Deal expresses regret for ‘ghetto grandmothers’ remark
The list of forbidden phrases in Georgia politics grew by one this morning: “Ghetto grandmothers.”
On Saturday morning, before a breakfast gathering of the Cherokee County GOP, congressman and candidate for governor Nathan Deal was describing his role in legislation to demand proof of citizenship for federal or state health care benefits.
Said Deal:
“We got all the complaints of the ghetto grandmothers who didn’t have birth certificates and all that. We wrote some very liberal language as to how you can verify it. My mother was born in 1906 and she didn’t have a birth certificate. They didn’t give birth certificates back then. But we got her one, because you can do it under the proper procedures of your state.”
Unfortunately for Deal, videographers from the rival campaigns of Karen Handel and Eric Johnson were there to record the moment. One of them provided this:
This morning, Deal issued the following statement: “I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.”
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301 comments Add your comment
Marcos
October 5th, 2009
11:49 am
PLEASE! All of you people saying that “ghetto” does not refer to African Americans are too much! We all know what he meant so don’t try and educate us about the original meaning of the word. What ghetto meant 20, 30, 40 years ago is not what it means today and you know it. So quit being so duplicitous.
go to www.altshirt.com
October 5th, 2009
11:51 am
it takes a racist to call someone racist.. just give it up already!
Billy
October 5th, 2009
11:52 am
He is just a typical Georgia politician. I was surprised to read about how corrupt he is.
Antonio Roberts
October 5th, 2009
11:53 am
Politics as usual…People cant change what they are deep inside…I wouldnt call him racist, Ignorant is more like it. If it wasnt for the cameras in the room this comment would have never escaped the wall of the meeting area. His audience appeals to this sort of language. What can you do…well first off raise your child not to hate. Step 1
Fletch
October 5th, 2009
11:54 am
Hey ‘Me’ – you all sitting around laughing at white folks for using outdated racial slang is just sad.
He should have used a different term but I would be more upset that “ghetto” is universally synonymous with “black” than the fact that a Gubernatorial candidate used the term. By being upset about this, you are lending credence to that stereotype. You recognize that term and its implications – Deal didn’t create this issue, he referenced it. My biggest problem with the dems is their inate ability to attack small symptoms instead of actual problems.
Captain Midnight
October 5th, 2009
11:54 am
“Typical white person”
Reign
October 5th, 2009
11:56 am
Just like the N-word, ghetto is not only an African American term. The definitions for both of these words can be used when describing anybody that fits the description. Unfortunately, African Americans in American seem to carry the load for all of America’s ills so we tend to attach the words to them, but the descriptions can fit anyone. The use of these words are more ignorant than racist…most times.
Locke
October 5th, 2009
11:58 am
You lie!
Keith
October 5th, 2009
11:58 am
“Ghetto” or “thug” means black. So what? It’s not our fault that most blacks are thugs or don’t have money and live int the ghetto.
Judy-WHITE
October 5th, 2009
11:59 am
ghetto is ghetto I don’t see color involved? captain midnight…stupid!
Brenda
October 5th, 2009
12:00 pm
I have absolutely no respect for Karen Handel, John Oxendine or ANY of their staff. All I can say is “Look at the pot calling the kettle black”. There is PLENTY of dirt on both of them.
I have been to two rallies where they and their staff are present and they are nothing more than POLITICIANS lying to the constiuents.
Ray
October 5th, 2009
12:02 pm
Just when I thought GA couldn’t represent itself any worse, here comes the Imperial Wizard of North GA, Congressman Deal.
What’s sad is most of North GA is ghetto, they just don’t know it. They’re the white version – Trailer Park Trash.
Jasonh8@hotmail.com
October 5th, 2009
12:03 pm
Did you know Lestor Madox was a Democrat.
Did you know that Richard B Russel was a segrationist.
Did you know that Mayor Hartsfield was a segrationist but worked hard to maintain balance in the City of Atlanta.
Yes, the airport is named after Mayor Hartsfield ….neat how history works that way.
Did you know EVERYBODY was a Freakin’ segrationist in the first half of the 20th century.
Did you know that is is up to you….to walk into each room with an open mind.
Nonya
October 5th, 2009
12:03 pm
@ Grace: I’m a 33 yr old black female and I was LMAO after reading your comment…I actually KNOW a few grandmothers from the “hood” in their mid-to-late 30’s. Too funny!
