Kentucky Congressman Calls Barack Obama "That Boy"

How the hell is some southern Republican Clinton's problem? Are you really trying to blame this on Clinton? And what does this Kentucky-Republican it have to do with a Jewish site? I mean, since I know you wouldn't resort to the whole, "Obama is victim of racism! From the same sort of people who are racist against folks like us!" since I know you wouldn't stoop to such a transparent sleaze-shot, Koffler. So I ask you...what does this man have to do with Clinton or a Jewish magazine? 

David, as a professional writer who puts a certain premium on clarity and precision, I aspire to be misunderstood as infrequently as possible. Therefore, if this were a sincere claim in good faith that I was laying responsibility for Geoff Davis on Clinton, I would take the time to explain in painstaking detail that my point here is to call attention to Obama's run of luck in drawing highly flawed opponents and enemies, and that the assumption that the point is to blame Clinton for Davis would license the inference that Blair Hull and Jack Ryan are also at fault for Davis's remark. Which would, I think we can agree, bring the assumption that I am blaming Clinton for Davis to a reductio conclusion.

However, since this isn't anything resembling a good faith effort at anything, but just some obnoxious trolling, I will leave it at a simple suggestion that you a) confine your obnoxious trolling to a blog of your own about the ways in which I'm horrible or b) quit being such a twat.

Please re-read the editorial policies of the magazine you work for. Your response to David is over the line. Calling some a twat and telling them to comment else where is more than obnoxious and should be beneath the dignity of any magazine that wants to be taken seriously. I agree with some of David's remarks. The daily OBAMA site is really silly for a Jewish themed magazine keeping in mind that Obama still has a problem with Jewish voters that is well deserved, editorial policy of Jewcy not withstanding

You are correct as well, Obama has managed to get lucky breaks, most of it coming from a media that is only too willing to smear anyone that opposes Obama. Look we have already had a black Moses -Isaac Hayes, Obama is no Ike Hayes...SO when someone points out that maybe you can right about something other than Obama, or at least try to tie it to our community, that is not a bad faith point. 

Jeffrey,
I think David Kelsey is a big boy and can handle a little bit of name calling. This is the Internet after all. What irks me is not the name calling (I am on record as having calle Kelsey a "cunt") but rather the constant championing of what many consider to be a flawed candidate, or the political analysis that lacks objectivity and depth. These are the things that inspired Kelsey's "trolling" and in not really addressing them and instead relying on name calling, Koffler says more about himself than he does about Kelsey.

BTW - when I called Kelsey a cunt it was a nuanced, well balanced and well thought out critique. Just so you know ;)

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I showed nudes of your Mom at Jewlicious.com

I hope you are not belittling Chofetz Chaim, although I am no where close to following his example, there would be worse things to strive for in life. You are correct about the flawed candidate and such, and about Koffler's response giving more insight into him than not. As far as outright name calling, should we not strive to limit that sort of thing as Gentleman. I mean I see calling people idiot or Moron as a classification. They should be aware that they are deficient, so you are doing them a service...

I do believe those are nude photos of YOUR mother at jewlicious.com 

Jeffrey... don't go there man. You don't know my Mom. You don't want to know my Mom. She will cut you, I swear she will fucking cut you! I hope you didn't think I was referring to your Mom though! Good golly - I was just  "sigging" figuratively. Now as far as language and the issue of gentlemanliness goes - what are you saying? I know many people who are loathe to use foul language and yet, despite their flowery prose, are themselves some of the foulest people I know (ahem...). If these are gentlemen, well... fuck that - I'd rather be judged by the actual content of my speech than by my avoidance of terms like "twat." The Chofetz Chaim was a very, very wise man whose writings, while much abused these days (ahem...), set a standard by which I can hardly hope to even come remotely close to emulating. But I still try. Except when I called Kelsey a cunt. That wasn't very nice.

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I avoid Jeffrey's Mom at Jewlicious.com

Of all the news swirling around the Obama camp this weekend, this is what you focus on? Even editorialists favoring Obama had to deal with all of it. It's been going on for weeks and not a peep out of you on McPeak, Dan Kurtzer, Rezko, Obama's bundled money--

just some Southern (you wouldn't be a racist, or at least a regionalist, would you?) congressman calling Obama a young rookie. Because that's what he meant. They were participating in a simulation on nuclear war, and Obama could not make any decisions.

'Boy' in the south can mean anything. I use it myself. I interchange in with 'Jack', or 'Joe'. And it applies to everyone. There are places where you wouldn't use it. If a black man was your manservant or butler wearing a white coat and was much older than you--then it would be as racist as you would like it to be. But those jobs don't exist.

