Georgia GOP Rep. Deal cites ‘ghetto grandmothers’ to promote his proof-of-citizenship legislation.
Georgia GOP Rep. Deal cites ‘ghetto grandmothers’ to promote his proof-of-citizenship legislation.
One of the most frequent targets in the Georgia GOP gubenatorial primary has been undocumented immigrants. Candidates have repeatedly harped on the threat of undocumented immigrants voting in Georgia’s elections, and have even used dirty tactics to unfairly disenfranchise legal voters — the overwhelmingly majority of whom were racial minorities, according to the Department of Justice — in the name of stopping the undocumented from voting. This scare-mongering climbed to new, dangerously racially-tinged heights this past Saturday when gubenatorial candidate Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) cited complaints about “ghetto grandmothers” as the reasoning behind proof-of-citizenship legislation he is supporting:
DEAL: We got all the complaints of the ghetto grandmothers who didn’t have birth certificates and all that. We wrote some very liberal language as to how you can verify it. My mother was born in 1906 and she didn’t have a birth certificate. They didn’t give birth certificates back then. But we got her one, because you can do it under the proper procedures of your state.
Watch it:
This morning, Deal released a statement in response to the uproar his comment has created: “I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
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Ghetto Grandmothers are today’s threat to Freedom ™. Mark party is always on a creative shitstreak pinpointing new groups to blame the world’s problems.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:58 pmI wonder what it’s like for that part of Georgia to still be living in the 50’s…
October 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pmWhat’s scary is that there are people all over the nation who will read that (or have it read to them by Beck/Limbaugh/Malkin et.al) and wonder why people were upset…
October 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pmHe says crap like “ghetto grandmothers” but never meant to offend anyone? I don’t believe him for some reason.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:03 pmWell, give him credit. At least he didn’t try to claim “I was only joking”.
Right, aaronk?
October 5th, 2009 at 4:05 pmralph the wonder llama says:
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This morning, Deal released a statement in response to the uproar his comment has created: “I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
October 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pmIt’s like a GOP virus or something, they all say these off-the-wall hateful things knowing full well what people will think, and then they think a piss-poor apology will make it all better.
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) says, “We got all the complaints of the ghetto grandmothers who didn’t have birth certificates and all that.”
Rep. Deal was actually quoting Adolf Hitler.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pm1. Lady Edith,
In GA? Not really.
Deal’s comments were pretty damn racist, even by Georgia standards. Luckily, this rotten peach doesnt stand much of a chance of getting elected. Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine is killing the competition for the GOP and ex-Gov Roy Barnes is doing the same for the Dems.
The actual race should be pretty damn close.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pmDeMint, Deal, Schlafly, Santorum, etc. Is anybody keeping a running tab of how many GOP members go out of their way to spew venom, and then act shocked when they find out how much it pisses people off?
October 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pmYou can’t put the genie back in the bottle. This is the kind of statement that mobilizes people who are opposed to the candidate.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pmThis is the quality of candidate in Georgia? It is interesting how the racists now feel they have license to discriminate, spew their hatred in the open. Perhaps it is due to the fact that behind the scenes screwing over of minorities is no longer effective so the racists are going public in order to not confuse anyone as to their true feelings about equality.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pmSo is it just time, being that racism on the right-wing is so openly, unabashedly blatant these days, to change the GOP symbol to be an elephant in a clan hood? Somehow I don’t think many on the right would object.
The world is changing and those who are incapable of change do the only thing they can: scapegoat those who are different from themselves. And soon those incapable of change, like their predecessors throughout history, will quickly be left behind as the world moves on without them.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:13 pmHe regrets his choice of words? Hahahahahahaha! Sure he does! OMG not only is the man a racist he is also a liar.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:15 pmJimmy Carter tried to give Georgia a fighting chance. In fact, he’s still Georgia’s only fighting chance.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pmamish_edison says:
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So is it just time, being that racism on the right-wing is so openly, unabashedly blatant these days, to change the GOP symbol to be an elephant in a clan hood? Somehow I don’t think many on the right would object.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pmOnly if the rest of the elephant was painted white too.
O/T but thoroughly odd
Actually, i think this might be a joke.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:17 pmhttp://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project
O/T but thoroughly odd
Actually, i think this might be a joke.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:21 pmhttp://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project
I took a look around the rest of the site, no joke. And Hitler would be proud of some of this garbage. Scary stuff.
Excuse me sir but ()().
Apply lips as needed.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pmamish_edison says:
So is it just time, being that racism on the right-wing is so openly, unabashedly blatant these days, to change the GOP symbol to be an elephant in a clan hood?
