart, he felt that gays were like republicans that really would be offensive to gays.

Thor Simpson · 10-08-04, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRM114
Who calls someone a faggot that is older than an 8th grader?

Um... gay people? I guess it's like blacks using the N word or something.

Tracer Bullet · 10-08-04, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thor Simpson
Um... gay people? I guess it's like blacks using the N word or something.

Um... what? I have never heard this.

CRM114 · 10-08-04, 03:44 PM

Yeah really. I never heard that either.

But my point was that we can all think of words to call people when we are pissed. Jackass. Asshole. Prick. Dick. But faggot just seems like a schoolyard word that kids use before they fully understand the social ramifications of using such a word.

I suppose I'm just projecting my values on others...

JasonF · 10-08-04, 03:48 PM

If you can think of a slur against gay people, by and large, the gay community will embrace it and make it their own. I've heard my gay friends call each other everything from queers to faggots to homos.

kvrdave · 10-08-04, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JasonF
If you can think of a slur against gay people, by and large, the gay community will embrace it and make it their own. I've heard my gay friends call each other everything from queers to faggots to homos.

That explains the Dixie Chicks calling their fans "whores" now.

Just for CRM

Myster X · 10-08-04, 04:11 PM

Come on now!
Girlie men is more derogatory than faggot.

Trigger · 10-08-04, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRM114
Who calls someone a faggot that is older than an 8th grader?

half the people on Xbox Live who are from the midwest and are planning on joining the Army so they can go kill people from another country. "faggot" is pretty much one of the main staples of their vocabulary.

dick_grayson · 10-08-04, 04:30 PM

Yeah, Eminem uses it all the time. According to him, it doesn't have anything to do with gay people....it's just an insult.

nevermind · 10-08-04, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trigger
half the people on Xbox Live who are from the midwest and are planning on joining the Army so they can go kill people from another country. "faggot" is pretty much one of the main staples of their vocabulary.

you couldn't be any more specific?

Groucho · 10-08-04, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trigger
half the people on Xbox Live who are from the midwest and are planning on joining the Army so they can go kill people from another country. "faggot" is pretty much one of the main staples of their vocabulary.

Hmm...they usually call me "n*gger."

10-08-04, 02:48 PM	#1
General Zod DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Planet Hooston Posts: 13,554	Democrat gets pass after calling rival 'faggot'... Wow.. can you imagine if this had been a republican that said this? -- http://pennlive.com/news/patriotnews...7258250840.xml Sen. Vince Fumo issued an open apology yesterday to the gay community for his use of the word "faggot" in a name-calling tirade on the state Senate floor late Wednesday. Fumo hurled the epithet several times at Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill, R-Lebanon, after the Senate Republicans moved to stifle debate on a number of Democratic amendments to their slots bill. According to witnesses, Fumo stormed over to the GOP leaders during a break in proceedings and accused them of breaking a pledge that he and his colleagues would be permitted to present their amendments. Fumo used the term several times before the exchange ended. It was not captured on tape. Later, the Philadelphia Democrat acknowledged to reporters that he had lost his temper and "made a mistake" in his choice of words. Yesterday, Fumo phoned Mark Segal, the publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News. According to a press release issued by his office, he apologized for "a very unfortunate word choice. ... I am especially sorry about using the term because it is not the way I feel in my heart toward gays." The expression of remorse was not meant for his Senate colleagues, Fumo staffers said. "He feels that the error he made was in using a term that is regarded as derogatory toward gay people," Fumo spokesman Gary Tuma said. "He does not regret getting into an argument with Senators Jubelirer and Brightbill." Fumo's apology was accepted by Segal and other gay rights advocates. "Vince is the kind of guy, when he gets angry colorful things come out of his mouth," said Segal, who considers himself a friend of Fumo's. "But he is also the No. 1 supporter of gay and lesbian issues in the Pennsylvania Senate ... and deeds speak louder than words." Others, including Jubelirer, were in a less-forgiving mood. Jubelirer, a member of the state Senate for 30 years, said Fumo's outburst was one of the worst he'd ever seen. He said Fumo owes a direct apology to his colleagues. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an expert on political communication at the University of Pennsylvania, agreed. "The people we elect are supposed to be role models, and they're supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard than everybody else," she said. "Not a lower standard." Nor does Fumo get a pass because of his animated personality. "Name-calling like that isn't appropriate in any venue, but there have to be expectations for what is appropriate language for a deliberative body," she said. Senate rules regarding order and decorum generally apply to floor debates, and the body was in recess when Fumo lashed out. The chamber's Ethics Committee investigates complaints into illegal or unethical activities by members. "It is something that we may need to discuss," Jubelirer said. "This should never happen." Fumo was angry over his being blocked from debating an amendment that would broaden a proposed ban on lawmakers having financial interests in gaming businesses. Fumo wanted the ban to prohibit all family members, including adult children, from deriving income from a gambling enterprise. In theory, the amendment would affect Jubelirer's son, Jeff, who handles public relations work for Philadelphia businessman Manny Stamatakis. Stamatakis is interested in applying for a license to operate a freestanding slots parlor in Philadelphia. Republicans said they curtailed debate in part because Fumo's amendment -- which included a more-expansive definition for "immediate family" than the law Fumo helped to negotiate this summer -- was "mean-spirited, and intended to embarrass people." Fumo ended his statement yesterday by suggesting Jubelirer and Brightbill "owe an apology to the people of Pennsylvania for failing to confront the issue of legislators' relatives being able to enrich themselves through gambling." The slots bill, passed on a 49-1 vote, moves to the House. __________________ "Kneel Before Zod"

