Virginia legislator's comments on slavery anger blacks, Jews

[swimboy]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOU_XGR_SLAVERY_APOLOGY_VAOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US

The latest in a series of "Macaca Moments" from Virginia legislators (Republicans):

Virginia legislator's comments on slavery anger blacks, Jews

By BOB LEWIS
AP Political Writer


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A state legislator's statement that black people "should get over" slavery and questioning whether Jews should apologize "for killing Christ" caused furious and tearful denunciations Tuesday before stunned lawmakers.

Del. Frank D. Hargrove, in defending himself, told one of his critics, a delegate whose Jewish ancestors immigrated from Nazi-occupied Poland, that "your skin is a little too thin."

Hargrove, 79, in an interview published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, voiced opposition to a measure apologizing on behalf of the state to the descendants of slaves.

In the interview, Hargrove, R-Hanover, said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added, "I personally think that our black citizens should get over it."

The newspaper also quoted him as wondering aloud, "are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

[Virginia Dare]

1. Here's another link...what an insensitive asshat...

The flap caused much greater outrage among Democrats and blacks in the legislature, who bristled at the timing of the remarks, not only on the King holiday but also at the start of a year during which Virginia is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, where blacks were once sold as slaves.

"For 400 years, this commonwealth has not apologized, and I for one believe it is high time for that apology," said Del. A. Donald McEachin (D-Richmond), sponsor of the resolution, which would require the General Assembly to "atone for the involuntary servitude of Africans and call for reconciliation among all Virginians."

-snip-

Del. Dwight Clinton Jones (D-Richmond), chairman of the black caucus, scoffed at the idea that people should "get over" slavery "as if slavery was a birthday party that somebody had last Saturday night."

-snip-


Hargrove, whose original remarks were reported in the Charlottesville Daily Progress, tried to make amends during a speech on the House floor. As fellow Republicans looked on warily -- notably House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), who stood stiffly and silently at the back of the chamber -- Hargrove told Englin, his seatmate, that Englin's "skin was a little too thin."

"I didn't even know you were Jewish," said Hargrove, who turns 80 this month. "I don't care what your religion is. I really don't care."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/16/AR2007011600995.html

[mikeytherat]

2. Wow. One of our "Hometown Heroes."

Maybe this asshat should get over the Civil War. I mean, Jeebus H. Criminy on a pogo stick, we have several Second Place Trophies (monuments to Civil War generals), Sons-and-Daughters of the Confederacy organizations, Lee-Jackson day as a State holiday, and more wannabe reenactors than you can shake a stick at.

I think the locals here need to "get over" the Civil War, and develop a thicker skin, too.

mikey_the_rat

[swimboy]

4. Boy, do you ever make a great point there!

Some people are so quick to be dismissive on issues that aren't their own issues, but come near enough to breathe on their own glass-shelf dainties and WATCH OUT!

Hargrove, following the marvelous example of Allen, made initial insensitive remarks and followed up with inflammatory statements in his own "defense".

[mikeytherat]

6. When stuck in a hole, just keep digging!

Hargrove has at least two shovels, a pick, and a backhoe.

mikey_the_rat

[Lerkfish]

3. notice he's not identified as republican until the fourth paragraph

LOL

[LostinVA]

5. That's because the DP is a Repub rag

It's owned by the same people who own the Richmond T-D.

[underpants]

7. A sad and pathetic little old man

Not that you would know that by googling his name.

This is the image you get



You have to hit the news tab to find a recent pic and that includes his official bio

http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/0/c3185f3fe2725cb1852570d2005e9e93?OpenDocument




Del. David Englin, left, angrily criticized Del. Frank Hargrove, right, on the House floor. Hargrove told Englin: “ Your skin is a little too thin.” STEVE HELBER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[mikeytherat]

8. Does he not wear his dentures, or does he always look like he just

ate something nasty?

mikey_the_rat

[USA No. 1]

9. Get over slavery? How would we feel?

How would we feel if we were yanked from our countries and forced to pick cotton in a foreign land for the southern aristocracy?

