Did Saxby Chambliss aide leave threatening slur?
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss confirmed Tuesday that he investigating whether one of his staffers left a threatening slur on an Internet discussion of the right of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military.
“We have seen the allegations and are moving quickly to understand the facts. This office has not and will not tolerate any activity of the sort alleged,” Chambliss spokeswoman Bronwyn Lance Chester said. “Once we have ascertained whether these claims are true, we will take the appropriate steps.”
The comment was posted on Joe.My.God., a blog dedicated to gay and lesbian issues.
“All [gays] must die,” wrote the commenter, identifying himself as “Jimmy,” shortly after a Democratic bid to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” faltered in the U.S. Senate.
Blog author Joseph Jervis of New York City used the Internet Protocol address attached to the comment to trace the slur to “the neighborhood” of Chambliss’ office in Atlanta. Readers quickly helped.
“Among the fields in which gay people are over-represented is the IT field,” said Jervis, who is also the East Coast editor for Pride magazine.
Chambliss’ office is located along I-75, near the Cobb Galleria. The office of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson is in the same area, but on the opposite side of the interstate.
A spokeswoman for Isakson, who is up for re-election, said his staff quickly ascertained that the message did not originate with them.
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73 comments Add your comment
Gay IT Guy
September 21st, 2010
5:28 pm
Oh, I’m on it. I’ll report back what I find.
NoDealGeorgia
September 21st, 2010
5:30 pm
They’ve updated, and think it came from Isakson’s office.
This could be HUGE if it did. We’d have a Re-election battle on our hands.
Ant
September 21st, 2010
5:32 pm
That’s hilarious,but not farfetched.
This is what we are up against
September 21st, 2010
5:35 pm
So on one hand we have gay Arabic translators who are not allowed to protect our country.
On the other, we have a crazed, homophobic Senate staffer who is issuing death threats.
And which one of these is not suited to serve in the military?
Veteran
September 21st, 2010
5:40 pm
For all the gay men and women who have served, and particularly for those who have given their life, and for those that have fought for this precious country, I am embarrassed by the current state of the mindless Republican Party.
Nolan
September 21st, 2010
5:41 pm
Well, certainly the homophobic issuing death threats is better suited for serving the military. At least he is willing to murder people.
Goobers
September 21st, 2010
5:42 pm
It is obvious that Jawja is sinking deep into the possum patch, with the chiggers and the hookworm… back into being only a moronic cesspit; sentient beings are leaving even as we speak.
On the other hand, maybe Deal can capitalize on this, doing some intense gaybashing to get the goobers pathetic minds off his shady finances and focused on something really important like “homos and queers”.
Brad
September 21st, 2010
5:48 pm
Wow. Just wow.
Mason
September 21st, 2010
5:49 pm
This “investigation” smacks of religious persecution. Whoever made the comment was just paraphrasing the Holy scripture: “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13) Our laws should reflect God’s law, right? This is a Christian nation after all.
Born with a tan.
September 21st, 2010
5:52 pm
Tsk…Tsk.. TSK.. Poor RepubliKLANSMEN not so smart, had no idea that IP addresses could be traced. I am so elated that this happened hopefully whoever the guilty party is, they will be asked to resign fro senator. Both of them are useless.
Red
September 21st, 2010
5:53 pm
Amazing how just one ignorant person’s comment causes so many other ignorant people to generalize as well. The “tolerant” are on here generalizing and stereotyping about conservatives, Republicans, etc. Amazing how ignorance breeds ignorance. There’s no hope.
Dave
September 21st, 2010
5:54 pm
Oh Mason, sigh. Or you’re putting us on. Tell me your putting us on.
A Very Simple Choice
September 21st, 2010
5:55 pm
The veil is being removed…The man upstairs don’t like ugly.
deegee
September 21st, 2010
5:57 pm
No, Mason. This is not a Christian nation after all. Next?
Frequent Voter
September 21st, 2010
5:58 pm
This is EXACTLY why I cannot vote Republican. Just when you think they might be making some sense on fiscal issues, they go back to their idiotic ways.
