# Republican Congressman calls Obama "boy." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409 "2008-04-15T05:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/1 "2008-04-15T05:59:35Z")
I guess Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) decided he was going to step up and show those Presidential candidate what [stepping on your dick really means](http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2008/04/davis-apologize.html). > [@](#): > > He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a “highly classified, national security simulation” with Obama. > > “I’m going to tell you something: That boy’s finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.” When the comments were made public, Rep. Davis, sensing poltical ruin, sent an abject, ass-kissing apology letter to Sen. Obama: > [@](#): > > “My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity," Davis wrote in a letter that staffers said was hand-delivered to Obama’s U.S. Senate office. "I offer my sincere apology to you and ask for your forgiveness.” Davis also compared Obama to a “snake oil salesman” in that same speech, so it’s hard to see how _that_ was not an attempt to impugn his integrity. I’m actually not really outraged about it. When I first came across this story, I couldn’t stop laughing. My reaction was basically, “Holy fuck, he really said that? Really? Wow, that’s so hilariously boneheaded.” Now THAT’S a verbal gaffe for you. I would just like to thank Rep. Davis for taking some attention off Obama telling too much truth about small town bitterness and providing me with some belly laughs tonight. (And how funny is it that his name is Geoff Davis?) ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/2 "2008-04-15T06:07:13Z")
“That boy’s as bout’ as sharp as a bowling ball.” - Foghorn Leghorn. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/3 "2008-04-15T06:17:46Z")
Hmm, I’m torn. On one hand, there’s a good chance it was a racist-type slip. OTOH, I can see that it could’ve just as easily been a reference to charges that he’s too young and inexperienced. Of course, as long as the former is a possibility, it’s certainly impolitic, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/4 "2008-04-15T06:24:58Z")
[QUOTE=Leaper] Hmm, I’m torn. On one hand, there’s a good chance it was a racist-type slip. OTOH, I can see that it could’ve just as easily been a reference to charges that he’s too young and inexperienced. Of course, as long as the former is a possibility, it’s certainly impolitic, to say the least. [/QUOTE] I don’t recall ever refering to some one under the age of 10 as a “boy”. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/5 "2008-04-15T06:28:55Z")
[QUOTE=Leaper] Hmm, I’m torn. On one hand, there’s a good chance it was a racist-type slip. OTOH, I can see that it could’ve just as easily been a reference to charges that he’s too young and inexperienced. [/QUOTE] But they’re almost the same age. Davis is only three years older than Obama. I know very well, that in the south it’s not unusual for both blacks and whites to use the term “boy” to refer to younger male adults (or as a term of comraderie between friends), but Obama is a 47 year old professional peer and Davis clearly intended it to at least be belittling. Whether he had specific _racist_ intent, I can’t say. He was talking at a closed fundraiser and his audience guffawed and applauded his words. He was obviously playing to that crowd, and don’t think he expected his words to be made public. I guess that the days of “just between us,” closed fundraisers are over now. Somebody’s going to get the audio. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/6 "2008-04-15T06:32:38Z")
[QUOTE=wring] I don’t recall ever refering to some one under the age of 10 as a “boy”. [/QUOTE] My late grandfather used to refer to any male, white, black or otherwise, that hadn’t reached his august years as “boy”. I suppose that makes him a racist when the person is black and just a southerner when he’s not. I don’t know Geoff Davis from Adam, but I’m sensing a great deal of manufactured outrage here. I’ll freely admit that boy is a loaded term when used to refer to a black man, but I also reject that it’s always intended to be demeaning. Just because someone takes offense does not mean that offense was intended. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/7 "2008-04-15T06:35:35Z")
I bet Obama could make the decision to blow up Geoff Davis’ house pretty easily. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/8 "2008-04-15T06:42:59Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] My late grandfather used to refer to any male, white, black or otherwise, that hadn’t reached his august years as “boy”. I suppose that makes him a racist when the person is black and just a southerner when he’s not. I don’t know Geoff Davis from Adam, but I’m sensing a great deal of manufactured outrage here. I’ll freely admit that boy is a loaded term when used to refer to a black man, but I also reject that it’s always intended to be demeaning. Just because someone takes offense does not mean that offense was intended. [/QUOTE] Offense was indisputably intended. There’s no question Davis was trying to be demeaning. The question is whether it was intended to be _racially_ demeaning. Since Davis and Obama are essentially the same age, the “youth” excuse doesn’t fly. No matter what the intent, it was breathtakingly _stupid_. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/9 "2008-04-15T06:46:37Z")
