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* The AP finally updated their over-the-top story from yesterday which completely bought the claim by some Downstate Republicans that Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) had injected racial hatred into a committee debate. But maybe they should’ve just retracted the whole thing. The lede is the same from yesterday morning…
Three Republican state representatives accused a Democratic colleague of spreading “racial hatred” during a committee meeting Wednesday and demanded that the speaker of the House investigate the incident.
“That type of racial hatred that was displayed in committee went out with the ’70s, and I respectfully request that you review the transcript,” Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, said on the House floor.
* And this paragraph was added later…
A recording of the hearing shows that while Davis alleged some lawmakers want to keep crime rates up so that prisons stay full, the racial content was minimal: She argued that her fellow African-American legislators must fight hard for legislation to help former criminals go straight.
* The only people who really injected race into the debate yesterday were the Republicans making the accusations…
Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville, alleged that Davis specifically said some lawmakers want to keep prisons filled with “black people from Chicago.”
He called it “Alice in Wonderland kind of stuff” to suggest any lawmaker would want to keep crime rates up. Suggesting a racial motivation is even worse, he said.
“That is a criminal insult and she should be sanctioned,” Stephens said. Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, agreed. He accused Davis of “race-baiting.”
* Sorry, guys, but you’re the ones doing the race-baiting. From the Tribune…
But a tape of the hearing shows that Davis never accused the Republicans of protecting prisons on the basis of race. In fact, she said it was a matter of economics.
“Illinois must recognize there’s some people in the Illinois General Assembly who have prisons in their district and their whole objective is to keep them filled,” Davis said at the hearing. “Anything — anything — that would create an atmosphere to get those prisons with fewer people, were threatened to close, it’s a war. ‘We’ve got to have those prisoners. They got to come down here from Chicago and we got to keep em filled because that’s how we get work. That’s our economy. We no longer plant corn. We no longer have farms. We don’t raise cows and pigs. We keep prisoners.’ So if you don’t have prisoners you will not have the economy to keep their livelihood going.”
* What Rep. Davis did was impugn the motives of Downstaters with prisons in their districts. That was over the line. But if anybody ought to be “sanctioned” (and I’m not arguing for sanctions, just throwing their words back at them) it should be the legislators who shouted the bogus claims about “racial hatred.”
“Her comments were definitely racial,” [Rep. Jim Sacia] said after the hearing. “They were directed at white Republicans. It was totally unacceptable.”
What does their reaction say about those legislators? Davis talked economics and they heard race. Not a banner day.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:00 am
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The GOP just can’t get it right.
Davis’ comments were ludicrous on their own and spoke for themselves. Now the GOP has let her off the hook with their own ridiculous accusations.
Was the AC down under the dome yesterday?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:06 am
Not a banner day for Mr. Chris Wills either.
Comment by GoBearsss Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:07 am
And I am reading where Jesse jackson supposedly used the “n” word in his comments recently about Obama. It’s a media headline, but sure not a substantive story, Anymore than the MDavis/Repub flap. Seems there are more worthwhile issues to get hysterical about.
Comment by anon Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:10 am
This might have been less likely in the days of multi-member districts. Then a few white Republicans from Chicago, and an occasional black Republican as well, helped to ease some of the tensions. The overwhelmingly Republican downstate districts each had a Democrat in the House, so that helped too. Maybe con-con can bring back that system.
Comment by been there Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:14 am
“‘We’ve got to have those prisoners. They got to come down here from Chicago and we got to keep em filled because that’s how we get work. That’s our economy. We no longer plant corn. We no longer have farms. We don’t raise cows and pigs. We keep prisoners.’ So if you don’t have prisoners you will not have the economy to keep their livelihood going.”
That is flat out absolute nonsense. Think Rep. Davis has ever seen a field of corn, or soybeans?
With corn at $6.40 (Sept. 2008; 11:10 AM) a Bu., and Soybeans at $15.31 a Bu., what’s she thinking?
Her comments would be like me says that Rep. Davis thinks that corn grows in a can, but the difference is, I don’t think she’s anywhere near that dumb. Obviously, she doesn’t seen to think the same about the rest of us who live outside of Chicago.
