Saxby Chambliss apologizes for staffer’s threatening slur
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Thursday apologized to the author of a gay-oriented blog for a threatening slur posted from his office, declaring, “All [gays] must die.”
In a prepared statement, Chambliss also spoke of the immediate “removal” of a staff member – who was not identified.
The wording is important. We’re picking up that the staffer was a military liaison assigned by the Pentagon — a fact that Chambliss’ office would not confirm.
A staffer under Chambliss’ direct employ would have been fired. A staffer under another entity’s supervision would be reassigned. Or removed. (My AJC colleague Bob Keefe pinned down the fact that the computer used was located in Chambliss’s Washington office.)
The blog comment at issue was left Sept. 21 on a discussion of whether gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military on “Joe.My.Blog,” a site operated by Joe Jervis of New York City – perhaps an hour after the U.S. Senate turned away an attempt to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Blog participants quickly tracked the Internet Protocol address to Chambliss’ office.
Chambliss last week condemned the comment, and requested an investigation by the U.S. Senate sergeant-at-arms, who acts as the chamber’s top law enforcement officer.
The statement from Chambliss’ office:
“The office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms has concluded its investigation, and I responded to that report immediately with the removal of a member of my staff. I commend the Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Gainer, and his staff for their very thorough and professional work.
“I have called Mr. Jervis, the blog’s author, and apologized to him personally, and I am sorry for the hurt this incident has caused. Regardless of one’s position on issues and policies, such comments are simply unacceptable, are not befitting those who work in the U.S. Senate, and I will not tolerate them from my staff.”
Jervis, who monitors JoeMyGod, confirmed his conversation with Chambliss and paraphrased the senator’s remarks:
”He said, ‘Joe, I don’t know if you’re Republican or Democrat, or liberal or conservative. But none of that should matter because what was said on your blog shouldn’t be said to anybody by anybody. And I want to offer my sincerest apologies.’
“He said, ‘There’s been a lot of criticism about why it’s taken so long to bring this to a resolution. But this is something that’s going to dramatically affect someone’s life, and we had to make sure we got it exactly right.’”
Jervis accepted Chambliss’ apology.
“I consider the matter closed. The gentleman is no longer in Chambliss’ office,” he said. “I’m pretty sure if he were a direct Chambliss hire, we would know his name. I don’t think he was Chambliss’ to fire.
“I was never calling for this guy’s head. I just wanted the senator himself to address the issue and say that this can’t happen in my office. He has done that.”
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116 comments Add your comment
Rig Dawg
September 30th, 2010
7:11 pm
I look forward to the day when sexual deviants are allowed to adopt children and serve openly in the military. I can’t believe that anyone would condemn or oppose this! I am in the Navy and I want our homosexuals to be free to tell us about their sexual deviation and I want them to be loud and proud! I want to be able to look around me and 24/7 on a 6 month deployment and take comfort in knowing that the people who I’m working closely with and sharing living quarters with are sexual deviants. I want them to be able to walk around on the boat all day long proclaiming their deviation for me and all of my fellow honorable service members to hear, including the Captain, the Commodore and all of the marines on the boat! I will not rest until sexual deviants are practicing their deviation openly, loud and proud, in full military uniform. Dear God please get them into the service. And to those of you that are in the service having to conceal your sexual deviation; thank you for your service! We’re gonna make sure you can be open, it might take some more work, but we’ll make it happen!!! God bless you sexual deviants!
"hl" Stands for "Hardly Listening"
September 30th, 2010
7:14 pm
No, hl, speaking for all Republicans, we are opposed to it.
But it is my understanding the offender was a Democrat.
Is this okay if you are a Democrat?
josef nix
September 30th, 2010
7:16 pm
Rig Dawg
Got an awful high opinion of your charms there, don’t you? My career military boy, Army, says to tell you “well, what are you doing in the Navy, Butch?”
mark
September 30th, 2010
7:19 pm
He made a threat!!! He should be arrested!! And why is there millitary personnel on our senators staff? No wonder he never votes against bullets, bombs and other wasteful spending on killing people, here and abroad.
fed up
September 30th, 2010
7:21 pm
Jonathan I believe you are wrong im fairly certain that my wife and my children might enjoy anything that I have to say once I am gone. As for you I can assure you that “that mentality” will survive me for many generations.
