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* You’ll undoubtedly remember this Congressman Mike Bost quote from yesterday about why he won’t hold town hall meetings in this climate…
“The amount of time that I have at home is minimal, I need to make sure that it’s productive,” Bost said Friday. “You know the cleansing that the Orientals used to do where you’d put one person out in front and 900 people yell at them? That’s not what we need. We need to have meetings with people that are productive.”
* Well his comment really blew up on social media, forcing a backtrack…
In a statement Thursday, Bost said he “used a poor choice of words” in describing “coordinated disruptions” he says are taking place across the country.
Bost spokesman George O’Connor said Bost’s use of Orientals was a reference to sessions during China’s Cultural Revolution when individuals were publicly humiliated and subjected to verbal abuse by a crowd.
“While there was no malicious intent, I regret that my words may have distracted from an important point,” Bost said. “When the booing and shouting drowns out the conversation we’re trying to have with our constituents, it becomes that much harder to govern.”
OK, but, again, this is a politician who became nationally known for screaming at the Democrats on the Illinois House floor and then parlayed that epic rant into a congressional seat. And now he’s using the potential for shouting by his own constituents as an excuse to not hold town halls.
*** UPDATE *** From US Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is an Asian-American…
“Congressman Bost’s remarks are offensive and hurtful to Asian Americans and Asians around the world. In addition to owing his constituents a sincere apology, he should put more thought into his words in the future. Racism has no place in American political discourse.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:08 am
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I thought Bost was a tough Marine? Marines operate in the most hostile environments. Certainly, Marine training has prepared Bost for situations worse than a whining mob yelling at him, right?
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:11 am
Heat, meet kitchen.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:11 am
JAr head. Excuse machine
Comment by Red Rider Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:14 am
Bost said, “We need to have meetings with people that are productive.” Translation: “The only productive meeting is one in which I control what happens.”
Comment by illinoised Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:16 am
=== illinoised - Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:16 am:
Bost said, “We need to have meetings with people that are productive”===
I guess according to Bost there should never be a meeting with Rauner or the Republican Senate then.
Comment by Ratso Rizzo Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:22 am
If you can’t stand to listen to your constituents Bost you’re in the long line of work.
Comment by Rogue Roni Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:29 am
What a bunch of snowflakes these Republicans are! When they are put through half of what they did to the Clintons, then, maybe, just maybe, I’ll have something other than contempt for this type of attitude.
Comment by RIJ Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:31 am
“I regret that my words may have distracted from an important point.”
But not that you disparaged a group of people. Good to know, Congressman.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:31 am
You would think from meeting him he was a tough guy who wouldn’t wimp out like this. Kinda sad, really. SO IL, you’re stuck with him now. Congratulations.
Comment by Ray Del Cmaino Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:37 am
Bost’s handlers have been keeping him under lock and key for the last two election cycles because Mike Bost’s worst enemy is……Mike Bost. Better lock him back in the closet for the next two years!
Comment by Belden Ave. Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:39 am
I am sure his apology is sincere. Which is why I am sure Congressman Bost, a man of unquestioned integrity who is dedicated to public service, will soon be pitching a screaming fit on the US House floor in protest over the ACA repeal plan that is currently being held in a locked room in a basement of a GOP office in DC, right?
Comment by Benniefly2 Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 9:57 am
Is it willful ignorance, gaslighting, or a serious casee of cognitive dissonance displayed by so many of our elected representatives when it comes to their own distasteful behavior? It’s impossible to tell.
Comment by Harvest76 Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:01 am
Such a delicate daisy.
His career is built on a pre-planned, rehearsed, extended temper tantrum on the House floor that would be embarrassing coming from a 10-year-old.
But he’s scared to answer a few tough questions from constituents.
What does he do when he goes back home? Dish with the girls at his hair salon?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:09 am
You know what Word? You’re as bad as him. Except you just insulted slightly more people than he did.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:17 am
Good point, Benniefly2.
“Let my people go!”
