While discussing SB 48s2 (Equalization of School Capital Outlay Funding) Senator Stephenson said, "I rise to stand in support of what I call the ugly baby bill. Senator Eastman has been liken to Solomon in bringing this forward, but he's holding a ugly baby and he's about to cut it in half."
Approximately 20 minutes later Senator Chris Buttars said, "This baby is black I'll tell ya, it's a dark ugly thing."
Senator Stephenson's comment occurred 46 minutes 8 seconds into the video (46.09)
Senator Buttars comment occurred 1 hour, six minutes, and 08 seconds into the video (1.06.08)
Click here, scroll down to, Part 2 - Listen View SB 48s2 - Eastman - 2nd reading, passed, and listen to Senator Chris Buttars espouse his family values.
22 comments:
That's awful!
He kind of has a scowl on his face doesn't he. How this guy gets elected to serve the people is beyond me.
Buttars has an exquisite grasp of grammar as well. Seriously, even not including the racist comment, listening to him talk was painful!!!
Stephenson should also apologize for the "ugly" comment. Uglo-Americans should be outraged.
I honestly do not know how this person got elected. I am also dismayed by the complete lack of attention this has received locally. Can Utahns honestly have such apathy towards racism? And apologizing -if people were offended- is not an apology. Saying that this was a mistake or that his mouth was going ahead of his mind is just scary. The guy is a racist - and in his mind, his only mistake was saying it out loud - and he's sorry if you're offended...
Mr. Buttars' comments were not a mere poor choice of words on his part, he is clearly intolerant...if not racist. His mouth was not ahead of his brain. These words, spoken in this manner, demonstrate his deep rooted bigotry. One could use more appropriate adjective such as bad, poor, or ill-conceived, etc. to describe a bill that one was not happy with. From what I can tell, Mr. Buttars was speaking frankly. This usually allows one to communicate their true or honest feelings. Using additional adjectives such as "a dark, ugly thing" further demonstrate his bigoted or ignorant intent. Mr. Buttars and his ingrained intolerance should NOT be allowed to represent the public for the state which I live in. One cannot apologize for their bigotry, and a bigot should not be allowed to maintain a public office. By this, I mean that I will not be satisfied without his resignation. Sincerely, Christian Krahenbuhl
I am wondering why the Senator's gracious apology isn't enough for some people?
Paul,
Given Sen. Buttars' past history, patterns, and practices, the apology isn't seen as gracious -- it is seen as insincere BS.
It says to those of us who have watched him attack one segment of society after another: "I want this issue to go away, so I can get on with passing legislation that attacks immigrants, gays, scientits, secularists, and others who are not like me."
PM- I don't think that was the most gracious apology - he is saying he didn't mean it that way and that he was misinterpreted. If he was misinterpreted - why apologize? The fact is - he was looking for a more negative term than ugly baby - for him that is one that is black. Even as a mistake that tells us a lot about him - in fact it confirms what people have suspected about him. I really dont think non-racist people would say such a thing so easily. I beleive there is a deep rooted racism here - maybe Sen. Buttars doesnt even realize it.
By the way, if I am wrong or you are in someway offended by my post, - I certainly did not mean it that way - I apologize, my fingers may have just gotten a bit ahead of my brain.
Do you hear what you people are saying. Just because he used the word black does not mean that it was a racist comment. Hey everyone I drive a black car. My sweater is black. Oh my goodness, I am racist I deserve to be burned at the stake. Please throw me in jail, fire me from my job, take my kids away. That is what I deserve after all for using the word black!! Isn't it? Please you are the most unforginving pathetic people I ever heard of. Get a life!!! There are way more important issues facing this state and country that we should be concerned about. By the way, Senator Butters wasn't refering to a person he was refering to a bill that he didn't like. Read any book or see any movie. The COlOR BLACK is always used to represent evil!!! It is just a metaphor and has nothing to do with the color of a person's skin. Are you people really that stupid???
Just what one would expect from a bigot. Buttars' comment was referring to a comment made earlier that called Eastman's Bill a ugly baby. 20 Minutes later Buttars said, It's a black baby..., it's a dark ugly thing."