Jim Galloway
September 21st, 2010
5:59 pm
More to come on this, and very quickly, people. But I’ve heard from Johnny Isakson’s staff and they’ve ascertained that the slur did not originate with their office.
Randy
September 21st, 2010
6:00 pm
We are going to vote Isakson and Chambliss, Deal out the office …Deal this will be a big blow for the republican party. I feel gays have the right to be open in the military how we going to talk about how Iran treat there citizens and America dont want Gays to serve in the military. Wake up America let vote the NO PARTY out of the office.
Blake
September 21st, 2010
6:00 pm
Mason get a clue. No one follows the Old Testament anymore. But then again, if you are a Repuclican, I am sure you do!!!!
Saddened
September 21st, 2010
6:02 pm
Leviticus is in the OLD TESTAMENT, Mason. Christians believe that we should follow the teachings of Jesus (the NEW TESTAMENT) which include turning the other cheek and loving thy neighbor as thyself…in case you’re interested.
deegee
September 21st, 2010
6:03 pm
One afternoon I called Saxby Chambliss’ office in Washington to express my opinion in favor of immigration reform. The hick that answered the phone listened to my comment and said, “yer not in favor of AMNESTY, are you???” Not surprised that someone from the enlightened Jawja delegation has made a total azz out of him or herself.
majii
September 21st, 2010
6:04 pm
I’m right with you, Frequent Voter and Randy. I voted for Perdue, but under no circumstances will I vote for Deal.
Marko
September 21st, 2010
6:04 pm
Please. Please. If you haven’t seen the documentary ‘Outrage’, put it in your cue. The homophobia and closet cases in our government voting against us must be exposed.
http://www.outragethemovie.com/
Red
September 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
Frequent Voter – so this is how you determine a party to vote for? Based on the actions of some staffer? Wow. I’ll have to get you a list of stupid actions of Dem staffers. Maybe you’ll just stay home on election day.
cmh
September 21st, 2010
6:07 pm
I think Mason is engaging in some obvious sarcasm of usual social conservative talking points/screeds.
TruthBe
September 21st, 2010
6:07 pm
People Mason is correct. The Lord said to “love the sinner and hate the sin”. Homosexaulity is an abomination to the LORD thy GOD…………………. These people are crying out for help. The Churches and Temples can help you people out there that are in need of help . Just ask.
Brad
September 21st, 2010
6:09 pm
@ Red
It’s not the comment, per se, as obnoxious as it is, it’s the point of origin. That’s the story.
Jeremiah Satterfield
September 21st, 2010
6:14 pm
If every gay person and their straight advocates serving in the military, working at the defense department, working at police and fire departments across the nation were to tender their resignations in reaction to the blockage of this vote, I think there might be movement in this country toward Barry Goldwater’s suggeastion to lift the ban and this unfair policy.
On the other hand, maybe just maybe, this Republican party tactic might energize enough voters to get to the polls this November to vote against any further power gains for Republicans in the House and the Senate.
Dan L
September 21st, 2010
6:14 pm
Mason-
If you follow Leviticus to the letter, then you also do not wear two of the same kind of cloth, or eat the fruit of a plant younger than 3 years old (plant any tomatoes this summer?), or eat any kind of shrimp or crab, or shave your beard. Please confirm that you follow all of these Levitican laws before worrying about a different one?
Red
September 21st, 2010
6:16 pm
Again, if some staffer does or says something stupid you attribute it to the whole party? Biden says and does stupid things all the time. I guess all Dems need to jump off a cliff. Staffers on all sides do stupid things. I sure hope the same logic that some apply here apply it to Dems as well. Otherwise they are as ignorant as the source of this comment.
The point of origin should not be a story. The only reason it is a story is because the left wants it to be one. It’s fun and games to pin the actions of a staffer on a Senator who disagrees with you. The whole point is to say “See? Saxby’s office is filled with bigots. His staff hates gays and therefore he does as well.” Believe me when I say I am no fan of Saxby but this is nothing but an opportunistic witch hunt on a politically charged issue the day of a politically charged vote. Sensational journalism in effect as well.