Was it a racially motivated comment - who knows? To me, no. But I’m pretty sure that if one of those Republican reps has stood up and called her a “dimwitted bimbo” on the House floor, they would have immediately been ruled out of order. Probably would have been closer to the truth.
Comment by Judgment Day Is On The Way Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:19 am
When exactly was the last banner day in Springfield? This brouhaha seems more like a result of frustration and weariness. The statements were idiotic and inflammatory, no doubt, but a speck in the ocean, really. Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled program of restoring vetoed programs that have no funding mechanism.
Comment by The Doc Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:19 am
Expect to see more of this kind of thing now that a major political party will nominate an African-American for President.
It seems like there’s a new standard emerging by conservatives in discussions that even touch upon racial issues. It’s a lot like the old Plessy v. Ferguson “separate but equal” standard: any negative statement — real or perceived — about the other race (i.e., black person criticizing whites) is taken as “racism.”
This is troubling for the exact same reasons that “separate but equal” was wrong. The experience of African-Americans is entirely different than the white experience in this country. “Separate but equal” did not work for segregation laws; and it won’t work as a standard for political discussions.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:24 am
Here we go again! We can either debate who said what and who’s statement is more correct, or we can demand that these people leave our sight.
The whole episode demonstrates an inability to listen among those elected to do just that.
Recently we have seen a real need to tell our elected officials to “shut up” and find some humility and respect for others. Some are appearing to have forgotten whom they work for, why they were elected, their need for cooperation, and how easily replaceable each one of them are.
A stupid comment doesn’t justify another stupid comment. No one being quoted above should be reelected. Period.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:31 am
====The whole episode demonstrates an inability to listen among those elected to do just that.====
NOW he tells us! I thought we elected them to talk. (Or did I just get that impression from them?)
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 11:37 am
Really? Davis is wrong? It is absolutely no secret that prisons are economic engines in ANY town that they are located in; including Joliet. That’s why any time the Gov tries to close Vandalia, Pontiac or Stateville the whole town shrieks that they are ruined. So it is important to those towns to keep the prisons full; thereby keeping them open and employing people.
Now, I don’t know if the Reps. are consciously voting against criminal justice reform because of their self interest, but it’s not a far leap to think that it might be happening even subconsciously. The problem IS economics and everyone got so up in arms about race that they’re not looking at the real problem. That we need a better economic engine than prisons.
Comment by amchen Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:05 pm
Those Republicans sure are desperate. One wonders who, exactly, is contributing to the Republican party these days. When Republicans are resorting to silly comments like this we see why Illinois is, alas for us taxpayers, going to be a one-party state for a long, long, long time to come.
Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:08 pm
A good part of the blame for this rests with Rep. Davis. Given all of the inane things that she has said over the years, there is a natural expectation that when her lips are moving, something ignorant is going to come out.
It has long been joked that the best way to get your bill passed is to have Rep. Davis speak against it. Sometimes you reap what you sow.
Comment by Wigand Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:13 pm
Wigand, that’s right. Blame Davis. Perfect.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:16 pm
==What does their reaction say about those legislators?==
I think it says they are reflecting at least a partial view of their constituents. For many folk in the south, the closest they come to Chicago are the barstool tales they hear from prison guards and other employees. It will be easy for Stephens to dodge this one back home. All he and others have to do is blame it on Chicago politicians and people lap it up. Heck, he’s politically survived much worse than this…
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:26 pm
Not blaming Davis for this specific instance. The Repub comments were unwarranted-this time (which is arguably all that counts).
I was simply trying to provide the context that likely led to the situation. Many times, past behavior can color future expectations.
Comment by Wigand Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 12:44 pm
“That is a criminal insult…” — Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville.
What a goof. An insult can’t be criminal. At worst, something could be defamatory, i.e., purely a civil matter.
Good thing these guys aren’t doing anything important like writing laws - oh, that’s right they are.
R or D,I think they’re all pretty much worthless in Springfield, little more than a bunch of crying drama queens.
The real crime is that any of them would think for a second they deserve a pay raise.
