Lawmaker's remark revives dying domestic violence bill (SC cockfight)

[liveoaktx]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/politics/3163151

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A bill that would toughen domestic violence penalties in South Carolina appeared to be dead — until a state legislator opened his mouth to question why abused women return to violent relationships.

Now, after an outcry by women's groups, the proposal is moving so quickly through the Legislature that some elected officials are trying to put the brakes on it, and the bill's original sponsor has withdrawn her support.

The issue caught fire after Republican Rep. John Graham Altman was asked to explain why the bill had died earlier in a subcommittee.

"I do not understand why women continue to go back around men who abuse them," Altman told Columbia television station WIS. "I've asked women that and they all tell me the same answer, 'John Graham, you don't understand.' And I say you're right, I don't understand."

Vidclip

[atommom]

1. I'll bet he's kicking himself now! But if they do manage to toughen

the penalties, that can only be a good thing.

[China_cat]

2. Certainly would be a good thing.

It's not as bad now as it was 25 years ago when a man in Goose Creek (up the road from Charleston) doused his wife with gasoline and set her on fire.

He was only charged with burning without a permit.

[atommom]

3. How gruesome! But I think you can still get a longer sentence

for using recreational drugs than for domestic violence. :shrug:

[Megahurtz]

4. Could only be a good thing.

:thumbsup:

[Heddi]

5. This douchebag was on the School Board when I was in Elem School

I grew up in Charleston, and John Graham Altman was on the Charleston County School Board when I was in Middle & High School.

He's a real peice of fucking work.

Made comments about how Black Students are just naturally more of trouble-makers than white students (as evidenced by higher rates of violence, lower graduation rates in predom. black schools than predom. white schools).

he's a real fucking bigot.

ANd his house, which is (was?) located on Folly Rd right in front of Windermere Shopping Center had all these pink flamingos on the lawn. His wife (I can't remember her name--something stupid like Flossie or Puddy or something) would dress up the flamingos every holiday. At Easter, they'd have bunny ears, at Xmas, santa hats, etc.

However, they weren't very well anchored in the ground, and any time a strong wind would blow by, these fucking flamingos would end up on the road, on cars, littering all over the place.

Lemme see what I can find about our dear Mr. Altman. He's a fucking putz

[Heddi]

6. Here's some more about this shithead

http://thedailynews.com/quotesdujour/qdj.htm

John Graham Altman III,
The SC Representative, Charleston-R, is working to defeat Hate Crimes legislation in the SC House. He accused its proponents of "spreading drivel," and said, "This bill will make white heterosexuals second-class citizens." Rep. Fletcher Smith D-Greenville responded with: "We don't need his kind of narrow Ku Klux Klan outlook." The Senate has already passed a bill similar to the one being considered in the House.

http://www.free-times.com/Usual_Suspects/suspects.html

It can also be argued that Rep. Altman lacks understanding in the area of race relations. Supporters of racial equality look with disdain on Rep. Altman’s vote to maintain South Carolina’s ban on interracial dating, but they should remember that vote was cast long ago in a different era: 1998.

OK, so that was nearly 70 years after Strom Thurmond started dating black women, but John Graham Altman III never claimed to be a progressive.

Perhaps we don’t need “White History” month in our public schools, as proposed by Rep. Altman. Perhaps announcing that “the blacks have got to quit shooting each other, got to get a job and got to stop having unwanted babies” wasn’t the greatest moment in race relations.

http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2005/4/21/20145/6745

March 2002---during debate on an MLK holiday (SC was last in the nation to legislate a state King holiday)...

On the house floor, Altman quoted passages from a King bio claiming King had extramarital affairs and plagiarized parts of his college papers. Altman:

"You can run from the real Martin Luther King, but you can't hide from him."

In May 2003, he reiterated his feelings in a phone interview with WIS.

"Martin Luther King was in fact a womanizer and he did in fact cheat his way through college."

After house members - members of the "Men's Caucus" - circulated a memo in 2001 advising female pages to wear skimpy clothes, and telling them underwear was optional----all 124 members were asked to attend a two-hour class on gender, racial and ethnic sensitivity. The class was to be held at the start of the 2002 session.

Altman:

"I won't be able to attend. I forgot to pack a dress."

May 2003---after the house voted down a bill sponsored by democrat Leon Howard that would prohibit restaurants from handing out unwrapped drinking straws, Howard confronted Altman on the house floor. A story described it as "an angry, finger-pointing clash that included profanity and a challenge to "step outside" the chamber. Howard was restrained by house members. He said his anger stemmed from Altman's "consistent disrespect for african-american leaders in this state."

Later, Altman told a TV station:

"Leon Howard, like so many black politicians I regret to say, not the black community, but black politicians, think if you disagree with them, you must be a racist."

(undated) After a federal judge rules a "Choose Life" license plate would be a violation of the first amendment because it provides only one political viewpoint, Altman proposes a "Choose Death" plate. Quote:

"My bill is simply a reaction to the abortionists. They're pro-choice. Well, they've got a choice--whether to buy (the tag) or not."

April 2005---during debate on an anti-gay marriage amendment:

Altman refers to "homos wanting to bugger each other." (What???)