Find the staffer and prosecute for such a comment. I’d expect the office as well as the Senator to repudiate this action and person.
Jay
September 21st, 2010
6:16 pm
Normal, it was your mini-me, Normal Too.
Ben
September 21st, 2010
6:17 pm
If you’re a big follower of Leviticus, then you better give up bacon and shellfish.
John
September 21st, 2010
6:19 pm
This does point out that the DADT debate isn’t really about military readiness or morale or anything like that; it’s about preserving the right to hate some people and marginalize them.
One really has to wonder about the quality of people working in Senate offices, though, if they’re too stupid to figure out that posting homophobic death threats from work computers is not a wise move. Certainly anybody at my private employer who did such a thing would be fired so fast it would make your head spin.
fake name
September 21st, 2010
6:19 pm
It is *possible* that someone did an “IP spoof” so that the looks like the post came from the Senate building. Give this the benefit of the doubt.
Jay
September 21st, 2010
6:25 pm
Turning in the backhoe for a D-9, huh Reporter?
Brad
September 21st, 2010
6:27 pm
Uh, Red, looking for information is not a witch-hunt. Unless the story is pursued, we won’t know if it’s an isolated incident, or evidence of a pervasive attitude. As voters, we need to know.
Truth Hurts
September 21st, 2010
6:31 pm
Jeremiah Satterfield:
“If every gay person and their straight advocates serving in the military, working at the defense department, working at police and fire departments across the nation were to tender their resignations”
That would surely accomplish one thing: it would provide an opportunity for employment for a whole lot of the unemployed who do not realize that the recession was over in 2009!
Flash
September 21st, 2010
6:34 pm
RED, It is not about just one story, as sad and ugly as it is. Truth is the Republican party has a long and very well documented history of bias and bigotry. Not only as it pertains to gay and lesbian citizens and service people, but ,for a while, other minorities . All one need do is pay attention for a period of time to clearly see the patterns. Save your cover ups and stop preaching about other peoples ignorance. There is no shortage of ignorance on either side of the isle. In this case, it is just most glaring on the Republican side. Now, hows that for tolerance.
RGB
September 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
My comment, which wasn’t offensive, wasn’t posted.
Care to tell me why?
Back to listening to Mark Levin on 640 WGST.
Another Person Who Can Read
September 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
Mason, how about reading the entire book of Leviticus before picking out the one verse that justifies your hatred of others. I’m pretty sure if we applied that entire book to you and yours we would all have to come to your house and smite your entire family for at least three generations. Thanks again for another loving Christian comment.
Truth Hurts
September 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
fake name:
By Jove, I do believe you’ve got it! That is a far more likely explanation for this idiocy. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the author of this was homosexual carrying out his/her own agenda.
Chris
September 21st, 2010
6:37 pm
That blogger, while out of line, is not far off from what Cynthia Tucker posts every day. She’s a very one-sided blogger with a lot of name calling going on. People spew hate from both sides.
Skip Ferris
September 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
Considering that being “gay” is an invalid lifestyle in accordance with the Bible and historically with the United States morality, not to mention most countries of the world, all homosexual proponents should be ignored, denied, and censored. End of subject.
Yankee in Gooberville
September 21st, 2010
6:42 pm
Right wing nut cases populate the state like roaches. Hateful miserable bible thumping idiots. History will crush you.
Bawney Fwank
September 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
Sounds like the Democraps, with the help of a skilled hacker, has stooped to new lows to spread lies against our Republican Congressmen!
Anonymous
September 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
Did Isakson’s spokeswoman state how she determined that the post did not come from within the office?
khc
September 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
hey skip, how long have you been a nutjob!
RugbySkin
September 21st, 2010
6:52 pm
“This “investigation” smacks of religious persecution. Whoever made the comment was just paraphrasing the Holy scripture: “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13) Our laws should reflect God’s law, right? This is a Christian nation after all.”
