GOPs abuzz over alleged remark

Glendale News-Press ^ | January 30, 2004 | Ryan Carter

[publius2004]

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — A local political forum this week at a restaurant for a pair of Republicans campaigning to unseat Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) in the November election left some with a bad taste in their mouths — not from the food, but the discourse. Local Republican Dave Wilcox, a contender for Liu's seat, said that "some blacks are very moral people, if you can believe that," according to Martin Truitt, president of the Pasadena Republican Club and a supporter of Lynn Gabriel, the other Republican contender for Liu's seat. Wilcox and his supporters vehemently denied he said it. But others said the remark left attendees gasping and others in disbelief. "How can you be a leader in the Assembly and say these things and not get the wrath of the Legislature?" said Paul Jaszewski, central committee spokesman. "He's saying that, believe it or not, I guess there are good people who are black. Believe it or not, I guess there are scientists that don't know what they are talking about." Jaszewski was referring to Wilcox's career in aeronautical engineering. But Wilcox, a local Republican activist and founder of the Foothill Republican Club, said he could have said, "...and you can believe that," but not "if." He was trying to explain how he is the best candidate to reach out to Democratic voters, he added. "These things are kind of laughable," he said, referring to his critics in the race, who have said Wilcox's views lean too far right to represent the district. "They are turning off people anyway." The event was sponsored by the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Committee at Dish restaurant on Monday. It included 10-minute speeches by Wilcox and Pasadena Republican Lynn Gabriel. A question-and-answer period followed with the candidates. Wilcox said he was simply trying to say that he could reach out to African-American voters in the district because of his background growing up with African Americans. He vehemently denied he is bigoted, and added that the charges are part of a larger effort among moderate Republicans, including Truitt, to squeeze him out of the race. Wilcox said Truitt was a campaign advisor who bolted from the Wilcox campaign when the more moderate Gabriel entered the race. Truitt denies he was committed to Wilcox's campaign. Al Restivo, chairman of the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Committee, said Wilcox is not a racist. "It was awkward," Restivo said of the moment. "It was an awkward statement that does not represent Dave. He's not a bigot. I believe it because I know the man." Gabriel was not so forgiving. "It was very derogatory," she said.

[publius2004]

This guy Martin Truitt has replaced the single word "and" with "if" and changed the entire meaning of what candidate Wilcox said. How dishonset! Truitt's candidate must be desparate to stoop to such tactics against a fellow Republican.

[xzins]

some blacks are moral people, if you can believe that

If that was a sarcastic line, then it makes all the difference in the world whether it was an "if" or an "and."

It's a "well...duh" kind of statement.

[BurbankKarl]

there are Republicans down here?

[My Dog Likes Me]

I'm confused.

Did this happen in Canada or California?

[sully777]

"Wilcox said he was simply trying to say that he could reach out to African-American voters in the district because of his background growing up with African Americans. He vehemently denied he is bigoted, and added that the charges are part of a larger effort among moderate Republicans, including Truitt, to squeeze him out of the race."

[and added that the charges are part of a larger effort among moderate Republicans, including Truitt, to squeeze him out of the race]

Say it ain't so. Gasp! Next, you'll be telling me that CINOs/Dem-GOP operatives are trying to shout down conservatives on the FreeRepublic.

[DB]

"some liberals are moral people, if you can believe that"

That works much better...

[Owens08]

Let me pipe in here a bit, since I do live in the district.

1)Martin and Paul are not only major leage a$$holes, but are two of the most self-congratulatory morons around. They think they're God's gift to politics, and yet know oh, so very little about -- well, anything.

Having seen Martin's ideas about budgeting for an Assembly Primary, its quite clear he has no freaking clue about anything, and is just one of those activists, who fancies himself a consultant, and just wants power - nothing more.

2)What's more is that he is LYING thru his teeth about not supporting Dave. I was there. He introduced me to Dave.

Lynn=Liberal. Dave=Real Deal Conservative. Martin/Paul=Moron/A$$hole. Anything posted about this race, just keep that in mind.