(undated) During vote on the state's interracial marriage ban....Altman supported keeping the ban in place as a reminder of the "brutality of our past."

According to the Point newspaper...Altman, during his years on the Charleston County school board, tried to ban dragons in children's books because he considered them to be mystical symbols.

House judiciary committee...1/22/97---issue:confederate flag

"Quit looking at the symbols. Get out and get a job. Quit shooting each other. Quit having illegitimate babies. Let's move on from here."

etter to Education Secy. Barbara Nielsen, who supported removing the flag from the dome...Dec. 1997.

"The kindest help I can offer you on any level is to try to get you quickly qualified for the Federal Witness Protection Program."

Later, referring to Nielsen, he told a reporter: "That girl's nuts."

[Heddi]

7. OH and here's proof about the flamingo's

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/21/211114/713

However, Altman isn't the most popular guy on the block, for the reason that his neighbors aren't exactly thrilled with his choice of lawn decor. See John like flamingos, pink plastic flamingos. But John doesn't stop at tossing a few of these tacky creations around the yard. He dresses his flamingos up in costume.

Yes that's right, he makes little costumes for his little plastic friends. There's been a bride and groom motif, and I'm sure he's done a War Between the States theme. But the most well know story in Charleston about John Graham Altman is that one month he decided to paint half his flamingos black and made little white robes and pointy hats for the other half.

[atommom]

8. Not only a psycho and a bigot, but a psycho bigot with

extreeeeeemely bad taste! :P

[Heddi]

10. This dude is a real peice of work

His photo, for your pleasure

[ovidsen]

15. That's SC for you...

I moved here a year ago, and I never cease to be amazed at how racist this state is. Take me back to New York, or Chicago, or DC... please.

[Heddi]

9. More on the illustrious Mr. Altman

http://www.stcynic.com/blog/archives/2004/12/yet_another_idi.php

State Rep. John Graham Altman, of Charleston, South Carolina. He's all pissy because a South Carolina public broadcasting station aired a documentary about the life of gay residents of the South:

A Lowcountry legislator says he wants to cut South Carolina Educational Television's budget after it aired a documentary on gays in the South.

"I thought it was just social, leftist propaganda that they had no business airing," said state Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston. "They were actively promoting homosexuality as an OK thing to do

http://www.friendsofcharliesmith.com/docs/news.htm

State Rep. John Graham Altman III, a Republican seeking re-election Tuesday in District 119, has a lien against his property for non-payment of $9,795.49 in federal income taxes, according to Charleston County property records.

The records also show that since 1991 Altman has had six additional tax liens placed against his property as a result of unpaid income and payroll taxes totaling $111,944. All of those liens have been "satisfied" or "released," according to the records.

The current federal lien was filed with the county in June 2004.

Altman said the bill is paid and that the county records probably haven't been updated.

"I don't owe the state or federal government any money," Altman said. He said the federal government may in fact owe him money because he recently overpaid federal employment taxes.

Asked why any of the liens were issued in the first place, Altman said he's paid his taxes late from time to time. "Sometimes I let things go. I don't have the money."

http://www.feministblogs.org/tag/conservative-irresponsibility/

According to a tape of the meeting obtained by The State newspaper, Altman asked why the bill’s title — “Protect Our Women in Every Relationship (POWER)” — just mentioned protecting women. Harrison suggested making the bill the “Protecting Our People in Every Relationship” Act, or “POPER.”

A voice on the tape can be heard pronouncing it “Pop her.” Another voice then says, “Pop her again,” followed by laughter.

Cobb-Hunter and victims advocates didn’t think it was funny.

“And they wonder why we rank in the bottom on women in office and we lead in women getting killed by men,” she said.

said critics were “overreacting” and the comments weren’t intended to diminish the gravity of domestic violence. “If you take it that way, you’re overly sensitive,” he said.

http://schmeeve.com/archives/2004_11.html

Meanwhile, outspoken Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, defeated Charlie Smith, a gay Democrat who has called Altman a bigot. Altman has said Smith contributes to the decay of traditional values.

Representative John Graham Altman III
District 119 - Charleston Co.
Contact Address:
(H) 77 Folly Rd., Charleston, 29407
Bus. [phone] Home [phone]
(C) 306B Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29211
Bus. [phone] Home

Rep. Altman apparently isn't on the internets.

[Heddi]

11. And more...and more...and more

http://bigotbeater.win.cedant.com/

On electing judges in South Carolina - March 2004
"I see this as a way to not put criminals in jail if they're black"

On a proposed Charleston County Discipline School - October 1995
"I think it's going to be a holding pen for black boys."

On Government, March 2004
"Government is all about limiting choices"

[MountainLaurel]

12. Zoiks

This guy almost makes me glad that I don't have any state representatives.

[Heddi]

14. Sadly, though, he's won every election he's run in

Sometimes, I get pissed when I read broad-brush SOuth bashing posts on DU....but this dude obviously sez what the people of district 119 (I think) want to hear. Again and again and again.

My mom yelled at him at a School Board meeting once because of some really shitty racist comments he made about predom. black schools (I went to a predom. black school). He's a fucking nutbag

[Anakin Skywalker]

13. Aww. What a Chamer.

NOT!