Another Republican Sen. inserts foot into mouth

[conjur]

http://www.kypost.com/2004/04/03/bunn040304.html

State Rep. Daniel Mongiardo's campaign is asking Sen. Jim Bunning for a personal apology for a personal insult.
And it wants a copy of the videotape of the program at which Bunning uttered the slight.

The campaign staff of the Hazard Democrat hand-delivered a letter to Bunning's campaign office in Louisville Friday. The letter asked Bunning to personally apologize to the Italian-American for saying that he looked like "Saddam Hussein's sons -- before they were dead."

The Mongiardo letter, signed by Campaign Manager Jody Lassiter, said "Senator Bunning should do the right thing and personally apologize to Dan Mongiardo. To compare Dr. Mongiardo with the sons of Saddam Hussein was not only offensive, but was an insult to Italian-Americans and an insult to the people of Kentucky."

It's unclear whether Bunning's campaign received the letter Friday. Mongiardo campaign workers said the letter, which asked Bunning to use a Lexington dinner speech to address the issue Friday night, was slipped under the door of the locked Louisville campaign office, and also faxed.

Bunning's campaign and his official spokesman could not be reached for comment Friday night.

Bunning and Mongiardo each face nominal opposition in the May primary and are expected to square off in the November election.

The comment, initially denied by Bunning's office, was uttered and taped at the Lincoln/Reagan dinner March 20 in Florence. The incident has gotten the attention of national media -- a brief item on it appeared on the front page of Friday's Wall Street Journal.

Bunning's campaign office told The Post early this week that no such comment was made. But Bunning's campaign issued a terse release Wednesday -- to the media, not Mongiardo -- that said the comment, which "got a lot of laughs," was meant to be a joke.

The Bunning campaign has refused to release copies of the videotape that was made of the event.

Several Northern Kentucky Republicans have confirmed that they heard the comment at the dinner.

Asked Wednesday why he had denied earlier that Bunning had made the statements, campaign manager David Young said ,"I was shopped a quote last week about what was said and it was not a true quote."

Mongiardo is the descendant of Italian immigrants.

His grandfather was a coal miner and stone mason who came to eastern Kentucky during the wave of Southern European immigration to the region as mining expanded just after the turn of the 20th century.

 

[Perknose]

Hey, conjur. Now I'm the one with the "gut feeling". My gut is roiling in mild dismay. Sen. Jim Bunning is the same Jim Bunning who pitched so very, very well for the Phighting Philadelphia Phillies in the mid to late '60's.

In 1964, his first year with them, he went 19-6 with an era around 2.30 or so. That was the year the long suffering Phillies lead the NL by 6 1/2 games with only 9 games left to go and still managed to lose the pennant. (sigh).

This only solidified the angry loser mentality of we Philadelphia sports fans. We're famous for booing Santa Clause, and much, much more. In baseball, our loserdom is greatly eclipsed by the far more famous and storied loserdom of Chicago Cubs fans. This makes our loserdom all the more pure and genuine in our eyes.

Bunning won 19 games for the Phillies each of the next two years as well.

Only one constant in all of this: He was a righty then, and he's a righty now.

His remarks are unfortunate at best, wholly inexcusable at worst.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

<EDIT OUT "diversion" so bowfiner et al won't bleat on endlessly about it

>

But anyway - I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top. Ofcourse there isn't much more than an accusation of the statement at the moment so we really don't know exactly what was said.

CkG

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY
I suppose Teddy Kennedy calling Bush's appointees - "Neanderthals" deserves an apology too I guess - no? But anyway - I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top. Ofcourse there isn't much more than an accusation of the statement at the moment so we really don't know exactly what was said. CkG

Oh?

"Bunning's campaign office told The Post early this week that no such comment was made. But Bunning's campaign issued a terse release Wednesday -- to the media, not Mongiardo -- that said the comment, which "got a lot of laughs," was meant to be a joke.

The Bunning campaign has refused to release copies of the videotape that was made of the event."

CkG, there is clearly "much more than an accusation", there is an "apology" of sorts claiming the statement was a joke.

Of course, you may now get all Clinton on me and sidestep my clear refutation of you statement that "there isn't much more than an accusation" here by shifting to the other part of what you said, "we really don't know exactly what was said".

Well, we know enough to know that Bunning's boys are trying to fob it off as a joke, that they are refusing to release the tape, and that "Several Northern Kentucky Republicans have confirmed that they heard the comment at the dinner."

But go on, parse, feint and obsfucat -- expound on what "is" is.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: conjur
The campaign staff of the Hazard Democrat hand-delivered a letter to Bunning's campaign office in Louisville Friday. The letter asked Bunning to personally apologize to the Italian-American for saying that he looked like "Saddam Hussein's sons -- before they were dead."

