David Scott on a racial undertone in the debate over health care reform
Just got off the phone a few minutes ago with U.S. Rep. David Scott of metro Atlanta, who underlined what he said are some worrisome racial undertones in the current health care debate.
U.S. Rep. David Scott of metro Atlanta/Associated Press
As noted this morning, Scott was the topic of a WXIA TV report over the weekend, which detailed an Aug. 1 confrontation with opponents of health care reform at a town hall meeting in Douglasville.
Scott angrily accused protestors of attempting to “hijack” the meeting.
On Monday, the congressman said he stood by those comments, which were recorded by the city’s cable TV outlet — then truncated into the WXIA report.
The edited video hit the airwaves only this weekend, but in fact was one of the first of many such clashes over health care reported around the country.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Decatur) will host a town hall meeting on health care this evening. His staff says 20 law enforcement officers will be on hand to maintain order.
What the WXIA report failed to capture, the 13th District congressman said, was the fact that the health care protestors intruded on a delicate, local discussion.
“That was not my town hall meeting. It was the city of Douglasville. They had worked months to put a town hall meeting together, for me to come and to explain and to give comfort and assurance [to] the community that would be impacted,” Scott said.
The topic was the $70 million reconstruction of Ga. 92 in the community. Sixty-eight homes and businesses will be destroyed in the process.
“It would go right through the heart of the African-American community,” Scott said. “These people don’t know — they’re willing to try to trust here, but they want some comfort. They want to know how their homes will be appraised. How will the neighborhood be impacted? The whole future of Douglasville rests on this road. That’s what that meeting was about. It was not about health care.”
Scott said it was the fact that the meeting wasn’t his, and dealt with a sensitive topic, that made him use the sharp tone.
“I was going to stand up and get the respect of the constituents of mine that had worked hard to put a meeting together. And I was not going to let [health care protestors] hijack this meeting. We were discussing the life-and-death issues of their future and their homes and their way of life,” Scott said. “It was very disrespectful and selfish. I had to speak up for the respect of the people of Douglasville.”
Scott said he’ll be the sponsor of a health fair in Jonesboro on Saturday. “I’m willing to take questions. But that’s mine. This meeting was not mine,” Scott said.
City Manager William Osborne, who moderated the Douglasville event, confirmed that health care protestors had to be called to order “four or five times” during a meeting that lasted nearly four hours.
The city manager said the demonstrators weren’t a surprise — Herman Cain, the WSB Radio talk show host and former Republican candidate for senator, had urged those opposed to current health care proposals to show up.
But Osborne also disputed descriptions of Scott as “ranting.”
“He was angry and he showed that anger. But he was totally under control,” Osborne said.
Scott said he understands why he was the target of confrontation. As the only member of Congress who is a member of the Blue Dog and New Democrat caucuses, plus the Congressional Black Caucus, Scott says he has begun to fill the role of go-between on the health care issue.
“I think members of Congress have to stand firm, and they have to be able to realize that we’re in a fight — that this is a serious issue, it is a deliberative issue. But we’re being hanged in effigy,” he said.
Scott said he has no problem with protestors exercising their freedom of speech.
“This is a different thing here. We’re dealing a concerted effort to use these town hall meetings to bum rush Democratic congressmen about this issue,” Scott said.
While Scott acknowledged the legitimate concerns that many Americans have when it comes to overhauling health care, the congressman also expressed worry about the debate’s undertone. Scott e-mailed me a sampling of some of the rougher health care mail he’s received — the ones with variations of the n-word.
“You were, you are, and you shall forever be but a ———-,” one fax to his office reads. The missive includes a mug of President Barack Obama with a hammer-and-sickle stamped on his forehead.
“The folks are not going to stand for socialized medicine even though most Negroes refuse to stand on their own two feet,” says another.
“These people are bringing [in] race — and ‘Negro’ and ‘colored’ and Obama,” Scott said. “We should applaud the fact that we have an African-American president and he is working on this. This is a great thing. But it should not be a racial situation. What have we done except look at the problem and move on it?”
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514 comments Add your comment
Terri
August 11th, 2009
6:22 pm
@thatdeal…..there were two stimulus checks; one with majority..other w/o. Patriot Act you say…..Liberals went nuts over that one…..Now here’s BHO…..he’s kept it in place. Of course, those on welfare aren’t crying too much government. They would never bite the hand that feeds them. You worry me so!