Ok, so when are you going to call for the death of children that backtalk their parents? Or people who get tattoos? Or women who don’t wear veils? Or women who speak in churches? Or people who eat pork or shellfish? Or people who wear cotton poly blends? All of those aren’t allowed by the Bible. People who point to the Bible as a basis for their prejudices are often just cherry picking their beliefs and ignoring the parts that they don’t want to conform to.
Robert
September 21st, 2010
6:52 pm
Neighborhood????
A few questions.
1. Did Jim verify the truth of this accusation before he printed it
2. Does the” from the neighborhood” meet the standards of the AJC to print this allegation?
What investigations are being undertaken to identify the posters who say perfectly awful things about Christains? Or is that not of interest to Galloway and the AJC?
Just curious.
red hill
September 21st, 2010
6:53 pm
This was not a threat. The only people this matters to are the left wing nut jobs who populate Atlanta like roaches. Atlanta is not Georgia.
Flash
September 21st, 2010
6:55 pm
Skip Ferris, you might want to do a little research before you show your ignorance. The document that defines “United States morality” clearly states “We the People”. Not we the white people, not we the straight people, not we the baptist people, not anything but “We the People”. As for other countries in the world. Gay and lesbian citizens serve openly and freely in every military in the industrialized world. Some have been doing so for years. Your own personal interpretation of the Bible, is just that and not relevant to this discussion. Bigotry will fail with time. It is unfortunate that the discussion gets so ugly in the process.
khc
September 21st, 2010
6:58 pm
red hill, how long have you been a rightwing nutjob?
Truth Hurts
September 21st, 2010
7:03 pm
I have a drem. I have a dream of a Heterosexual Pride Day featuring a Heterosexual Pride Parade down Peachtree Street. We can carry banners and signs as heterosexual couples walk hand-in-hand in the Parade. I may not get there with you, but we as heterosexuals will have that parade!
Amen.
Scott
September 21st, 2010
7:04 pm
I love how some of you conservative nut-jobs hide behind this book of fables called the Bible and proclaim it as “truth” or “fact.” Guess what, people: There is no god. There never was a god. There never will be a god. This “god” creature was created by man to either 1) answer questions that at the time couldn’t be explained any other way, or 2) control the masses, usually through fear.
Get your head out of the sand and start thinking for yourself instead of believing what some preacher tells you to believe.
Truth Hurts
September 21st, 2010
7:07 pm
Scott:
I’m going to pray for you.
Jay
September 21st, 2010
7:08 pm
I think I am too, Dave.
Randy
September 21st, 2010
7:09 pm
It sad that people have so much hate in America it to much stuff going on to hate Gays in the military. Gay military staff are on the line fighting everyday in Afghanistan and I think we owe them to be open gay in the military. I have friends are gay in the military they are treated so badly. If Isakinson need not to be voted out of the office because if he voted against the bill let show him that dont take our votes for granted. Deal need not to be elected for governor because he is against gays in the military. I am going to vote against the republicans to show them I am voter who say NO to the republican party.
Truth Hurts
September 21st, 2010
7:13 pm
Randy:
Are you “for real”?
Pillsbury
September 21st, 2010
7:20 pm
Red Hill, I would imagine that stating that all gays must die is most certainly a threat. I woulld also respectfully add that an employee of a Georiga politician making hateful comments about a group of Americans would be of great interest to all Georgians. By the way, I live in Augusta.
Randy
September 21st, 2010
7:20 pm
Yes I am foreal we are going to vote the Republicans out the office because they are the party of NO. Isakinson dont represent Georgia he only care what the republican tell him to vote on, now it my time to vote NO in November. We dont need Nathan Deal to be governor because he will be going to jail for corruption. So I am going to vote NO republican.I wish Karen Handel could be a write in candidate because I value Handel because she put everything on the table she dont hide behind no closet doors. Deal need not to be elected governor.
khc
September 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
hey truth, how long you been one too?
Box Turtle Bulletin » Hate attack appears to come from Sen. Chambliss’ office
September 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution has made inquiries of the Senators’ staff: A spokeswoman for Isakson said his staff quickly [...]