And how bad is this GOP that they start making the Dems look like the level headed ones?
Comment by Huh?? Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 1:13 pm
Code words, code words.
Maybe that was the increase in tourism that Blago was referring to?
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 1:51 pm
“I think methamphetamines should be regulated and taxed.”
Comment by Monique Davis Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 2:02 pm
[…] Her remarks and the ensuing response from livid Republicans has attracted quite a bit of attention. […]
Pingback by In Chambers » Sacia, Other Republicans, Cry Race Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Let’s hope the Republicans who made the false accusation have the decency to publicly apologize, not only to Rep. Davis but to the whole House. These Republicans aren’t exactly sympathetic when elected officials representing the African-American community seek to keep ex-offenders out of prison.
Comment by Reformer Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 2:30 pm
Let me understand: suggesting that the criminal justice system of Illinois unfairly prosecutes and sentences ‘Chicagoans’ to fill prisons to benefit downstate towns is but an observation to support a civil debate. It is not to interpreted as an incredible insult to the victims of crimes, the police departments who arrest criminals who have committed criminal acts, the prosecutors who prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and the judges who passed sentences after hearing the evidence and judgement of the jury. It is not racist in its coding (Chicago:Black, Downstate: White), is not inflammatory (you downstaters are not interested in rehabilitation or decreasing crime), and is the result of a learned examination of criminal law, incarceration rates, and the economies of small town Illinois. As a note to all the Representative Davis enablers: we imprison criminals, not certain populations.
Comment by walter sobchak Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 2:53 pm
we imprison criminals, not certain populations.
Well said
Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 2:59 pm
…Whatever. Just more jibber-jabber. Move it along. Nothing to see here.
Comment by After careful consideration... Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 5:01 pm
It is no secret that state jobs are an economic stimulus to any area of the state. And yes prisons, once established are critical to the local communities where they are located. So in that respect Ms. Davis is correct. But where she goes wrong is blaming local representatives for the prison population. People commit crimes, they get arrested, convicted and sent to jail. That is the criminal justice system. Ms. Davis just happens to have a large number of constituents that get to experience the system. Don’t blame the game, blame the player.
Ms. Davis was arguing for increased funding for parole programs and releasee assistance - more welfare. I would bet that the Republican reps were arguing for more DOC staff inside prisons to insure that employee’s and inmates are safe. Ms. Davis has demonstrated many times that she is more concerned for convicted felons welfare than she is the DOC employee’s who work hard to keep our communities safe. I guess she thinks they are part of the problem to?
Comment by southern illinoisan Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 5:03 pm
If her comments were indeed directed at ” white Republicans ” , are there any other kind but ” white Repubicans ” ? GOP ” Grand Ole Palefaces “
Comment by bluedog demo Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 5:22 pm
The statement that Davis made a “criminal insult” is offensive. To me the representative who made it was using code words. To suggest that an elected legislator is criminal for making a statement is ridiculous.
We can all jump to conclusions and the conclusions I’m jumping to make me wonder how tolerant some our downstate legislators are.
Comment by wndycty Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 6:20 pm
Rep. Stephens is my Representative. Vote Quimby! is right about surviving this back home. Frank Watson and Stephens both use Chicago as a punching bag and poeple eat it up. In this case, as in so many we see in Springfield nowadays, another example of adults acting like children comes out to the public. Maybe we should throw them all out and start again…I can’t see how it could be any worse.
Comment by Southern Illinois Democrat Thursday, Jul 17, 08 @ 8:14 pm
Those with institutional memory will recall Stephens speeches and taunting of Rep. Younge before his little timeout. His fit was a hoax.
Sacia is getting goofier by the day. Always remember this guy was trained in the J. Edgar Hoover School of Racial Tolerance.
I’d say the “outrage” was an unsuccessful attempt to distract from:
1. Total failure of StateWideTom’s pep rallies.
2. GOP platform opposition to gambling expansion v. his total love affair w/Blagoof and the gamblers.
3. GOPers who wanted to vote for overrides.
Comment by StatewideTomTom Friday, Jul 18, 08 @ 6:02 am