Elle
August 11th, 2009
6:22 pm
Hey lets just get the government totally out of our business right ? Lets send Congress home, call the military back, stop caring for the rods, regulating utilities, monitoring airlines etc. Lets just let everyone go for themselves . Government is all around us you guys are just picking and choosing to call it Socialism when its convenient.
Elle
August 11th, 2009
6:23 pm
Terri if you would do some research instead of spewing racist comments you would know that there is no true welfare except in the form of social security and medicare which goes overwhelmingly to elderly whites. You sound like you may have painted the symbol on Rep Scotts sign.
Chris Mathews is covered in his own spittle
August 11th, 2009
6:26 pm
Obama is half black so if you oppose him you are, at least, half-racist. Simple. That is the new line fromthe DNC their wh@res at PMSNBC and the other usual suspects. Why is all the race baiting and racism on the left. Why do they love to stir the cooling pot of racial tension? Absolutely disgusting. This whole deal is going to backfire, BIG TIME!
Terri
August 11th, 2009
6:26 pm
@Elle….Hearts are filled with love…..what political planet are you on? Stay focused please!
Michael
August 11th, 2009
6:28 pm
I find it amusing that all those who didn’t vote for Obama nor the Democrats now demand their ouster as if it were November 2008 all over again. Remember November 2008? You lost. You yelled loudly then and you yell loudly now but at the end of the day you lost and America wins.
Elle
August 11th, 2009
6:30 pm
Terri your hateful posts don’t have any love or rationality to them. Please I am sticking to the subject but you have gotten off subject which is about the racist attacks David Scott has received.
Saddened
August 11th, 2009
6:31 pm
Please tone down the racist rants on the post. I am pleeding with both sides. Bottom line is, there are people of all backgrounds that take advantage of government programs. God created all men equal and we should learn to respect that. It is deploprable that someone would suggest that Rep. Scott defaced his own office sign just to prove a point. It is equally deplorable for African-Americans to attribute every bad thing to racism. Let’s remember our children in this debate, it it really worth dividing the country when we can come together as Americans and discuss this civilly. Conservatives stop calling Presidential supporters Socialists and Liberals stop calling dissenters racists. It’s simple people, we’re not children but we are an example to those that are.
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
August 11th, 2009
6:31 pm
Why is it OK for democrats to organize, but not if the other side does? The President has his own whitehouse run Origanization (Organizing for America) and snitch website? The hypocrasy is too much. It is laughable. The Community-Oragnanizer-in-Chief b!tches when coummunities organize. Priceless.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
6:32 pm
@Elle…I have no hateful posts. Please go back and read your posts.
Elle
August 11th, 2009
6:34 pm
Saddened you have some good points except that by saying blacks are always crying racism is untrue and an ignorant statement. We just call it like we see it. Remember someone sent racist emails to David Scott that is the topic for this thread. So stop the madness please. I mean come on people its not rocket science. How many specials does 20/20 have to do to show that racism exists….period! Stop sugar coating it and then maybe we can deal with it. Geez I think I am hoping over to the board where Zell Milller is about to make peace with his maker.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
6:35 pm
@Ellie….what is welfare? what is medicaid? Why doyou only speak about social security and medicaire….and mention white elderly? African Americans receive social security and medicare. Are you getting side tracked?
OedipusTax
August 11th, 2009
6:40 pm
Represensative Scott, or his supporter, painted the swastika, you can bet.
thatdeal
August 11th, 2009
6:43 pm
Terri,
I went nuts over the Patriot Act but I’m curious why the repubes were not interrupting town hall meetings and spewing falsities like with health care reform. Why were they not? The Gubment was intruding on their lives and their freedoms. Looks like some people are guilty of picking and choosing when they want gubment in their lives. Terri, were you upset with the Patriot Act? Please explain why or why not
Peter
August 11th, 2009
6:44 pm
WOW the Big Boss Man is totally goofy ……….
“As for Obama’s supporters, maybe if they had jobs and paid taxes they would understand why so many of us honest, hard-working Americans are upset with the President’s plan to re-distribute OUR MONEY to the dregs of society (aka the Democratic base).”
