Another Racist Comment???

Virginia Republicans are completely imploding before our eyes:

On the topic of an apology for slavery Delegate Frank Hargrove said:  “Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?...I personally think that our black citizens should get over it,”

Sources tell me Delegate Dwight Jones(Chair of Legislative Black Caucus) and Delegate Donald McEachin have just rose on the House floor to speak about this deplorable comment.  Jones said "It is particularly bad that these words were uttered on Martin Luther King's Birthday".

Developing...

DEMOCRATS HAVE AUDIO OF SPEECHES UP

FROM THE AP:

RICHMOND, Va. -- A state legislator's statement that black people "should get over" slavery and questioning whether Jews should apologize "for killing Christ" caused furious and tearful denunciations Tuesday before stunned lawmakers.

Del. Frank D. Hargrove, in defending himself, told one of his critics, a delegate whose Jewish ancestors immigrated from Nazi-occupied Poland, that "your skin is a little too thin."

Hargrove, 79, in an interview published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, voiced opposition to a measure apologizing on behalf of the state to the descendants of slaves.

In the interview, Hargrove, R-Hanover, said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added, "I personally think that our black citizens should get over it."

The newspaper also quoted him as wondering aloud, "are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

Black House of Delegates members swiftly denounced the comments Hargrove made on the holiday commemorating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"When somebody tells me I should just get over slavery I can only express my emotion by projecting that I am appalled, absolutely appalled," said Del. Dwight C. Jones, head of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Del. David L. Englin, D-Alexandria, seated next to Hargrove, spoke passionately about his grandparents leaving Poland "where they were driven from their homes by people who believed that as Jews, we killed Christ."

As he held up a wallet-sized photo of his 7-year-old son, Caleb, Englin struggled to keep his composure as he pondered the possibility that the child might have to cope with anti-Semitic comments.

When Englin sat, Hargrove reached over and softly patted Englin on the arm. Then, Hargrove rose to speak and, looking down at his seatmate, said, "I didn't even know you were Jewish, I had no idea of what your religion, (and) I don't care what your religion is. I don't care."

"I think your skin was a little too thin," he said as Republicans and Democrats gasped and groaned in disbelief.

Comments

[WestEndEd]

These are the same people who nurtured George Allen, it does not come as a suprise.

yawn

[Doug]

Oh my. That was a two groups insulted with one stone moment. Sort of an "I ate a ham sandwhich for lunch and you're a monkey" moment.

[brimur]

Doug, my thoughts exactly. It's moments like these that go a long way toward explaining how the RPV has lost so much support in NoVA.

[Bubby]

Hargrove is a braying jackass. What say you Ed (Macaca is a Made-Up Word)Gillespie? You have ANY interest in attracting African Americans to your party? Send Buckaroo Allen (and his 'lasso') to rein him in.

Hardly worthy of an alert - Bob Gibson wrote about it today.

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP/MGArticle/CDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192673260&path=

Interesting contrast to another Hanover Delegate's newspaper coverage and floor comments today:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192670261&path=%21news&s=1045855934842

[Bubby]

Republicans dissing minority voters...nothing new here.

[Breaux]

It's a kinder, gentler, more compassionate conservative that we have here in VA.

[Matt]

Geez...what is it with Republican officials in Virginia recently, I'm starting to wonder if all the Republican handlers are on vacation or something, because any more verbal gaffes, and I'm gonna wonder if the RPV stands for:

Racially Prejudiced Virginians

[Shaun Kenney is God]

Shaun will straighten it all out, you can bet on that.

[Rowhey]

I believe a bill apologizing for slavery is appropriate. However, I'd also like to add language stating that reparations are not.

[Bubby]

There is NOTHING in SJ 332 about reparations. I encourage everyone to read it and tell me what they would object to.

http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2007/sj332/fulltext/

[Rowhey]

Bubby,
Good to see you back.

I don't have any objects to the bill. Period. None.

However, I would like to see language added to the effect that reparations are not appropriate -- given the length of time from the end of the Civil War until present time.

But, even without the additional language, I'd encourage all Republican members to vote for it.

[Doug]

Hey- I'm still waiting for my reparations from the Queen for the clearances!

Actually, that's not such a good joke, but I'd be fine with that too Rowhey.

[Dannyboy]

There are no excuses for what this "gentleman" has said. Hargrove needs to apologize immediately.

[Rowhey]

Hargrove made a stupid comment. No two ways about it.

[Geez]

Those last comments in the AP story...they are just jaw dropping.

Hargove is right. Remember last year Englin cried on the floor about gays getting married. Toughen up!

[phriendlyjaime]

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doug]

Yipes, he sounds like my step dad. Whew.

If it helps at all- that's crazy old man talk and I don't believe it is specific to party. But man, he is the front runner for 2007 crazy talk. It's like the bar was not high enough?

[Not John S. Mosby]

Hargrove says what many of the Virginians below the Grit Line believe. He grew up in the 40's and was just starting out on his own in the 50's. For him and a lot of the older Delegates and Senators who grew up in Virginia, they all grew up with segregation and the Southern white attitude of the time. I'm frankly surprised that people are shocked when a Trent Lott or a Frank Hargrove says what they say. It was standard thought until the 60's and those guys didn't change their opinions, they just didn't verbalize them anymore since it wasn't politically correct to do so.

They're asses, but they've been that way for decades. It'll take a few more decades for their type to fade away.

[The Richmond Democrat]

Don't disparage grits by associating them with Hargrove's behavior.

I'm offended!!

And I'm also offended that YOU'RE NOT offended. That alone is incredibly offensive!

My oh my how greatly OFFENDED I am over this.

[phriendlyjaime]

If you're not offended, you can't be helped. The MSM has picked up on this. Here we go again, Virginia.