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Buttars skips NAACP meeting
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No, the meeting's intent was to continue this spectacle in as public a way as is possible.
The NAACP does not represent the people of Utah. If it wants him out of office, then it should campaign against him in the next election. Until then, step back and let Utahans be the judge of who is and who is not capable of participating in state government. Let the voters - not a self-righteous, racist organization like the NAACP, whose only purpose is to thrive off of nonsense such as this - be the decision makers.
Once again, shame on the Deseret News for perpetuating this nonsense. I guess it's a slow news season, and Utah papers desperately need a scandal - even if they have to practically invent it.
Personally I think it is worth every bit of coverage it receives. Buttars is an embarrassment and the more people know about it the better.
By the way, calling the NAACP racist is something racist people do.
Then there are the rest of us who are tired of baby Buttars' annual mean-spirited, hate-filled agenda & legislation targeting anyone not up to his narrow- minded view of 'traditional moral values'.
His words have finally incensed enough of us to keep his dark ugly soul in the limelight until it fades from public life altogether.
As bad as his remarks are, they pale in comparison to his monstrous actions.
The standard response from the left wing any time one of their grievance mongering groups (NAACP, ACLU) is actually challenged, instead of the public just rolling over like they are expected to do.
And the calling of racist back and forth is likely the biggest culprit. I think Mark Shurtleff is right on the money in that what Sen Buttars said was not meant to be racist, but it offended part of the American family. Buttars does need to be, not a great Senator, but a man and apologize publicly to this group.
And while the NAACP does not represent the entire Utah population, and for that matter, not even the entire African-American population, they are a force Sen Buttars needs to work with.
As for the NAACP being racist, they have an agenda though this does not make them racist. The fact that their agenda includes race related issues will always put people on edge. Clearly double standards abound in America.
Growing up I used the N word only a few times. Yet all of the guys I played football and basketball with used it in about every other sentence. They of course were Aftican-American and that is just how it is. My use was really my personal discovery that it was not OK for a white boy to use that word.
He is such an embarassment.
PS -- calling the NAACP racist is beyond my understanding of the world. Outside of Utah the NAACP is considered to be a very moderate organization, still striving to make sure America does not go back on its word toward equality and freedom for all. Many white Americans belong to it. Many brown Americans belong to it. Good grief.
If you want something truly ugly, one only needs to look in the Utah history books to see the prevalence of the KKK in Utah. My friend growing up in WJ was constantly harassed and received death threats because they were the closest non-whites to the KKK stronghold in Riverton.
While I viewed Buttars 'black' reference a poor choice of adjectives (based on calling the kettle black), he is showing himself to be of even poorer quality speaking without thought while being scrutinized further. It would be best if he retires without seeking re-election. The bloodbath from the Voucher mess is already poised to reshape Utah politics and his bold declaration that he seeks to be re-elected only ensures one less Republican will be in the legislature next year.
Mark Shurtleff doesn't think what Buttars said was racist? What? What does he think it is?
Buttars you didn't just offend the African-American community... you offended me.... a white, priviledged male who takes offense when ignorant white males play victim to their own lack of awareness.
resign
This guy has some big problems, and he really needs to get a clue. He's an embarrassment, both to Utahns and to all Latter-day Saints. He REALLY needs to get a clue.
When the going get's tough, don't show up.
The NAACP does look out for the African Americans, but creating a culture in Utah where my 6 and 11 year old daughters are not subjected to racism is good for the whole culture of society.
The AARP looks out for retired people, are they bigoted? No, they make our culture one that is aware of the elderly. When our government does not protect the rights of the minorities, individual action groups are welcome.
Lynching -- Look it up in the dictionary and google it, it does have a racial meaning.
I taught highschool at a school that was 40% African American in Rialto CA. Some students put small "nooses" on their backpacks. It was not a "Goth" or "Death" thing. Rather, an African American and an American of European Descent were involed in a fight, and the African American student got the best of it. The students put out the nooses and hung them from trees as a message.
Sorry, but is Buttars a functioning IDIOT?
In an era when a leading presidential candidate is black, it�s time to admit this is not 1964. In 1964 it might be argued there was a rational reason to override the rights of an electorate. Today is 2008, not 1964. It is time to enforce the Constitutional right to be offensive for what ever reason. It is time to go back to Madison's version of the speech and press clauses, introduced in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789, which provided: ''The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments;� especially when those sentiments are inarticulately expressed and may not represent the real heart of the offender.