Yes I guess wiping your A$$ with the Constitution makes you a good Republican !
Boss of what…..you beat your wife ?
Elle
August 11th, 2009
6:51 pm
Terri yes your posts do have racial overtones and some are outright racist and stereotypical. Yes blacks know that Lincoln emancipated the slaves and he was a Republican. Yes we know that the Democrats were the racists, segregationist in the past. So what? What matters is what is happening now and there is no way in H E L L that the party of David Duke and Russ Limbaugh could be a party that minorities feel good about it.
Army Vet
August 11th, 2009
6:52 pm
I had a very bad day yesterday and was tired, stressed out, and angry……I said some things that I didn’t really mean and shouldn’t have said……heat of the moment stuff. I didn’t mean any of it and I apologize to everyone. I am sincerely sorry…that is so unlike me.
OedipusTax
August 11th, 2009
6:53 pm
Liberals today have to attack who you are rather that what you do, or what is the right thing to do now. They can’t win any argument on the merits, no, they have to insult who you are. That is their trump card. Thus, because the opponents of liberals are scum, anything liberals want should prevail, because they’re nice people. Hogwash. Todays liberals are paving the road to tyranny.
jack
August 11th, 2009
6:54 pm
a swastika painted in your building i don’t think its them using the race race it overtly racist don’t you think. wtf does health care have to do with race. Uneducated people are disgusting
littlered
August 11th, 2009
7:04 pm
Elle…..I’ve been so busy reading between you and Terri. I’m with her. I did not see racial overtones or outright racism. I did notice she would ask you a question but you did not answer. Can’t be fair if you don’t answer but just try to attack back. We all have freedom of speech!
Terri
August 11th, 2009
7:06 pm
I hear ya Peter!
Terri
August 11th, 2009
7:07 pm
Thx littlered. Glad someone can read between the lines. Thx for your support. I gave up on Elle. I put her on my political ignore list…LOL
Charles
August 11th, 2009
7:14 pm
Terri I’m with you and littlered. Elle is off base.
Barry
August 11th, 2009
7:15 pm
Hey Y’all:
They are showing you who they are. The Republican Party has been high jacked by the Ku Klux Klan and Nazi Party. Until the responsible leaders in this party recognize that and rid these demonic character from their party the will contiue to be the Republican/KuKluxKlan/Nazi Party. There actions are not American. They are racist. They believe in the color of their skin more than God. They are idle worshipers and our Lord Jesus Christ and God Jehovah will deal with their kind accordingly. In the name of Jesus!!!
“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH!!
May God Bless Those who Believe in Him and his commandments.
thatdeal
August 11th, 2009
7:16 pm
Terri,
I notice you never answered my question about the Patriot Act……. waiting……
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
August 11th, 2009
7:45 pm
Racism in this country is on full display on the left. No one said it was the blacks. It is the lieftists. All the left sees is race and how to use it. DISGUSTING!!!!!!!
Terri
August 11th, 2009
7:45 pm
@thatdeal….missed it. Was off computer too. Patriot Act…I don’t have a problem with it one way or the other. I’ll be back in a few. I’ll look for your postings. It’s fun to know as
Americans that we can agree to disagree but at end of the day we are still all AMERICANS!
Mike
August 11th, 2009
7:58 pm
Jason, get your butt back here if you really want to discuss the issues, you gutless piece of liberal crap.
Elle
August 11th, 2009
7:58 pm
Ok I will just pull one off this page…DUH…
Terri says “Of course, those on welfare aren’t crying too much government. They would never bite the hand that feeds them. You worry me so!”
Of ccourse he is referring to blacks. I was born in the 60’s I know overt racist and implied believe me. I grew up in the South and have been spat on called N so many times etc probably by some of these same people on this board. Lets now tie it in to the subject of this thread—-David Scott alleges racial overtones…see how its related Terri…ok now let me see if old Zell pulled through.
_
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:09 pm
elle, why in the world would you believe terri (who I believe may be female) is referring to blacks? If I made that comment, my son and his welfare thieving wife would be on my mind and last time I checked, they’re both lily white. Your statement that, just because someone refers to “welfare” people, they must be talking about black people, leaves one wondering about you.