…or an elephant on a burning cross.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pmEnnuiDivine says:
O/T but thoroughly odd
Actually, i think this might be a joke.
http://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project
Ooh, I just tipped TP about this… prolly others have too… I really like how we are ‘translating’ the King James Translation for extra ‘truthiness’
’cause nothing says ‘authentic’ like a translation of a translation!
It’s like the ‘telephone’ translation! I love it!
October 5th, 2009 at 4:26 pmEnnuiDivine says:
O/T but thoroughly odd
Actually, i think this might be a joke.
http://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project
Interesting EnnuiDivine. Here’s one of the listed “advantages” of this project:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
OK. Let’s say I’m an undocumented worker, going to my under the table cash paying job each day.
I drive under the speed limit, no way do I draw any attention to myself.
So I’m gonna show up at an election polling place and vote?
Are you NUTZ?
That’s the last effing thing I’d do, risking deportation for what?
C’mon, you lameasses can do better than that. Can’t you?
You Can’t?
The STFU.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:33 pmWhy do some people believe it’s somehow better to insult people unintentionally? It makes you not only rude but ignorant as well. Much worse, in my opinion.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pmDEAL: We got all the complaints of the ghetto grandmothers who didn’t have birth certificates and all that. We wrote some very liberal language as to how you can verify it. My mother was born in 1906 and she didn’t have a birth certificate.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:36 pmIs he saying his mother was a ghetto grandmother?
I’m confused.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pmHis grandmother didn’t have a birth certificate because this asshat was hatched.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pmThe undocumented elderly minority voters in the South typically live in rural, not urban, areas. There’s simply no other possible meaning to phrasing than that he is employing race-baiting code words.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pmDeal seems to think he better than anybody who actually works for a living and yet the GOP manages to tie the ELITIST tag around the neck of Democrats. Deal is in need of a severe beat down.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pmUSNclerk says:
O/T but thoroughly odd
Actually, i think this might be a joke.
I doubt it seriously. There are entire websites dedicated to debunking “liberal” interpretations of the Bible, especially the Gospels. Do a search on “render unto Caesar” to get a taste. According to the wingers, this says nothing about whether or not Jesus approved of taxes, rather it implies just the opposite. I’m guessing there is a similar debunking of the Beatitudes.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pmbarfly says:
I’m confused.
I think his comments go to his wish to disqualifying voters who cannot produce a birth certificate. This is just a way for states to get around the Voting Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits various things that were used to stop blacks from voting. It would also be a means for disqualifying people from other government programs.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pmDeal needs to get a job that doesn’t require much thought. Oh yeah, he’s a GOP office holder. I was thinking more along the lines of ditch digger or stable cleaner.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pm“I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
Sooooo, what words would you have chosen to refer to “ghetto grandmothers?”
Yeah Rep Deal, it’s easy to let something like “ghetto grandmother” roll off your tongue, when you don’t really think it’s an offensive term.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:51 pmDeal’s been shoveling manure for the GOP so long he’s got calluses on his conscience. He seems to think that makes him upper class.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:52 pmHave there been any instances of undocumented workers in Georgia (or anywhere else) attempting to vote fraudulently and getting caught? How many? How often does this happen?
How many state, county, and/or local elections would have “gone the other way” if not for “ghetto grandmothers” or undocumented residents voting illegally?
How big a problem is this — really?
I suspect this isn’t actually a problem — it just serves as a dog whistle to the racists.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:52 pmLet’s be honest here: Deal doesn’t regret his “choice of words.” He regrets getting caught using outright racist language.
Guess he missed the “Dogwhistles 101″ breakout session at the GOP convention last year …
October 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm“I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
Translation= I might have a shot at the Presidency considering all the boneheads ahead of me and I don’t want anyone questioning my heritage.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pmDeal has no intention of ever representing the interests of anybody in the ghetto or any Grandmothers that aren’t rich and white. He knows it is a derogatory term and he meant to say it. And many of his constituents will think it just dandy.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pmRacism and bigotry is so much a part of them that their words are out of their mouths before their brains are engaged.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:00 pmIt not only speaks to their racism, but it speaks to the quality of their thinking as well.
I know this nation is full of shameful racists, but I didn’t realize they permeated the Congress and every aspect of our society to the extent that has been shown since November 2008.
The hatemongers of the right broadcast media have stirred up and fomented this type of bigotry within society – not that that is an excuse. But the repeated sneers, innuendoes, and outright false accusations subliminally – if not overtly – encourage the weak-brained.