And to make the picture complete, the black man would have to call you 'boss'. As in Dooley Wilson to Humphrey Bogart. But even Bogie didn't call Wilson 'boy'. No one uses that phrase anymore unless they're over 80 years old.

And how in the world can you complain of racism when you call someone a twat--which I believe is a horribly sexist term. If this isn't a case of the highly used cast iron pot calling the copper kettle an overly used cast iron kettle, then what is?

What is wrong with your mom? I might like to meet her... Yes, it is possible to not use foul language and still be a a-----e, but one should not stoop to that level. I do find it odd that Mr. Koffler has nothing to say in his defense.

Naftali, i am from the south myself and you are correct. boy has many meanings and almost no one uses it as the insult that Mr. Koffler alludes. It does seem to be true that there is a very strong bias against the south, but the truth is the biggest racists I have ever known have been in some of the northern cities, like Philly, Boston, Columbus Ohio, NYC...I heard and saaw things there that no southern community would tolerate in this day and time. The south has truly progressed and is now truly post-racial, we wish the rest of the country would join us.

Sorry but it is Baraq Obama and not Geoff Davis running for president. baraq has to overcome his equally bigoted remark about small town America. daniel, you will have to try harder

"...quit being such a twat."

" Except when I called Kelsey a cunt."

Will you pricks cease your calumnies on this loveliest of places?

And Craig, swell new pic. Izzy wanted her glasses back? 

Jeffrey: If you're in Montreal at the end of Passover, all are welcome to my parents house for our annual Mimouna Chametz and Arak feast. Mom will be making piles of Mofletta (uhm... chewy Moroccan crepes?) dipped in butter and honey. The family will be decked out in djelabas, and while all are welcome, stay away from the kitchen and do NOT ask when the next batch of Moffletas will be ready. Just sit the fuck down, chase your Arak with some Moroccan mint tea and greet one and all with a hearty "Tirbach!" which in our Moroccan-Judeo dialect means "may you be blessed." the rules of hospitality dicate that no one can stick a shiv in a guest, so you'll be safe. And drunk. And well fed. Make sure to slip my 3 year old nephews a couple of bucks. They're saving money for an African safari trip with their Uncle. And for God's sake do NOT mention Obama. Brakha (my Mom) dislikes him intensely - and no one has ever gone wrong agreeing with Brakha. You can bank on that. I myself will be in Jerusalem, but I will be with you in spirit!

Yes. You are also welcome Ismail.

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I brag on my Mom at Jewlicious.com

Wait...the South is post-racial?? Look, the North certainly has had its fair share of horrible racial hostility through the years, and has often gotten a pass to be sure (living in uber-segregated Chicago the last few years has certainly hammered that point home for me). But really, the South is farther along in race relations?? Really?? I mean the thought that using "boy" towards an African-American in the South isn't a complete hallucination of us annoying Yankees.

Signs that I may, in fact, be getting old; I think I just got a headache reading the word arak... 

I think so, I think the south is farther along than the north.  The reason is simple--there was a time when the south really really really had to confront its racial attitudes.  Never happened in the north.

I was born in the north, what's considered the north, and things are much more relaxed in the south regarding race.  That's just my impression.  

I'll just caution you that there are mild side effects to glucosomine and chondroitin.  The other joys of getting old, I'll let you discover for yourself.  It is like, so fun. 

"Yes. You are also welcome Ismail."

Many thanks. I shall leave my shiv at home. Be sure to lay in some extra arak. 

And I'll bring the hummus. 

I'ww invite my Jew-hating boyfwiend Jimmy Cawtew to hewp me!

[Please see our comments policy -- ed.] 

"I wouwd wove to tewwowize youw Jewish mothew on Passovew.

I'ww invite my Jew-hating boyfwiend Jimmy Cawtew to hewp me!

[Please see our comments policy -- ed.] "

The comments policy suggests avoiding "blatantly racist, sexist or homophobic comments". It says nothing about witless, inane or borderline psychotic posts.

So how come the above comment was Fuddized ?

Yeah, I actually had to take a headshot for something, so I said, "Why not??"

 As for the Fuddizing, while I don't know about the above one, looking back maybe my first comment should get the Fudd treatment.

Thanks for the invite, but I am going to a Southern Jewish Seder in Atlanta. Naftali is correct, the South has had to face racism and move on. Forced desegregation and vibrant economies did wonders for Atlanta and most of the south, there are still pockets of racism, but nothing compared to what I have seen in Boston and Philly... Now we do have Baptists...and no liquor on Sundays so I am not saying it is a Utopia.