Posted on 09/01/2006 6:05:39 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS News) BELGRADE, Mont. -- Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, whose recent comments have stirred controversy, says the United States is up against a faceless enemy of terrorists who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."
During a fundraiser Wednesday with first lady Laura Bush, the three-term Montana senator talked about terrorism, tax cuts and the money he has brought to his state. Burns is one of the more vulnerable Senate incumbents, facing a tough challenge from Democrat Jon Tester.
He has drawn criticism in recent weeks for calling his house painter a "nice little Guatemalan man" during a June speech. Burns, whose re-election campaign is pressing for tighter immigration controls, also suggested that the man might be an illegal immigrant. The campaign later said the worker is legal.
Burns, 71, also had to apologize after confronting members of a firefighting team at the Billings airport and telling them they had done a "piss-poor job," according to a state report. In July, the Hotshot crew had traveled 2,000 miles from Staunton, Va., to help dig fire lines for about a week around a 143-square-mile wildfire east of Billings.
At the campaign event with Bush, Burns talked about the war on terrorism, saying a "faceless enemy" of terrorists "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."
The campaign said Thursday that the senator was simply pointing out terrorists can be anywhere.
"The point is there are terrorists that live amongst us. Not only here, but in Britain and the entire world," said spokesman Jason Klindt. "Whether they are taxi drivers or investment bankers, the fact remains that this is a new type of enemy."
Another GOP senator, George Allen of Virginia, twice referred to an opponent's volunteer using a term for a monkey, considered by some to be a racial slur. "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here," Allen said. "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."
Allen has since apologized to S.R. Sidarth, who was born in Virginia and is of Indian descent.
But Republicans hardly have a lock on offending minorities. Former Democratic congressman and civil rights leader Andrew Young, who is black, said this month that Asian, Jewish and Arab shopkeepers in black neighborhoods sold shoddy goods to blacks and drove away their businesses.
And, responding to Democratic complaints about Burns' verbal gaffes, Republicans argued that his Democratic rival made a comment earlier this week that was derogatory toward American Indians.
In an interview with The Seattle Times, Jon Tester talked about the faith he has in his staff, and said, "Nobody has done anything to make me think they're trying to tomahawk me."
Brock Lowrance, spokesman for the Montana Republican Party, said American Indians have long found "tomahawk" a derogatory term. American Indians are the state's largest minority group.
I have a taxicab story that dates from a September 5, 2001 trip to La Guardia, actually. But it is only a hunch.
When TSHTF, Connie will be judged correctly, IMO. Until then, he's a pariah, like Savage.
Can they replace Burns the way the Demos did with the senator in 2002, Torricelli? He is a sure loser.
What is the problem with what he said? He wasn't PC enough?
like some much for any claim of impartiality.
"Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, whose recent comments have stirred controversy, says the United States is up against a faceless enemy of terrorists who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night.""
It's only funny when Carlos Mencina says it.
CBS must have a crew of reporters who just look for gaffes by Republicans.
He may be an idiot, but I laughed when I heard it. And you all did, too. :)
No greater sin here in America
Girlymen. EVERYTHING "offends" them. Geeeesh! What a bunch of babies.
neo-cons detest truth as much as the progressive dean-iacs
Wow! Talk about spinning what George Allen said...
Any of you ever heard of a maccaca before this incident?
MSM at its best....er worst.
Missing Blast Suspect's Portrait Drawn in Shadows of Militancy
*Please Note: Archive articles do not include photos, charts or graphics. More information.
March 20, 1993, Saturday
By ALISON MITCHELL (NYT); Metropolitan Desk
Late Edition - Final, Section 1, Page 1, Column 2, 1407 words
DISPLAYING ABSTRACT - Mahmud Abouhalima, a missing suspect in the World Trade Center bombing, was known at work as a taxi driver with an attitude. On one March day two years ago, he racked up six separate summonses for failing to post his identity in his cab, driving with suspended licenses and ...
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That's them!
We here in Montana speak much plainer and are not offended in the least by mr Burns. Most of our papers are liberal rags that nobody pays much attention to just like the rags all over the country. There all talkin to themselves.
Yeah, where is Marc Racicot when we need him? Burns is a mumbling idiot - not unlike Inoye, Lautenberg, Sheets Byrd, Mikulski, Murray, Reed, Dayton and Nelson (the other Dems being mostly non-mumbling idiots).
I think it's funny and truthful. George Allen didn't say anything that bothers my senses either, nor did Biden with his 7-11 comment nor Hillary with her Gandhi comment. I must admit I laugh a bit louder than the comments deserve but only because I know some liberal somewhere is going to have a conniption fit. |
Whats so bad about that comment? It sounds fair to me.
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