Marie says:
I know this nation is full of shameful racists, but I didn’t realize they permeated the Congress and every aspect of our society to the extent that has been shown since November 2008.
What is really shameful is that this is 2009 and this type of comment still finds a way into our national discussion.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:06 pmRepukes sure seem to be saying -
“I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
- a lot, but I doubt if they mean it or even understand why they were told to say it.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:08 pmThat’s odd. He didn’t use the standard repub, “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” apology. I still don’t trust these jokers.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:17 pmRepukes sure seem to be saying -
“I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
And yet they still keep yammering. Pay attention, America, these clowns are real slow learners.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:18 pm7. USNClerk,
It is a virus which was detailed in “Night of the Living Dead.” It is spread by as innocuous contact as a scratch.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pmMarie@39–You’ve summed it up perfectly.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm45. Yeah, States do have a proceedure for obtaining a birth certificate. And if you have a lawyer / son in the Senate plus the resources to keep fighting for it, you can probably get it.
Otherwise, you’re morelikely to be told by the clerk that no such thing exists.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm“We wrote some very liberal language as to how you can verify it. “
His wingnut followers would read it this way : “We have allowed people who don’t have birth certificates to contest elections. And it’s all been made possible by the liberals’ policies.”
October 5th, 2009 at 6:33 pmHey buddy hate to tell you but we’re the illegal immigrants.Last time I checked the indigenous people of the North American continent were here thousands of years before us.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:16 pmOh, man…you stay KKKlassy, GOoPer.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:22 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Byrd renounced his past, and the southern democrats (dixiecrats) are now repugniscum.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:37 pmThe repiggies have an intelligence test for potential candidates for public office.
The dumber one is, the more the repiggies want that person to run.
The repiggie party is crawling with white power racists, and morons like “conservative guy” should acknowledge that.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:06 pmConservaTROLL
Always ready with the Limborg talking point. Byrd hasnt been in the KKK for decades and has appologized literally dozens of times for that association. Time for YOU to man up and appologize for not killing yourself. You suck. You offend all decent human beings and should have done the right thing long ago
October 5th, 2009 at 8:17 pmElitist, descriminatory policies in government were the founding motivation of organizations like ACORN.
Nathan Deal voted for cutting federal funds to ACORN last month, but two years ago voted against holding Blackwater responsible for the deadly shootings of 17 Iraqi civilians.
October 6th, 2009 at 2:25 amIt was much more enjoyable for these conservatives back in the 1960’s when they could just order anyone helping to register African-Americans SHOT AND BURIED.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:05 amI meant to add that Ronald Reagan kicked off his national presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi as a tribute to this quaint practice.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:07 amIn response to EnuuiDivine:
Unfortunately, unless the election is a runaway, voting in Georgia is only a useless formality, especially since last week when the state supreme court ruled that secretive,non-verifiable, computerized voting is A-Okay. See:
October 6th, 2009 at 8:30 amhttp://www.bradblog.com/?p=7445
All the GOP need do is create a last minute scandal around the Democratic candidate, the press jumps on board and low and behold the race turns around before the pollsters can do their work. See Bush-Kerry 2004.
In response to NYVoter:
Better yet see Max Cleland – Saxby Chambliss 2002.
October 6th, 2009 at 8:33 amDon’t believe a word Deal says. I live in GA, and the attitude of many republican politicians and their supporters toward immigrants, minorities, and the poor is pure evil. They’ll do anything to keep these groups from voting. I was born and raised in GA and have voted in national, state, and local elections since 1972, and last year I found that my name had been removed from the voting rolls. I am an AA, and if this happened to me after so many years of voting, it can happen to anyone. Deal and the Republican Party in GA are full of BS. I never believe anything any of them say. Racial tensions in GA are at an all-time high and combined with the destructive lies and rhetoric of its’ politicians, it has polarized the populace into camps of “us” v. “them.” Politicians like Deal feed daily doses of red meat to those who listen to them, further inflaming the situation.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:43 amSoutherners are unbelievable. Thier hate for different cultures is sinful.
No wonder God imposes so many hurricanes and floods done there.
What goes around comes around.
Will not spend money down there.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pmThe Sons of the Confederacy strike again.
These people are trying to drag the country backwards into the 19th century.
They are preventing America from moving into the 21st century in an intelligent and competent way.
They are harmful to the future success of the U.S.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:52 amIt would be nice to have a time machine to ship them back to 1862 where they belong.
what context were those wise words to state publicly? botoks
October 9th, 2009 at 10:14 amThank you for your sharing.!
October 11th, 2009 at 4:24 pm