Mayor's 'Thuggish' Comment Rankles Some

ap on Breitbart.com ^ | 12/21/05 | Sara Kugler - ap

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK - The war of words over the transit strike took an ugly turn after Mayor Michael Bloomberg described union heads as "thuggish," a remark some said was racist in the context of a predominantly black union. During his first briefing on the strike Tuesday at City Hall, Bloomberg complained that union leaders had "thuggishly turned their backs on New York City and disgraced the noble concept of public service."

A group of City Council members and black leaders said Wednesday that Bloomberg's comment was racist because it was directed at leaders of a union that is less than 30 percent white.

"We resent the idea that you would characterize a predominantly black and Latino union as a bunch of thugs," said City Councilman Charles Barron.

Ed Skyler, the mayor's spokesman, replied: "It's despicable to inject race into this situation."

Bloomberg has no official role in the labor negotiations, since city subways and buses are managed by the state Metropolitan Transportation Authority. But he is responsible for keeping New York running during the shutdown of the nation's largest transit system.

The Rev. Herbert Daughtry, an influential black minister, said the mayor, governor and MTA leaders were risking comparisons to Eugene "Bull" Connor. The Birmingham, Ala., segregationist police commissioner turned fire hoses and police dogs on black civil rights marchers in 1963.

Daughtry said Bloomberg was using as his "bully club" the state law prohibiting strikes by public employees.

"Be cautious how you use the law to beat people into submission," Daughtry said.

In the past, Barron and Daughtry have used the word "thug" to describe white attackers involved in bias crimes. Barron stressed that the context of the predominantly black union is what made Bloomberg's comment racially insensitive.

Transport Workers Union President Roger Toussaint stopped short of joining the accusations of racism, but said Wednesday that the "thuggish" remark showed the mayor's "lack of respect" for his members.

"We wake up at three and four in the morning to move trains in this town," Toussaint said. "That's not the behavior of thugs and selfish people."

[tcostell]

We resent the fact that we're walking to work so that you can all retire on our dime at 55 years old making $85,000 with full medical ...forever.

They're all thugs.....fire em all.

[rambo316]

I'll say it then and I will tell more of the blatant fact. NYC is run by a bunch of thugs both in the unions and thugs on the street. yes, the thugs are black perps and south American. That is a fact. NYC is a hell hole and I wouldn't bring a dog up there and all the burroughs are worse than that.

[tet68]

How about if you're a thug and I call you a thug?

Perhaps the good Mayor should have used the racially neutral
and time honored term "GOON".

[Baby Driver]

Actuallly, the term 'Thug' has been pretty much
race nationality and religion neutral, for well
over a hundred years. and even then, it was
attributed to an indian/hindu cult of murderers
for profit...Being a Thug, is is about being
willing to use crime, violence and murder, to
achieve your ends. The term 'thugs', has been
applied to every race and most political party...
well...thugs.

Trying to say that calling someone a "thug", is
a racial slur is a cheap facile LIE..unless
perhaps you are Hindi...Are the members of
these unions, mostly from Indian descent????? HMMMMMMMMM?

[mewzilla]

Follow the money. The union donates money to a PAC which donates it to these folks. Look at the amount that went to Hillie and Schumer. No wonder they've kept their traps shut.

[zbigreddogz]

If they have no authority to fire them, I don't see what Bloomberg and Pataki could have done that they haven't already done.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Bloomberg has no authority to fire them, or do much of anything except preen for the assembled media.

The state of New York is chiefly responsible for the MTA, which is why MTA employees fall under the Taylor Law, a part of the state constitution.

[durasell]

Just for the hell of it -- the word thug comes from the Indian gangs of Thuggee who were kind of like robbers/quasi terrorists.

[kgdallen]

Call Charlie Rangel for advice on this issue. He is Black, a sensitive New Yorker and finely attuned to racist comments. He called George W Bush 'our Bull Connor'.

[toddlintown]

Jail 'em.

[bert]

Here's the official FR Race Card.....

[phoenix0468]

So, out of 33,000 members the TWU doesn't have a single Republican in it's ranks? This is another reason why Unions should not be allowed to donate to politicians.