Sold to the highest bidders like merchandise at Walmart?

Used for medical experiments by racist Republicans?

Denied education, housing, access to public facilities, not too mention healthcare and employment?

Forced to live in poverty.

Forced to be second class citizens.

Denied the right to vote.

Can't drink from the same water fountain white folks drink from.

BUT -- the effort to exclude black people from the mainstream of American society subsides at the doors of the nearest military recruitment office. Seems we'll take all the blacks we can get to go fight our dirty little wars.

Face it, blacks have been denied just about every right that white America has taken for granted. They've been getting screwed from day one.

Get over it? Methinks Mr. Hargrove doth protest a wee bit too much.

[swimboy]

11. Welcome to DU, USA No. 1

Thanks for posting. :hi:

[hatrack]

10. WTF?!?!?

Redefining the description "senescent buffoon."

:eyes:

[acmejack]

12. Yesterdays discussion...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3132456

[swimboy]

14. Thanks.

I did try to find it before I posted but wasn't successful. Thanks for providing the link.

[xchrom]

13. why is it that the victors/deniers of history and lasting effects of history

always want the victims of history to get over it?

maybe because they're getting an idea that the show really could get put on the other foot?

[demnan]

15. I hope Virginians start to wake up

:rant:

We have a good Governor but his hands are tied by the flat-earth Republicans we've sent to Richmond. Now you can see what asses they make of themselves. You would think they had learned to keep their mouthes shut after the "Macacca" incident lost George Allen his election. People, we put in the first Black Governor in the entire country in Virginia. Virginia is not a racist state. We all have to pay more attention to our state government. I think we N.Va's like to concentrate on the National government because of our proximity to DC. But there is no reason Prince William County should be sending the boobs we send to Richmond every election.

[Eurobabe]

16. Impetus to clean out the dead wood in the VA House

See ya Frank!

[Ignacio Upton]

17. He has no excuse in this case

Mel Gibson had his drunkeness, and Macaca Allen had a word that most people do not know the definition of.

[DinahMoeHum]

18. Is it my imagination, or has the drinking water in Virginia been infected

with a germ called "Stupid" ??? Republicans have been most susceptible to the disease.

First, George Felix "Macaca" Allen
then, Virgil "Swear-on-a-Bible-not-a-Koran" Goode
then Frank "Black-citizens-should-get-over-slavery" Hargrove

Hargrove is definitely a candidate for next week's Top Ten Conservative Idiots.


:dunce::dunce::dunce:

[BadGimp]

19. Assclown Award Nominee

[Eugene]

20. AP: Black Leaders Seek Lawmaker's Censure

Black Leaders Seek Lawmaker's Censure


Thursday January 18, 2007 8:16 PM

AP Photo RMX103, RMX104, RMX105

By BOB LEWIS

Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Angry black leaders called Thursday for a legislator to be
censured for saying blacks should "get over" slavery.

"I think we ought to just kick up some hell," the Rev. J. Rayfield Vines Jr. said during
a news conference organized by the Virginia National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People.

In a newspaper interview published Tuesday, Del. Frank D. Hargrove said slavery ended
nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added that "our black citizens should get
over it."

-snip-

In seething comments Thursday, state NAACP director King Salim Khalfani and four black
religious leaders said nothing short of an apology by the Republican Party and a formal
rebuke of Hargrove would satisfy them.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6355133,00.html

[swimboy]

21. I agree they should.

especially when one (at least) of the news articles stated that in the Virginia House of Delegates two black delegates and a Jewish delegate were offended. I know for a fact many more than that were offended.

This deserves to build to a righteous climax.

[Justitia]

22. The most pathetic thing is that this old bird probably doesn't have the faintest idea he said

something really offensive. I mean, he followed up the "get over it" with the old Jews-are-Christ-killers thing!

These ole boys in their 80s can really be lost causes. His family must be cringing (hopefully).

Theater of The Absurd