Hazard County? Sheeyooot, we should have Uncle Jesse get the Duke boys on this case. Unless Bunning lives in Chickasaw County where the Duke boys are always gettin' in a spot of trouble.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY
I suppose Teddy Kennedy calling Bush's appointees - "Neanderthals" deserves an apology too I guess - no? But anyway - I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top. <STRONG>Ofcourse there isn't much more than an accusation of the statement at the moment</STRONG> so we really don't know exactly what was said. CkG

Oh?

"Bunning's campaign office told The Post early this week that no such comment was made. <STRONG>But Bunning's campaign issued a terse release Wednesday -- to the media, not Mongiardo -- that said the comment, which "got a lot of laughs," was meant to be a joke.
</STRONG>
The Bunning campaign has refused to release copies of the videotape that was made of the event."

CkG, there is clearly "much more than an accusation", there is an "apology" of sorts claiming the statement was a joke.

Of course, you may now get all Clinton on me and sidestep my clear refutation of you statement that "there isn't much more than an accusation" here by shifting to the other part of what you said, "we really don't know exactly what was said".

Well, we know enough to know that Bunning's boys are trying to fob it off as a joke, that they are refusing to release the tape, and that "Several Northern Kentucky Republicans have confirmed that they heard the comment at the dinner."

But go on, parse, feint and obsfucat -- expound on what "is" is.

Please show me the quote and then I'll consider it more than an accusation(regarding intent or otherwise). Now, what I did not say is that he didn't say anything - notice the "I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top" comments I made. Meaning that comparing someone to Saddam's sons - even for a laugh would be a bit over the top IMO but again -we don't have the exact quote so we are left with speculation and accusations. So yes - I'm NOT saying he didn't say it(or anything like it) but it is still an accusation as to the contents of the statement(or joke or whatever). Got it?

<edit out "diversion">



CkG

 

[DealMonkey]

Well, I would have called 'em "constipated impotent little fascist bully boys" instead of "neanderthals" however I suppose ol' Teddy was just trying to be nice.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY I suppose Teddy Kennedy calling Bush's appointees - "Neanderthals" deserves an apology too I guess - no? But anyway - I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top. Ofcourse there isn't much more than an accusation of the statement at the moment so we really don't know exactly what was said. CkG

Oh? "Bunning's campaign office told The Post early this week that no such comment was made. But Bunning's campaign issued a terse release Wednesday -- to the media, not Mongiardo -- that said the comment, which "got a lot of laughs," was meant to be a joke. The Bunning campaign has refused to release copies of the videotape that was made of the event." CkG, there is clearly "much more than an accusation", there is an "apology" of sorts claiming the statement was a joke. Of course, you may now get all Clinton on me and sidestep my clear refutation of you statement that "there isn't much more than an accusation" here by shifting to the other part of what you said, "we really don't know exactly what was said". Well, we know enough to know that Bunning's boys are trying to fob it off as a joke, that they are refusing to release the tape, and that "Several Northern Kentucky Republicans have confirmed that they heard the comment at the dinner." But go on, parse, feint and obsfucat -- expound on what "is" is.

Please show me the quote and then I'll consider it more than an accusation(regarding intent or otherwise). Now, what I did not say is that he didn't say anything - notice the "I suppose the comparison was a bit over the top" comments I made. Meaning that comparing someone to Saddam's sons - even for a laugh would be a bit over the top IMO but again -we don't have the exact quote so we are left with speculation and accusations. So yes - I'm NOT saying he didn't say it(or anything like it) but it is still an accusation as to the contents of the statement(or joke or whatever). Got it? But anyway - do you think 'Ol Swimmer should appologize for his "Neanderthal" comment? CkG

Lol, CkG, you squirm and wiggle like Slick Willie interviewing interns with a lit cigar. You really can't ever admit your wrong, even just a little bit, can you? When caught outright, you sling more "nuance" than your worst liberal nightmare.

And, yeah, I think Tubby Teddy ought to apologize to Neanderthals everywhere.

 

[ElFenix]

when did italians get to be hyphenated?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Lol, CkG, you squirm and wiggle like Slick Willie interviewing interns with a lit cigar. You really can't ever admit your wrong, even just a little bit, can you? When caught outright, you sling more "nuance" than your worst liberal nightmare.

And, yeah, I think Tubby Teddy ought to apologize to Neanderthals everywhere.

No - there was NO wiggle - you just can't see that I did infact say that it was over the top. You also don't seem to understand that we have not yet heard exactly what was said - which is exactly what I was saying.

CkG