I don’t know…that’s not typical for Northern Ky. Eastern maybe but the northern part’s like another state. I don’t think he’s racist as much as he is just plain stupid. That’s a common problem among Ky politicians unfortunately. Now you can’t call a male kid a boy anymore? I’ve called my three year old nephew a boy many times. My nine year old nephew gets called plain boy less often, monkey-boy more often, sometimes young man, and even Master Josh. Need I specify on that last one it has nothing to do with slavery? I mean, what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/10 "2008-04-15T06:48:33Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Offense was indisputably intended. There’s no question Davis was trying to be demeaning. The question is whether it was intended to be _racially_ demeaning. Since Davis and Obama are essentially the same age, the “youth” excuse doesn’t fly. No matter what the intent, it was breathtakingly _stupid_. [/QUOTE] Indeed it was. Were that you could make the same concession about Obama’s recent gaffe. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/11 "2008-04-15T06:50:29Z")
It sounds like a comment on his age and lack of experience to me. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/12 "2008-04-15T06:53:36Z")
I actually agree with him, Obama shouldn’t be monkeying around with that button. He’s much too niggardly to be our president. He must have balls the size of watermelons to think that he can get elected. This whole thing is just a gigantic tar baby. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/13 "2008-04-15T06:54:03Z")
Eh I can’t see the outrage here. Do we have to have a pit thread every time a white person uses ‘boy’ to refer to a black person? I’m sure we had a similar thread about a white anchor and black athletes didn’t we? Only there 90% of the people wanted to give the anchor woman the benefit of the doubt. It seems to me this was just an attempt to make him look young and inexperienced not a racially charged insult. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/14 "2008-04-15T06:56:10Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] It sounds like a comment on his age and lack of experience to me. [/QUOTE] Except they’re the same age. How many times do I have to point that out? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/15 "2008-04-15T06:58:18Z")
[QUOTE=Darkhold] It seems to me this was just an attempt to make him look young and inexperienced not a racially charged insult. [/QUOTE] They’re the same age. That excuse will not fly. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/16 "2008-04-15T06:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=dwyr] Now you can’t call a male kid a boy anymore? I’ve called my three year old nephew a boy many times. [/QUOTE] Who said this? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/17 "2008-04-15T06:59:32Z")
I will say this, however old Obama actually is, he definitely comes off as young. Which is a credit to him. He looks young, and he has a youthful vitality to him. I just googled some [pictures](http://www.opencongress.org/images/photos/400633.jpeg) of this Davis boy and I must say he certainly looks his age. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/18 "2008-04-15T07:03:04Z")
Not only is Davis only three years older than Barack, but he also doesn’t have any more experience. Davis has only been in the House since 2004. Obama actually has more elected experience than he does. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/19 "2008-04-15T07:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] [QUOTE=Darkhold] It seems to me this was just an attempt to make him look young and inexperienced not a racially charged insult. [/QUOTE] They’re the same age. That excuse will not fly. [/QUOTE] I agree with **Darkhold** in that he was attempting to make Obama _look young_, not that he actually is. **Argent Towers** has already said everything else I intended to. I’m not saying that it wasn’t an assclown-ish remark. It was. But racially motivated? I’m not gonna go that far. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409/20 "2008-04-15T07:10:21Z")
[QUOTE=atomicbadgerrace] I agree with **Darkhold** in that he was attempting to make Obama _look young_, not that he actually is. **Argent Towers** has already said everything else I intended to. I’m not saying that it wasn’t an assclown-ish remark. It was. But racially motivated? I’m not gonna go that far. [/QUOTE] I don’t know that it was racially motivated but it was definitely intended to be insulting, and that fact that he has virtually the same age and political experience as Obama does not put him in a position to be paternalistic or dismissive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-congressman-calls-obama-boy/445409.md?page=2)