GreatATLGuy
September 30th, 2010
7:22 pm
Hey Coaltrader 08 – learn how to spell and punctuate, perhaps you should consider going back for your GED. There are transitional schools all over Cobb County.
GreatATLGuy
September 30th, 2010
7:31 pm
Rig Dawg sounds like a sarcastic Fred Phelps… Rig, if you don’t know who that is, Google http://www.godhatesfags.com Maybe you should consider picketing soldiers’ funeral like the Phelps clan does, sounds like you would fit right in.
Sen. Chambliss delivers an apology directly to Joe.My.God › Blog for Democracy
September 30th, 2010
7:38 pm
[...] Joe describes his call with the Senator here, and the AJC covered it here. [...]
BRW
September 30th, 2010
7:49 pm
fed up, yes they probably will enjoy it once your “gone”, just not before.
BRW
September 30th, 2010
7:52 pm
Rig Dawg, I think your parents were practicing some sort of deviation. Look what the sperm drug up.
Jonathan
September 30th, 2010
8:14 pm
@Fed Up. we’re already fed up wwith you, I can only imagine how your wife and kid feel.
You’re a dull old sad mean bigot. The world could use so many less of you.
coaltrader08
September 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
No civilized society ever condoned homosexuality and survived. Since the dawn of time it’s been a perversion which must not be tolerated. It’s really hard to believe that we have arrived at this pt in America. Sickening that this filthy perversion is gaining such mainstream acceptance… Of course that’s what gov’t run schools are good for I suppose.
coaltrader08
September 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
Is this Galloway guy leading a homosexual blog? I never knew there were even this many damn perverts in the state of GA. No decent people condones the perversion of homosexuality.
fed up
September 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
Its just too bad that jon and brw will never experience the joy of a child from conception on.Hopefully they will find the same amount of joy in here they do in their bedroom throwing poop at people.
777driver
September 30th, 2010
8:30 pm
I think Chambliss handled this very well. Seems to me like the person must be someone in the military assigned to him by the Pentagon whom Chambliss doesn’t have the authority to fire or remove, and they had to work through that process. As Jervis himself said: “I consider the matter closed. The gentleman is no longer in Chambliss’ office,” he said. “I’m pretty sure if he were a direct Chambliss hire, we would know his name. I don’t think he was Chambliss’ to fire.
BRW
September 30th, 2010
8:33 pm
Actually coaltar00, no civilized society has EVER survived, period. You must be really old to remember all the way back to the dawn of time….
Oh my, f’d up doesn’t like it when people return his thrown poop.
ADD
September 30th, 2010
8:35 pm
I’m glad to see that my fellow gay brothers are finally realizing that “fighting the good fight” isn’t working…We have sat back and allowed these ignorant, self rightous bigots far too much latitude. Give it back to them. If someone thinks they are going to bash me…I’m gonna bash ‘em back. More of us should do the same.
khc
September 30th, 2010
8:42 pm
fed up you are a dunder head, you think folks choose to be gay?
Nick Saban
September 30th, 2010
8:46 pm
Must be a few fruitcakes on here. yall take it to california.
josef nix
September 30th, 2010
8:47 pm
ADD
I rejected the Blanche du Bois syndrome way back in the late 1960s as a young lad coming to terms with my sexuality. Like I said earlier, it has been my experience that the majority of straight people are fine, decent folks who detest the bigotry and now that they are more comfortable doing so, are speaking out to their own. I appreciate it. Over here on our side, of course, I have a lot to say that is probably best kept intra nostru. I am myself very much of the Stonewall mentality and, truth be told, once “they” saw we’d stand up and fight back, it gave them courage to do the same.
Anon
September 30th, 2010
9:02 pm
I wonder if Saxby is going to apologize to Max Cleland?
Jeff in ATL
September 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
“This is supposed to be a free country you have your opinions let this staffer have his and d@mn having to appologise for them.”
It is a free country … to my knowledge he has not been denied due process or habeas corpus rights, nor has he been put in jail for his comments.
Freedom of Speech means the government can’t lock you up … not that you can be protected from public scrutiny or public ridicule.
fed up
September 30th, 2010
9:53 pm
Im sorry jeff maybe how smart you are got in the way of what I was trying to say. I as a Georgia citizen do not feel that an elected official should have to tuck tail because a group of individuals start whining because someone used their rights.