ForReal
October 5th, 2009
12:04 pm
Ok, please allow me to step up to the soap box…..PEOPLE, since when is it that every single word with even a hint at “race” is offensive to a Black person? Yep, I said Black, mainly because of the fact that I don’t agree with the “African American” stance. If you want to be African American, first you should make sure that you are FROM Africa, not just your lineage. I guess I should be Irish, Scottish, German, Indian-American put that on your birth certificate! Also, just one more thing before I go….Why is it ONLY racism if it is towards a person of color? Racism happens EVERY DAY towards those of us that happen to be “Caucasian” also, probably more so but that will never be reported. It is 2009 already, are we EVER going to get over this???
Dudleydoright
October 5th, 2009
12:04 pm
Is that Ghetto White, Ghetto Black, or Ghetto Other as they come in all styles.
Chris
October 5th, 2009
12:06 pm
Nonya, that says a lot about you black folk. Pretty sad. Why do black woman have so many kids at such a young age? Are condoms too expensive or are they waiting for the government to give them to them for free?
eazy
October 5th, 2009
12:07 pm
The last thing we need in Georgia is another good ole boy at the helm. I personally beleive this is why the Ga State legislature does nothing or pass any worthwhile bills or laws. Then on top of that he has got rich of state and place family members in some real good spots. ask him what his brother would be doing if it wasnt for him. Then he play up to his constituants by using race based wording. Then the funny thing is when you here people say race has nothing to do with the whats going with the health care bill or politics in general. Well he just told on hisself. Then he need to goe. he needs not to be representing Gainesville in the House or Georgia as a head of state. I am sick and tired of theese backwoods politicians making our state look like we are still in the 60″s
Judy-WHITE
October 5th, 2009
12:08 pm
After just moving to the South, I have learned black people here think they rule, if you disagree with them they will talk over you and they are racist…. I never knew a racist until I moved here….and their all black
Stephen
October 5th, 2009
12:08 pm
It would help a lot of you misguided half wits to get some FACTS before you spout off at the mouth, you’re ignorance is showing. The “deal” that Mr.Deal has with the state DOES NOT INCLUDE A PENNY OF YOUR TAXES. All the fees paid to Mr. Deal’s business are paid by PRIVATE individuals and companies, NOT THE TAXPAYERS OF GEORGIA. His Service keeps dangerous cars off the road. Get over your ignorance first, then make an intelligent comment, PLEASE! As for his comment, the FACT is, we have ghettos in this state, duh, it’s a fact, not an opinion.
BPJ
October 5th, 2009
12:10 pm
The people railing about “the liberals” might want to notice that it’s Deal’s fellow REPUBLICANS
Dana Dane
October 5th, 2009
12:10 pm
Okay, White People? Listen up! Stop pretending that you DON’T KNOW that “ghetto” is the new euphemism for ni**er, okay?! When was the last time you heard of a white person described as ghetto????? And you can bet Nathan Deal knew WHO he meant to describe when he said it!
Born a poor black child
October 5th, 2009
12:10 pm
sorry, but the ghetto does not belong solely to the african-american’s there are many white folks, as well as others that have been born and raised in the ghetto, in Atlanta alone, there are num areas that 20 years ago were very nice and today you would go no where near after dark and vice versa…
q
October 5th, 2009
12:11 pm
“Ghetto” is a german word, used when Hittler had the people of the Jewish race gathered together in a concentrated area for containment and control. Public housing was started during the depression to give working Americans out of work a second chance to restart their lives. When public housing became a 3rd and 4th generation lifestyle for some, it became known again by the German term ghetto or getto, and the blue collar worker associated it with those still on public assistance. There are blacks in the ghetto’s, along with white, hispanic, asian and many other races. Ghetto is not exclusivly black, unless you stick the lable on your own back! I am American Indian (not Native American, for if you were born here, you too are Native), and I have family in the federal sponsered GHETTO.
BPJ
October 5th, 2009
12:12 pm
The people railing about “the liberals” might want to notice that it’s Deal’s fellow REPUBLICANS making a fuss over this.
And please don’t defame Mayor Hartsfield, who presided over the integration of many public facilities, and was very popular with black voters for that reason.
Nonya
October 5th, 2009
12:12 pm
Chris, I agree, it is very sad. But since I’m only one person who can’t speak for an entire race of people(BTW, young grandmothers come in all colors), I don’t think I’m qualified to answer your dumb-ass question. What you should probably do is go find a 36-yr-old grandmother (of any race) and ask her yourself. Let us know how that works out for you.
captain Lou Rawls
October 5th, 2009
12:13 pm
Enter your comments here: Why is it assumed that the ghetto grandmothers are Black. Are there no elderly white people that are poor and live in broken communities who want everything given to them? His point stands. Of course you should have to provide proof of citizenship to be given government funded health care and if there are people out there that cannot or will not go through the appropriate avenues to receive medical care on the states tab then so be it. Darwin anyone?