10-08-04, 02:52 PM	#3
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 32,700	__________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America "Do the right thing even if it means dying like a dog when no one's there to see you do it." - Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale My Countdown Counting down to: End of the 5th world age 1125 days 4 hours 49 minutes

10-08-04, 02:56 PM	#6
Mutley Hyde DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas! Damn right. Posts: 11,089	I don't appreciate the negative connotation you're implying with fishermen. __________________ "Africa is worth fighting for. Europe, in its present form, is not." Tony Blair

10-08-04, 03:10 PM	#9
RevLiver DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Jersey, where the state motto should be Leave No Tree Standing Posts: 2,073	Sometimes I wish US politics would feature some of the brawls we see in the parliaments of our friends in East Asia. Imagine the fun! __________________ Darin You Are What You Listen To

10-08-04, 03:16 PM	#11
RevLiver DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: New Jersey, where the state motto should be Leave No Tree Standing Posts: 2,073	You owe me $5 for setting that up for you. __________________ Darin You Are What You Listen To

10-08-04, 02:51 PM	#2
nevermind DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Illinoyze Posts: 9,620	what a niggardly apology

10-08-04, 03:20 PM	#13
dork DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 8,154	By the way, in case anyone's confused: This is Pennsylvania state politics. Fumo is a state senator (and a major load).

10-08-04, 03:21 PM	#14
CRM114 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lehigh Valley Posts: 21,985	Who calls someone a faggot that is older than an 8th grader? Well, there are some on this forum that don't mind calling women "whores" either.

10-08-04, 03:44 PM	#18
CRM114 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lehigh Valley Posts: 21,985	Yeah really. I never heard that either. But my point was that we can all think of words to call people when we are pissed. Jackass. Asshole. Prick. Dick. But faggot just seems like a schoolyard word that kids use before they fully understand the social ramifications of using such a word. I suppose I'm just projecting my values on others...

10-08-04, 03:48 PM	#19
JasonF DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 24,021	If you can think of a slur against gay people, by and large, the gay community will embrace it and make it their own. I've heard my gay friends call each other everything from queers to faggots to homos. __________________ These are my DVDs ۞ GamerTag: William T Bunny Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

10-08-04, 04:11 PM	#21
Myster X Banned Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 22,995	Come on now! Girlie men is more derogatory than faggot.

10-08-04, 04:30 PM	#23
dick_grayson DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lyon Estates Posts: 10,487	Yeah, Eminem uses it all the time. According to him, it doesn't have anything to do with gay people....it's just an insult.