Jeff in ATL
September 30th, 2010
10:11 pm
fed up … Chambliss didn’t have to do anything, he could have said nothing and people would have kept complaining. He did say something and people keep complaining. That’s just the way it is.
Saxby Chambliss apologizes for staffer’s threatening slur | Conservative GA
September 30th, 2010
10:16 pm
[...] Saxby Chambliss apologizes for staffer’s threatening slur [...]
GreatATLGuy
September 30th, 2010
10:27 pm
Fed up should Fed-ex himself into outerspace…. along with you other bigots… how about the mistreatment homosexuals have experienced for years, they’re the ones who should be fed up! Wake up, homophobe!
Paul EQuality Schappaugh
September 30th, 2010
10:29 pm
I commend the Senator for doing the right and just thing in this case. It is inexcusable that a Federal employee fired off a Death Threat from a Senate office computer immediately following a vote on DADT – And by the Senator’s own words .. it was “simply unacceptable” and intolerable by his own standards. The Atlanta Queer Justice League reached out to the Senator’s staff on Wednesday afternoon – so I feel justified in saying that I hope by sharing our stories the Senator can begin to connect his discriminatory policies and the affect they have on the lives of many LGBT Georgian’s. Georgian’s especially should understand that hate and bigotry can be overcome! .. and I look forward to the day when Georgia will finally join the cause for EQuality and recognize that all citizens have the right to EQuality under the law.
wesleywhatwhat
September 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
i’m never going to vote for chambliss, since his policies are anathema to working people, but i respect his actions in thsi situation.
kudos, saxby. u did the right thing, as far as i can tell.
now stop voting for your corporate buddies and think about working georgians, PLEASE.
In Rare Defense of Saxby Chambliss « Left on Lanier
September 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
[...] Governing | Tags: Saxby Chambliss | Leave a Comment And finally the hammer dropped on the gay-slur-guy: Chambliss: “The office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms has concluded its investigation, and I [...]
Laugher
October 1st, 2010
12:35 am
All heterosexuals must die…there I said..lets see if I lose my job!
Alabama Communist
October 1st, 2010
12:38 am
More Breaking News On Senator Apology………….Not only did the unknown Senator Staffer apologize for bashing democrat Gays, but he apologize for slavely, starting the American Civil War, plus having the Knights Templar’s plunder Muslin historial religious sites without the Pope permission and finally for creating the Republican Tea Party…..Senator Chambliss said his staffer decided to apologize after he waterboard him,
Mike
October 1st, 2010
3:24 am
Interesting how everybody else except minors are named in articles by the tv news and journalists. However here is a person who posts a slur on the net. Is investigated by a public agency and the saviors do not make public this person. I don’t think anyone was ever fired. And why the secret? People don’t you get tired of the lies and the fact this party seems to hide everything. What else are these people doing under the covers so to speak?
The Centrist
October 1st, 2010
3:55 am
Saxby and Johnny voted against tax credits for businesses that keep jobs here in America. Because?
Travis McGee
October 1st, 2010
5:27 am
Chambliss did what he had to do. The real issue is the environment of racial and sexual intolerance and hatred that has been created by the resurgence of the Tea Party/ultra-conservative movement.
One step forward and two step backward. And, so it goes. . . .
MR
October 1st, 2010
6:40 am
Can’t you people read. The person who made the comment did not work for Chambliss, he was assigned by an outside intity. That happens a lot in our great government. Military liaisons are assigned to congress and they do not work for that office. Mr. Chambliss could not fire nor could he name the person since he did not have that control. It would be the responsibility of the assigning party to discipline the individual. I really hope that most of the commentors on this blog do not vote because you are to stupid to make an intelligent decision as to who should be running this country. It is time for all gays, black, and any minority to get off their a$$e$ and do something positive instead of bit_hing and moaning about some stupid comment.
BRW
October 1st, 2010
6:49 am
“entity” by the way. Can’t you people spell?
I don’t recall Sax ever said exactly who this person worked for.
Maybe I missed it.
Sloan
October 1st, 2010
6:55 am
Saxby Chambliss did the only thing and the right thing that had to be done in this situation. Most of the liberal bloggers on here are, ironically, showing their ignorance and hatred for him because he is a conservative Republican by continuing to bash him, his policies, and/or his handling of this situation. Perhaps you should hold a mirror up in front of your own faces and ask who the hypocrites and stereotypers really are?