How would you come to the conclusion he (she?) was referring to black people?
Oh, and I was born in the fifties and in the south. i watched the marches and I saw the mass racism of the sixties. It was real and it was big, but not now. Now it’s covert and overt and on both color spectrums.
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:13 pm
BTW, elle, I’ve been called a “whiteass honkie, and a “cracker” probably much more recently than you’ve been called the dreaded “N-word”, and the names I was called are “socially legal”, while yours has been made socially illegal. Just a thought.
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
August 11th, 2009
8:14 pm
Mike is a tool and a mind reader. Or his is simply engaging in some transferance. He just knows that all on the right are double secret racists. He is the racist. He and his fellow leftists use race when they are losing an argument. Sound familiar. The left, like an aging hollywood starlett attempting to dine out on her past looks, is getting hungry and desperate. Let them call disenters racists. Let them play the race card. Let them continue to live in the past. The country is waking up. I fear they will not.
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:18 pm
ABVM, I want dialogue. I get irritated and throw insults (like I did at jason) but I vastly prefer dialogue.
Elle
August 11th, 2009
8:18 pm
Yes Mike you’re right on. And I guess Terri is a female. It was hard for me to reconcile that kind of thinking to a woman who by nature normally carries a more compassionate heart. But I guess in the case of some of these so called conservatives their hearts have been ripped right out of their chests…oh wait except when we pledge of allegiance. And that is to the United States of America which includes THE PEOPLE of the US. Its not just a place…People live here too……If you’re for America you are for the people of America whether they are poor, rich, white, black etc. I know this is like throwing clay at a brick wall but I am hoping something sticks
confedreted southern GOP nation killers
August 11th, 2009
8:18 pm
every thing the southern redneck GOP does hurt this country. They cry I don’t want the government choosing my health care . The insurance company chose you doctors the mediation you take and how much and how long stay in the hospital all the time. people go bankrupt every day buy the system we have now. any body who really know this issues knows employee base health is on the way out. why? It is costing company lots of money and you premiums are going up every year. what real issues have the party of no offer? nothing buy hell raising. I wonder if McCain same plan how much hell would they raise. It is time to put the wing nuts to rest. They are out to do nothing. This is about OLD mad rednecks who see they are not in control and thank GOD they are not they have F-up this country as it is.
This is REDNECK southern love Americans,they refuse to see the facts because( Obama) is trying to work and do what he said and he is doing just that. Redneck love will not stop this health plan. you will be pissed for eight year . why? more hate than love to help your fellow man real redneck love! you clowns don’t have a plan only southern hate!!!
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
August 11th, 2009
8:21 pm
Mike you are not interested in dialouge. That is hogwash. You are so far gone, there is not help for you. You are lefty douche. You are a racist. You are intolerant of others. You sir, in short, suck.
Chris Mathews is covered in his own spittle
August 11th, 2009
8:23 pm
Mike thinks that PMSNBC is fair and balanced. He is one of those.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:26 pm
@Mike & Elle Thank you Mike. You sound rational. Excuse Elle for not knowing that Terri with an “i” is a female. She loses track of her thoughts. She has me a Republican and never asked. She’s always assuming and we know what that means. When you assume, it makes an azz out of you and me. We must pity and excuse her. She’s ignorant. I don’t want to assume she’s black or the same rhetoric would apply to me as well. Just let the mind wonder and we can figure it out. Black and angry…..WHOA is me. By the way Elle, please always remember love is in the heart; hatred is in the mind. You are pathetic and sorry excuse for a human being and an American.
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:29 pm
Elle, there was a gay guy the other day on a blog who stated a bigoted opinion. I called him on it, knowing he had to have been a target in the past and I was correct. He basically said he couldn’t help it.
Fact is, there will always be people who are racists, bigots, prejudice, biased or simply confused. But to accuse someone of being racist simply because they mention welfare people, that’s kind of over the top. Most of my customer base is black and I’ll check the mirror, but I believe I’m not. Zero problems. My son and his wife are chronic welfare cases. I’ve seen the damage welfare does to a person and I despise it. That’s where I’m coming from
To transfer that a little higher up, I despise the plans Barak Obama has as President of this nation and it has not a thing to do with his race, gender, religion (although that one does leave questions) or sexual orientation. I despise his plans because they are socialistic in nature and in direct opposition to the Constitution that made this nation great. That is the only reason.