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:17 am
===just insulted slightly more people than he did===
I kinda doubt that. Lots of Asians in this world.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:19 am
Cheryl, who, other than Bost, could be insulted by what I wrote?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:24 am
===“While there was no malicious intent, I regret that my words may have distracted from an important point,” Bost said. “When the booing and shouting drowns out the conversation we’re trying to have with our constituents, it becomes that much harder to govern.”===
Again, saying there was no malicious intent, but still making the same argument to support the statement isn’t much of a backpedal.
“I still feel I was right, I was just caught off guard you’d ding me for being so insensitive with my metaphor” - Congressman Bost.
Oh boy…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:26 am
Yeah, Southern Illinois is very proud of their Congresscritters and will continue to give them a pass when they show their insensitivity, ignorance, arrogance and “perfidy”.
Comment by illini Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:43 am
=Cheryl, who, other than Bost, could be insulted by what I wrote?=
LOL… many of us… I had the same reaction! Surprised you followed up with a gender diminishing/slamming comment when you were trying to be productive.
Comment by Up North Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:52 am
Y’all leave Honeybear alone, now. We all have our special words. Mine wouldn’t make it to the comments
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 10:57 am
Rugs might be “Oriental,” people are not. People are never, ever “oriental.” He literally called more than 1/2 of the world’s population a slur, but the good thing for him is that there aren’t very many Asians in his neck of the woods.
Comment by Delimma Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:08 am
@Anonymous - I love Honeybear and used her word in quotes because I thought it very appropriate.
Sorry if I offended you, but was not intending to be disrespectful to a commenter that I value very much.
Comment by illini Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:19 am
==Cheryl, who, other than Bost, could be insulted by what I wrote?==
Maybe, uh, start with…Cheryl?
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:22 am
Wordslinger’s mocking of Bost’s hypocritical need for a ’safe-space’ was gendered.
But I’m confident that he, unlike Bost, will learn from his misstep.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:24 am
Bost is still a disgrace.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:30 am
Is hair salon the offense? Bost owns a hair salon in his district. If he owned a barber shop, I would have said “dish with the boys at his barber shop.”
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:35 am
Let’s be honest. He’s been avoiding the town halls because he doesn’t want any embarrassing clips or quotes to come out of them. But if he can’t avoid those anyways, he may as well hold one!
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 11:37 am
@ OW,
I feel a “Dad’s Home State” very special episode w/Bost coming on. He gives his own interpretation of the worlds most foul joke, culminating with “The Orientals” as the punchline.
Thoughts?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 12:10 pm
- Anonymous -
We missed February “Sweeps”, the ratings period that shows are measured, but HBO finds Mr. Bost a fine guest star for May “Sweeps” knowing that Mr. Bost, given his history, might do/say something, hopefully in line with our “hero”, Bruce.
I’d be surprised if Mr. Bost isn’t added somewhere in Season 3.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 12:19 pm
===dish with the boys at his barber shop.”
Girls has a different connotation than boys though.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 12:49 pm
Arn’t hairdressers suppose to report verbal abuse?
Comment by Rabid Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Arch, what’s the connotation of the title of Lena’s show? I believe theyre all over 18. Is she “gender diminishing?”
I’m a little thick, I guess I get it now. I apologize to those I offended.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 1:03 pm
Some were offended by Word’s comment because they made assumptions about his intent and took it out of context. C’mon, why would he criticize Bost’s slur with one of his own? Lots of snowflakes here on this nice, sunny day.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 1:09 pm
==I’m a little thick, I guess I get it now. I apologize to those I offended.==
It’s Friday in Lent. I apologize for being amused by you taking a stiff turn in the barrel.
I did get your intent the first time and didn’t take it to be offending anyone on purpose. It’s a different world. We’re all a little thick as the rules evolve.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 1:46 pm
What is he trying to talk about? Cultural Revolution?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
To the update: Garlic; one clove too many Tammy. Expressing bewilderment would have been the right approach. You’re reacting to his “apology”. To go down this road…yesterday would have been the day.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 4:38 pm
===We’re all a little thick as the rules evolve.
It happens to all of us-more as we get older. It’s happened to me plenty–I try to learn.
Word–I’d say using it as a woman is different, but more than anything relying on Lena Dunham for anything always a bad idea
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Mar 3, 17 @ 6:34 pm