Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, was made to apologize Friday on the House floor after referring to an American Indian lawmaker as "chief" and asking the lawmaker if a committee chairman's gavel wielded by Butcher constituted a "war club."
"It was meant as a compliment," Butcher said to his "chief" comment in an apology before the 100-member House of Representatives.
Butcher made the comments Thursday afternoon at a meeting of the House Agriculture Committee, which he chairs. He promised fellow lawmakers he would conduct future meetings "in a way that upholds the dignity of the House."
Why do people find such name calling necessary? I'll admit at one point I did it here at my blog and was called on it, rethought the situation. and no longer do it. Rep. Ed Butcher has a habit of doing this kind of thing so it's obviously the way he is and he really needs to think about it and try not to do it. Name calling demeans us all and I am glad he apologized.
There is a little something I would like to point out though. There are a number of blogs in Montana that refer to the Montana Speaker of the House Rep. Scott Sales, in a derogatory, name calling manner and they think that is fine and dandy while disparaging Ed Butcher for his name calling. I know, they will defend themselves by saying Rep. Ed Butcher's comment is racist and theirs isn't. I will admit that is true but name calling is not necessary. They should be able to get their point across without the use of prejudicial names if the point they are trying to make is strong enough.
Name calling by all is not appropriate and those that disparage this while doing it themselves are hypocrites. Let's all grow up and do the right thing.
The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite! Tennessee Williams
Update: I was obviously not clear enough here so let me state it a little more clearly. Ed Butcher's comments are wrong but I extend it and say all name calling is wrong. Don't try to defend it. Name calling is wrong.
Frankly, Sales has earned his nickname, IMHO, from his actions and words, not based on the color of his skin or any other accident of birth. To isolate and demean anyone based on their race, gender, disability -- any part of your person that you have no control over -- is the height of meanness of spirit.
One is NOT like the other. Our comments on Sales do NOT balance Butcher's comments.
Oh, and BTW, neither Matt, Shane, or I are in the Montana legislature, representing a constituency and a state. We are partisan hacks, rabble rousers, and political instigators. If you caught me calling Sales "Sideshow" on the floor of the legislature, you'd be justified in saying I wasn't worthy of my office. But I'm not in office.
whew
Nuff said.
Who accused Jon Tester of “<a href= http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/2153-The-Budget,-Jon-Tester,-And-The-Truth.html>mouthed platitdues</a>”? Of “<a href= http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/2071-Minimum-Wage.html>spieling</a>”? That he doesn’t “<a href= http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/1883-Canadian-BSE.html>care about Montana</a>”?
A simple search for "<a href= http://www.technorati.com/search/brian+schweitzer?from=http%3A%2F%2Fnowherethoughts.net%2Fsarpysam&start=0>Brian Schweitzer</a>" reveals a pathological propensity for baseless and insulting accusations: the Governor "lies," is "out of touch," has "sycophantic legions." Blah blah blah.
I suppose from here on out we'll see a concerted effort on your blog to refrain from demeaning language when addressing those that you disagree with politically...? Or do your rules of etiquette only apply to others?
Asking if a candidate cares about Montana or questioning if somebody is out of touch is not the same thing as name calling like I say you are doing with Scott Sales, note the name by itself without adding things to it. That is what I mean by name calling if you can't figure it out, not questioning what somebody is doing but adding things to their name to somehow demean them.
You can criticize what Scott Sales is doing all you want and I don't care, I don't think he was a good choice but I can't control what the Republicans do, but adding your name to his weakens your argument and makes it look like sour apples.
Anybody that has read my blog for a while and knows I have problems with the Governor and with Sen. Tester. I try to question their positions respectfully, even though I disagree with them, and I learned my lesson a while ago and try to refrain from making a play on their names, name calling, since it weakens what a person is saying. I calls them as I sees them. You have every right to disagree.
Name calling, making a play on somebodies name, is wrong and demeans us all. Excuses don't cut it here.