GreatATLGuy
October 1st, 2010
6:56 am
MR, you’re a fool. Do you think that any minority got where they are today but sitting on their a$$$es?? No, change has SLOWLY come about by lobbying, protesting, “bit-hing and moaning” (your words) about stupid actions and comments made by bigots. You fit into the aforementioned category. And PS, we can all read and interpret bigotry and unjust actions. Chambiss may not be able to fire third party entities but he does have the power to remove them from his office, and he probably only did so beacause of the bith-hing and moaning. And PS — “all f-gs must die” is not only stupid, it is a direct threat. The person who posted the threat should not only be removed, but should be prosecuted for making terrorist threats.
Willis
October 1st, 2010
7:16 am
MR: The person who made the comment did not work for Chambliss, he was assigned by an outside intity
If he didn’t work for Chambliss, then why was he in the Senator’s office? I guess he was assigned to troll through blogs, find gays, and then write the slurs? Was that his job? So what he was a Pentagon assignee, Chambliss is still responsible for the conduct of the people in his office. Saxby and his buddies probably laughed about it behind the closed door.
MR
October 1st, 2010
7:18 am
BRW -We’re picking up that the staffer was a military liaison assigned by the Pentagon — a fact that Chambliss’ office would not confirm.
This was a direct quote from the article that you did not read.
GreatATLGuy – I think that is just what Mr. Chambliss did when he found out who made the comment. He had him removed from his staff. I am not saying that the statement was not offensive and improper. I don’t take it as a terrorist threat just the weird opinion of one individual. Not much different whe Stokley Charmical said all honkies (whites) should die. Keep to the subject my friend. The comments were about Chambliss actions not the person who made the so called threat. One thing:
Threat: I will kill all the F’s
Opinion: All F’s must die
Think about it.
MR
October 1st, 2010
7:30 am
Willis…Just wonderful how there is always someone here to prove my point. Thanks
MR
October 1st, 2010
7:32 am
Hey Willis…Do not ever let the facts get in the way when you are making a decision. If there was an IQ test for voters you would not pass.
TJ Walker
October 1st, 2010
7:44 am
Talk about a day late and a dollar short. If Senator Chambliss had waited any longer, we’d all be in retirement. His apology was fine, but the delayed announcement destroyed its effectiveness.
CarpetBagger
October 1st, 2010
7:44 am
Draft Dodging Saxby has a weigh in on the military? His office is the WORST in the U.S. Senate regarding veteran’s issues. ALL of his military liaisons NEVER served in the military. What a joke!
Sen. Chambliss finally apologizes for anti-Gay slur coming from his office – media training :: TJWALKER INTERACTIVE
October 1st, 2010
7:47 am
[...] Talk about a day late and a dollar short. If Senator Chambliss had waited any longer, we’d all be in retirement. His apology was fine, but the delayed announcement destroyed its effectiveness. Here’s the full story [...]
Renegade
October 1st, 2010
7:50 am
Sodomites and liberals got their panties in a wad when, in fact, what was said was no worse that what these same liberals were saying about George W. Bush. Ever read Michelle Malkin’s “Unhinged”………page after page of documented outrageous threats against conservatives and Bush (not that Bush is a conservative but for some reason liberals think he is).
Knight
October 1st, 2010
7:50 am
Well said GreatATLGuy! I suspect most of the negative comments here about homosexuality are from older people. Most younger people know gay people, have gay relatives and have gay friends. Slowly but surely, gay people are getting their civil rights. With California’s Prop 8 being declared unconstitutional, it’s only a matter of time until the Supreme Court upholds that decision. Then all the states with bans on same sex marriage will be overturned. The tide has turned. Bigots who have marginalized and vilified gays are finally getting a taste of their own medicine.
Yep
October 1st, 2010
8:02 am
He should apologize only when Barney Frank apologizes to all heterosexuals.
aw shucks
October 1st, 2010
8:33 am
VOTE FOR MY BIG(OT) DADDY!!!
Liberal/Conservative
October 1st, 2010
8:33 am
Chambliss’s statement went on to say “… but please understand further that this apology does not mean I’m gay.”