[OldFriend]

Only if you are willing to suspend reality. IMHO there are no moral liberals.

[Stultis]

IMHO there are no moral liberals.

Oh, come on! There's Tip O'Neil. Wrong about Reagan's economic policies, but basically a good guy. Oh, wait, he's dead. Well, then how about Dan Pat Moynihan? Oh, right, he's dead too. Hmmmmmm... (thinking)

(still thinking)

(give me another minute...)

Ahh... never mind.

[Hidgy]

some blacks are moral people, if you can believe that.......

....and he should have retorted: Some scientists are intelligent, if you can believe that

[Rebelbase]

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — A local political forum this week at a restaurant for a pair of Republicans campaigning to unseat Assemblywoman Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) in the November election left some with a bad taste in their mouths — not from the food, but the discourse.

Local Republican Dave Wilcox, a contender for Liu's seat, said that "some blacks are very moral people, if you can believe that," according to Martin Truitt, president of the Pasadena Republican Club and a supporter of Lynn Gabriel, the other Republican contender for Liu's seat.

Wilcox and his supporters vehemently denied he said it. But others said the remark left attendees gasping and others in disbelief. "How can you be a leader in the Assembly and say these things and not get the wrath of the Legislature?" said Paul Jaszewski, central committee spokesman. "He's saying that, believe it or not, I guess there are good people who are black. Believe it or not, I guess there are scientists that don't know what they are talking about." Jaszewski was referring to Wilcox's career in aeronautical engineering.

But Wilcox, a local Republican activist and founder of the Foothill Republican Club, said he could have said, "...and you can believe that," but not "if." He was trying to explain how he is the best candidate to reach out to Democratic voters, he added. "These things are kind of laughable," he said, referring to his critics in the race, who have said Wilcox's views lean too far right to represent the district. "They are turning off people anyway."

The event was sponsored by the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Committee at Dish restaurant on Monday. It included 10-minute speeches by Wilcox and Pasadena Republican Lynn Gabriel. A question-and-answer period followed with the candidates.

Wilcox said he was simply trying to say that he could reach out to African-American voters in the district because of his background growing up with African Americans. He vehemently denied he is bigoted, and added that the charges are part of a larger effort among moderate Republicans, including Truitt, to squeeze him out of the race.

Wilcox said Truitt was a campaign advisor who bolted from the Wilcox campaign when the more moderate Gabriel entered the race. Truitt denies he was committed to Wilcox's campaign.

Al Restivo, chairman of the La Cañada Flintridge Republican Committee, said Wilcox is not a racist. "It was awkward," Restivo said of the moment. "It was an awkward statement that does not represent Dave. He's not a bigot. I believe it because I know the man." Gabriel was not so forgiving. "It was very derogatory," she said.

[mplsconservative]

Welcome to Free Republic publius 2004! You've posted five times since December 24th, 2003. Hmmmm.

[gdc61]

Geez, all that space in there make it hard to read !

[Huber]

I'm confused. Did this happen in Canada or California?

Actually it was Mexifornia. (See Victor Hansen's book by the same name for more on this...)

[marty60]

It is like the guy at the BBC, he accused Blair of lying. Then when it was proven a lie, he says, well most of my report is true. What a crock. As you ssid, one word can change the whole meaning. But evil dums do it all the time.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Well,if a democrat said it,no mention would have been made,so forget about it.

[DoctorMichael]

"...I'm confused. Did this happen in Canada or California?..."

{{LOL}}

Having lived in Southern Calfornia, I'm taking your question at face value.........

.....It's pronounced "Kun-Ya-Duh". {LOL}

[xzins]

Responding in sarcasm it would have been:

"some conservatives are moral people, if you can believe that."

Or obviously sarcastic:

"some priests are moral people, if you can believe that."

[Hardastarboard]

The problem is that I can't believe that.

[b4its2late]

But others said the remark left attendees gasping

Just like when Hillary! found out Bill was didling Monica or himself or whatever........