He can't be this dense.
Moreover, they are extremely partisan, so it's no surprise they're calling for a Republican's head. Buttars seems like a flawed figure, but didn't he apologize? And aren't we all flawed too in some way or another?
I look forward to the day when it's just the National Association for the Advancement of People. Until then...
Such statements are telling, and reflect back on the "right wing".
"Oh Please" and his brother "Of course" just made FREUDIAN SLIPS as big as Buttars "black baby" comment.
Keep it up, guys. You're making the rest of us look very reasonable in our understanding.
With that being said, I find it interesting that there were no eyebrows raised when Edward Lewis Jr used the term "old white guy" in a derogitory sense, referring to our state legislature. When he is on TV calling for racial justice, he loses credibility by obvious signs a hypocrisy. Kudos to KTVX Channel 4 for pointing that out.
The NAACP would serve themselves well if they had a spokesperson that thought before he/she spoke. But isn't that why Buttars is in trouble?
I call for Edward Lewis Jr's resignation. His obvious display of racism is not conducive to an atmosphere that fosters tolerance.
But no, we'll take two seconds out of context and try to string him up for it.
The sad thing is that this is still the United States of America. While personally I feel racism is a vile thing, doesn't Buttars have the right to be such (I'm not saying he is)? Isn't funny that the NAACP is willing to shut down this guy and try to get him kicked out of his position for saying the word 'black' in what they view as the wrong context?
Are we not a land where you can have free speech anymore? I know that racist remarks are hurtful, and reflect the ignorance of those who say them, but don't they still have the right to say them? People have the fundamental right to free speech.
As for Buttars, I don't think he meant that African American babies were ugly or anything else. Mountains out of ant hills.
Many of our State Senators are, in reality, "Old White Guys". Many are 5'7, and many are 6'2. Many wear ties and many are women. Saying the truth is not negative.
It's not racist to call something what it is.
If Mr. Buttars was talking about a African American Baby, and said "This is an African American Baby", there would be no outcry.
However, he used it as a Perjorative adjective describing a Senate Bill, and that is wrong, even to this 50 year old conservative Republican, LDS, Temple worthy, married to the same woman for 21 years, with an MA from BYU.
I am not liberal, but I am JUST, and that's all we are looking for.
I understand this is a difficult concept to wrap our Utah brains around, but what say we try to understand it.
How about we catch up with the rest of the country on this one.
The guy really needs to be ejected from office at the primary polls in May.
Where is that conservative contender willing to be placed on the Republican primary polls, who will get out and get the vote and the support of the Eagle Forum (and other neo-Con organizations) and get voted in over Butters?
Let me say that if Butter's gets away with this it will send a resounding message to both Utah's conservative and moderates and the nation at large that there is something terribly broken in the Utah Republican party's ethics and moral integrity.
Butter's is like a malignant cancer of the landscape of Utah Republican party politics... and he'll bring a sort of death to an aspect of the party that the party cannot afford to lose.
Republicans of Utah... GET REAL!
I have more negative feelings toward the NAACP during this story because they refuse to forgive somebody who has legitimately apologized. I would not want to be friends with somebody that if I accidentally said something wrong would never forgive me for it even after I have apologized numerous times. Find something better to do with your time NAACP and go read about Jesus and learn how to forgive!
Senator Buttars adds to that by saying that those who are upset with him are just a "hate lynch mob." He can't understand how people could see "lynch mob" as offensive."
Not long ago some nooses were left in a tree to resemble an old fashioned "lynching." This act has been condemned by many people. President George W. Bush has stated that the depiction of nooses and the use of the term "lynch" are extremely offensive.
Even more recently an announcer on the golf channel used the word "lynch" in a thought about Tiger Woods. She apologized profusely and said she understood how people would see her statement as insensitive and offensive but was suspended for two weeks.
At the least, Senator Buttars would have to be viewed as someone out of touch with the current state of affairs in his country. I would like to think he would also be viewed as out of touch with the current state of affairs in his state and community.
Did not Mr. Buttars set up a meeting with them and blew it off?
Is that a legitimate apology, or an arrogant politician who blew off the NAACP.
What is so hard about all this??????????????
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He is such an embarrassment to the Republican Party, the State Senate and the State of Utah that things thing is well beyond just apologizing to the NAACP.
You owe all of us an apology for the shame you have brought us.