Jay
September 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
Die? Gays and lesbians who have served our country HAVE died to protect lowlifes like “Jimmy”.
Jim W.
September 21st, 2010
7:30 pm
The comment “Frequent Voter
September 21st, 2010
5:58 pm
This is EXACTLY why I cannot vote Republican. Just when you think they might be making some sense on fiscal issues, they go back to their idiotic ways.
————————————————————————————————————————–
Your comment is not logical. The person making the slur was not the Senator but possibly a member of his staff.
Randy
September 21st, 2010
7:33 pm
Hate attack appears to come from Sen. Chambliss’ office
Timothy Kincaid
September 21st, 2010
Today around noon someone going by “Jimmy” left the following message on Joe Jervis’ blogsite, JoeMyGod, on a thread discussing the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
Joe released the IP address of the computer from which the comment was made, and it was identified as belonging to the US Senate and was located in Atlanta, GA. The Senate offices of Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss, both Republicans, are located in the same building and the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates for the IP address direct to that building.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has made inquiries of the Senators’ staff:
A spokeswoman for Isakson said his staff quickly ascertained that the message did not originate there.
Which leaves one other possibility
“We have seen the allegations and are moving quickly to understand the facts. This office has not and will not tolerate any activity of the sort alleged,” Chambliss spokeswoman Bronwyn Lance Chester said. “Once we have ascertained whether these claims are true, we will take the appropriate steps.”
It will be interesting to discover exactly what Sen. Chambliss considers to be appropriate. And it makes one wonder exactly what sort of political atmosphere exists in his office which would allow a staff member to assume that such behavior was acceptable.
Dave
September 21st, 2010
7:35 pm
No problem Jay, I went over to your place and got the context for your comments.
William K. Wolfrum’s Morning – Good Boy, Jorge « Animals « William K. Wolfrum Chronicles
September 22nd, 2010
9:33 am
[...] Joe.My.God: Someone sent Joe a hate-filled comment. And that someone works in a Republican Senator’s office. [...]
Did Saxby Chambliss aide leave threatening slur against gays? | Georgia Elections News
September 22nd, 2010
9:38 am
[...] Political Insider’s Jim Galloway reports Chambliss’ office is now investigating the message on Joe.My.God., a blog dedicated to gay and lesbian issues. The office targeted is located off I-75, near the Cobb Galleria. Blog author Joseph Jervis of New York City used the Internet Protocol address attached to the comment to trace the slur to “the neighborhood” of Chambliss’ office in metro Atlanta. [...]
From Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ office: “All fa–ots must die”
September 22nd, 2010
9:44 am
[...] (R-GA) and Sen. Johnny Isakson’s (R-GA) staff. When it was shortly thereafter confirmed by Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jim Galloway that the comment was, in fact, sent from Chambliss’ office, Chambliss’ spokesperson [...]
Collective Noun For Senatorial And Congressional Aides. < patrick
September 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
[...] I believe the correct one would be a recursive acronym that when chanted becomes a mantra entrancing its victim, making the aide stupider and more morally and ethically malleable. [...]
Anti-Gay Slur Comes From Chambliss Office Computer | FrumForum
September 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
[...] here to read [...]
Dos manzanas: Comentario homófobo y amenazante enviado a blog LGTB desde oficinas de senador republicano estadounidense
September 22nd, 2010
3:41 pm
[...] en que se encuentran las oficinas de los senadores mencionados. Acto seguido, el analista político Jim Galloway consiguió ponerse en contacto con Chabliss para intentar confirmar su origen desde sus oficinas, y [...]
GOP senator reportedly admits anti-gay death threat came from office « Women Born Transsexual
September 22nd, 2010
5:46 pm
[...] Jim Galloway at The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports, [...]
Drasties - Dutch on the World - World on the Dutch
September 22nd, 2010
9:33 pm
[...] yesterday afternoon, Jim Galloway at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution picked up on the story and “confirmed” with Chambliss’s office that it is investigating the matter: U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss [...]