Will
October 5th, 2009
12:13 pm
Because he is a suspect moderate and pragmatist, Nathan Deal knows that he must campaign to the right of Handel and Oxendine to have any chance to dispel character attacks (pretty telling of the Georgia Republican base when being a pragmatist is the kiss of death for a politician), hence this type of racist language that is confused with “tough talk”.
Of course the problem with trying to run to the right to these two radical right wingers is that it is just about impossible. I don’t think there is anything to the “right” of these two American radicals!
The Snark
October 5th, 2009
12:14 pm
I don’t think there is any question about who Mr. Deal had in mind when he tossed off that comment about “those ghetto grandmothers.” That’s an little glimpse into an ugly, familiar old state of mind. You lost my vote, Mr. Deal.
Lisey P.
October 5th, 2009
12:14 pm
@ Judy – WHITE: First of all, learn the difference between “their” and “they’re” okay? And if all the racists you’ve known in GA have been black, then it is because you have, purposely, been trying NOT to recognize the others.
General Sherman
October 5th, 2009
12:16 pm
David @ 11:02. You are just an idiot!
Nativeson71
October 5th, 2009
12:17 pm
Ghetto is not the new word for N—-er…’urban’ is. LOLz
The last Boy Scout
October 5th, 2009
12:18 pm
For the whole world to see. This rascist biggot wants to be governor? Then his responce is,“I regret my choice of words and in no way meant to offend anyone.” Hell I am a white male and I was offended. This should at least put an end to the id debate It was developed to push out African Americans from the elections.
toggle
October 5th, 2009
12:19 pm
Sad comment while pandering to the base, but I can assure you that Nathan Deal is no racist.
Too bad that this comment may sink his campaign.
Pat
October 5th, 2009
12:22 pm
Shouldn’t that have been “Section 8 Grannies”? The former ghetto dwellers are now our neighbors in the suburbs – thanks to the taxpayers.
EB
October 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
Gotta disagree. If he had said something along the lines of “old, white trash crackers” in front of the Cherokee County GOP, it might be an even bigger story and prove that he’s a bigger idiot than suspected. Pretty funny that videographers caught him pandering to his base but, in the end, made him look like a fool.
No one with a firm grasp of reality expect Roy Barnes or any other Democrat to win, but the cast of Republican clowns running for governor is trying their best to make it interesting.
curt
October 5th, 2009
12:27 pm
No wonder southern politicians are perceived as idiots in the rest of the country. We keep electing corrupt bozos like Deal.
Greg
October 5th, 2009
12:28 pm
What is the point of trying to debate his intent and meaning in using that reprehensible term? Either you find offense in it, or you don’t. Vote accordingly.
SamE
October 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
why is everyone so dissillusioned? So your saying “Ghetto Grannies” don’t exist??? Please wake up People!!
Actually THINKS
October 5th, 2009
12:29 pm
To all of the African-American voters on here saying that “Deal lost my vote”. 95% of you were going to vote Democrat anyways, so he really didn’t lose anything from you.
HAH
October 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
I’m voting republican in the primaries just to vote against coxendine….I think I just found the perfect LOL throwaway vote candidate
It's a Ruger, thank you
October 5th, 2009
12:38 pm
It’s the truth; plain and simple. The truth hurts, that’s why we have all the libs stating that it’s racist. It is time here to call things as they are…a spade a spade, a hoe a hoe and I am talking garden inpliments here
Hollywould
October 5th, 2009
12:41 pm
Pat, you are dead on!!! Hud has invaded my neighborhood. I used to be proud of my ‘hood.
It is starting to look like the Ghetto. Can’t cut the grass/throw trash everywhere/ pants down to their ankles. Sorta like the pic in College Park in today’s AJC. Somebody help us!!!
TD
October 5th, 2009
12:43 pm
Actually Thinks – you are rude, stupid, and racist. What statistics do you have showing that 95 percent of the African-American voters on here are Democrat. Go Read a Book!