Sounds to me that he sees black babies as "dark and ugly".
What is pathetic is that some Utahns continue to allow republicans to use the LDS religion to get elected when in truth their voting record and attitudes don't in anyway compare with LDS values.
Buttars is a racist, as are you, end of story.
Rob, I made some typing errors, will you remove my first comment?
Nate
Anonymous,
The context was NOT a discussion about CARS!!! Senator Stephenson was using as his metaphor a baby--a human! No one (including Senator Buttars) should have ever extended that metaphor (of an ugly baby at that) by associating with it the color black.
It doesn't matter whether he thought it maliciously or not, it came from his brain to his mouth, and out it spewed. Subliminal or not, it was a racist comment. Should he resign? In my opinion, no. Is he a racist? I haven't met him, but I've seen other things that he has said, and I think he is.
Maybe it is time to stop using the word black as a negative.
The republicans have been working hard to dig up the dirt on Obama now that he is the front runner.
Chris Buttars is holding a press conference today to announce that he has it on good authority, that Obama has fathered [not one but] two black babies.
There are some seriously ignorant people on this board. Nobody would call you racist for referring to a Black Car or even a Black Day - you can call a bad dark day in history a black day without being racist.
HOWEVER - Sen. Buttars was trying to find an analogy that was more negative than an Stephenson's "ugly baby". So what is that for him? A baby that is black - that is dark and ugly. this bill is so bad that he is comparing it to a ugly black baby. It really wouldn't have the same effect if he said this bill was a black car...
There is a reason that people feel uncomfortable with this. I am surprised that so many people can ignore this and say its just the same thing as using the adjective black with an inanimate object. Its not the word, its usage.
No problem with using "black" as a negative adjective. But when you attach that to a human being you are putting that negative intent on an entire race. This should be a self evident and most racist people would not even using a black human to express a negative feeling. Sen. Buttars obviously has no problem doing it.
What this episode did reinforce for me is that a lot of folks in this state - who say frequently and loudly that they care for babies and children - in fact only care for babies that look like them. Or "are like them." Babies & children of folks who are too different need not apply for compassion or anything else. And Sen. Buttars is definitely in this category.
No, Psul Mero - sometimes "sorry you misunderstood me" just doesn't cut it. Buttars used incredibly crude, divisive speech, and if you really wish to raise the level of civil discourse, you need to call Buttars on things like this - not just those you differ with.
I can see how its viewed as racist but at the same time i can see how it was not. I don't think he meant it as an actual black baby, but baby as a slang word and black as a slang word. IF he said N** baby or he really meant a black baby then he is retarded but i don't think he really meant a black baby. Austin powers says do i make you Horny baby, does he mean a real horny baby. No. It was a poor choice of words because it can be interpreted any way
For those of you who are not from Utah, which I am, or even if you are, might not know what kind of an evil human being Buttars is. Before he found his power in office, he ran and founded a place called the Utah Boys Ranch. A place for troubled and out-of-control youth. Buttars was the man in charge at the Boys Ranch. My brother, 28 now, was sent to the Boys Ranch at the age of 17. When he was there, he repeatedly spoke of a man who would tear people down whenever he got the chance. Mr.Buttars. He forced the boys who were sent there to go to LDS services. FORCED. Because if you refused, you were punished. That goes against a right that we all have. I'm sure you know the one. Not only did he torment young boys, but when he became Mayor of West Jordan(a city in Salt Lake, for those who do not know)he tried to impose prohibition of alchohol.Now, I'm not a big drinker, I assure you, but as far as I am concerned, this man is drunk with power. The 'ugly baby' comment did not surprise me one bit. He is an evil, evil man. What's worse? He is strong LDS.
Of course he is racist, look how old he is and then read your history, he was raised in a period of rampant racism.
He looks straight outta Goblin Town (see '70s Hobbit cartoon).
He is obviously a representative of the people of Utah.
They voted for him.
What a "good" man.
Now that Palin's faltering, i guess we'll have to vote Bachmann/Buttars in 2012!
Post a Comment