He ’s not the only one who has tried to socialize the nation’s citizens but he’s been far more agressive than others.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:32 pm
@Mike I moved to GA from a blue state known as CT. Everyone complains about their taxes and their democratic politicians. I made the conscious decision to move to a Southern red state. Racism doesn’t always include a color. Some will say southerners are racist towards yankees. I’ve been here for 24 years and call it home. I love the color red; hate the color blue…..is that racist? lol It’s like Zell Miller (democrat) tried to tell his own party many years ago….the red states are just getting hotter and hotter. He was right. Too bad more democrats don’t behave like him…then maybe they would have a decent party. Here’s my racist comment, I find them to be unprofessional, hateful, spiteful, revengeful, list could go on and on. Humorous part is they bashed Bush for 8 years, won the election, have the majority and still aren’t happy. Wonder if the old saying Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it is true afterall. There’s no pleasing them or making them happy. Trying to reason with a far-left liberal is like taking a valium….A REAL DOWNER!
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:35 pm
@Elle I’m an independant FYI
Charles
August 11th, 2009
8:40 pm
Terri should run for office. She is right on. Elle needs to find another posting site. This is out of her league.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:41 pm
@Charles Thank you for the compliment. You and Mike are my kind of guyz!
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:43 pm
ABVM, what the heck is your circumstance? I’ve never been called a lefty, liberal nor anything else like that. Did you misread my posts or maybe I misstated something. Please ’splain.
Terri– I can’t even say I hate yankees (not even the NY baseball team). I married one, going back to visit her family in Michigan this weekend andvery much looking forward to it.
As I said I like dialogue. I’m not on this blog to see how far I can throw an insult, although sometimes, that’s the best I can do when someone proves dialogue is not something they’re good at. Look at the above posting from Confederate southern GOP nation killers (whew, I’m out of breath). Nothing to debate there is there?
I would like to know how the supporters of this Healthcare bill , especially our elected officials, can support this bill and still recognize the Constitution. How do they justify HR3200 by constitutional principles?
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:46 pm
I hope elle doesn’t leave this site. We learn the most from those we disagree with the most, so long as both are willing to discuss instead of just cuss (little humor there).
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:48 pm
@Mike…..Live in a red state and have 3 Michigan neighbors. They are leaving the blue states. Just remember with some of these postings that ignorance is a bliss. Let’s remember the campaign trail. Obama to provide healthcare for all the uninsured; now it’s to include the illegal aliens and insure the insured. Go figure. It will be a large Government HMO. I got away from the HMO for the same reasons why I don’t want one today. BHO means Better Help Ourselves. This guy has got to go. Before long Big Brother will be watching us and will have Government police. All bashing aside, this is truly a scary time for the United States of America.
Decatur
August 11th, 2009
8:49 pm
This is sooooo typical of the ignorant stuck in the past southern angry white man. When they are losing the battle, they retort to faulty statistics about black people, crime, welfare and all that other typical hogwash. They all sound the same as if they were programmed like a windows operating system to speak the same tired lingo. The angry southern white man WILL remain stuck in the past as the rest of the forward thinking more civilized America passes him by. He is angry because he has been marginalized. It has been proven that the party in power dose not need the South to get elected. The ignorant hicks don’t want socialism but WILL SPRAY THE SYMBOL OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST PARTY on Congressman Scotts office. WTF? Like I said, Backwards Southern White Man, Mad because a Black Man is President, Convinced the Mexicans have taken all their Drywall Jobs, Confused Man who thinks He needs to take his Country back while time passes him by. Please catch up with the rest of the world.
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:50 pm
@Mike No, Elle needs to go. You can tell her something 100 times, she tunes it out and then has an outburst. She needs to call Rachael Maddow. She’ll get all the support she needs.
Mike
August 11th, 2009
8:50 pm
Terri, do you remember when Bush signed the Patriot Act? Do you remember the comment he made at the signing?
Terri
August 11th, 2009
8:51 pm
Decatur…..you are such a classic example!