Mike
October 5th, 2009
12:45 pm
As always you have another local politician saying those buzz words and phrases that insinuate black folks are doing something wrong or illegal. The trick is to say it and then apologize. I dont expect anything different from these southern politicians or a lot of the people they represent. They seem to have this inherent problem when it comes to people who look a little darker than them. Its ok to blame all the ills in society on those other folks. Stop beating around the bush and call them what you and yours have said though out the last 400+ years. It is nothing new, it is what we dark people expect from you all.
Dokka Phill
October 5th, 2009
12:47 pm
He’s got my vote. Not for the comments, but because his back-stabbing crooked opponents were there secretly video-taping.
BS Aplenty
October 5th, 2009
12:47 pm
Barack Obama attended the Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, for almost twenty years. Attended, taught, learned, worshipped and sang along with his wife and children until his abrupt resignation in May 2008. That resignation was brought about due to heightened national awareness of the “nature” of Obama’s congregation. A nature that was further brought into focus by unsavory sermon tapes of former TUCC minister, Jeremiah Wright. But for all the bluster and ignorance reflected in his sermons, Wright’s ranting from the pulpit only hinted at a deeper, more troubling truth about TUCC and Obama.
What is it that made TUCC such a political liability to the first African-American nominated by a major political party? The answer to that question lies in the doctrine and teachings of TUCC. In short, this congregation, unlike ANY other United Church of Christ church in the United States, adopted, endorsed and promotes the doctrine and teachings of one James H. Cone. Cone systematized what has been called black liberation theology as outlined in his two books, the first entitled, “Black Theology and Black Power” and a follow-on, “A Black Theology of Liberation”. These are the only two books sold by the Trinity United Church of Christ on its website. TUCC didn’t sell or give away the BIBLE on its website – a circumstance I found very telling.
The two books mentioned are, to say the least, “interesting” reads. “Black Theology and Black Power” is the seminal work on black liberation theology and “A Black Theology of Liberation” is a follow-on. Cone viewed his theology as, “…complete emancipation of black people from white oppression by whatever means black people deem necessary. So-called (white) Christianity, as commonly practiced in the United States, is actually the racist “Antichrist.” “Theologically,” Cone affirms, “Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man ‘the devil’.” And, there’s more – much more – but you get the picture.
So there you have it, the principal doctrine endorsed and promoted by the Trinity United Church of Christ teaches the overtly racist sentiments of James H. Cone. The preaching and “ignorance”, as some say, of Wright is shown to be symptomatic of that larger racism. The entire TUCC congregation accepts the doctrine of Cone under the guise of a Christian church and Wright was just its mouthpiece. It’s the congregation, including Obama, which endorsed and promotes this racist doctrine.
ANY person or group that attempts to systematically demonize another group because of race is, by definition, RACIST.
After twenty years of commitment to TUCC, Barack Obama finally, cynically made a decision to leave. A decision his avid campaign supporter, Oprah Winfrey, made several years earlier as she cynically managed a business agenda of her own. One would have to be patently naïve not to understand the motivation behind both departures. Nor is it much of a political stretch to acknowledge the release of these sermon tapes focused attention on the fall-guy, Wright, while diverting a direct, and potentially, campaign-ending blow to Obama.
What one is left with after all the media lights have dimmed is this unsettling fact. For twenty years Barack Obama accepted the racist doctrine of his church – twenty years. And, only when this inconvenient truth was brought to national light did he decide that maybe that doctrine was no longer acceptable.
Ninety-five percent of African-Americans voted for Barack Obama having FULL KNOWLEDGE of his lengthy racist background. Now, this same black community whines that Nathan Deal made a generic reference to a “ghetto grandmother?”
Hypocrites.
DrinkSlinger
October 5th, 2009
12:54 pm
I think calling him a racist is a stretch. Really. He didn’t say Negro Grandmothers or Honky Grandmothers. He said Ghetto Grandmothers. Grandmothers who live in ghetto’s would be that, right?
Black Man's view
October 5th, 2009
1:00 pm
I did not see it as a racist comment. Ghetto is not associated with a race, Poor is not associated race, Underqualified is not associated with a race. Depending on Age grandmothers of any race in the south may or may not have a birth cert. He should have used better judgement in his choice of words but I do not understand how ghetto is a race. Are poor white people ghetto? Are poor blacks ghetto…nope they are both just classified as poor.
Jessica
October 5th, 2009
1:01 pm
Wonder how many times that video is going to be played when the Governor’s race really heats up! He did it to himself so he has no one to blame but himself. I don’t know if he is racist or not, but it doesn’t matter, PERCEPTION is everything in politics!! Deal or no deal! I say, “NO DEAL Howie!”