Vulnerable sophomore Rep. John Barrow received two new opponents for 2008, according to the subscription-only House Race Hotline. This publication (part of the National Journal Group) identifies two Congressional staffers as ramping up for 2008 bids for the southern Georgia House seat, narrowly won by Barrow over former incumbent Max Burns in 2006.
They are John Stone (a former Burns spokesman who is the founder of something called the US Freedom Foundation) and a former aide for Jack Kingston (R-GA) named Karen Bogans. Bogans is a thirty-nine year old African American, who believes that her ethnicity might give the GOP traction in a district that is nearly 40% black.
She also was the recipient of one of the most backhanded compliments I have ever seen, courtesy of her former boss. Follow me past the jump for the information.
According to the Savannah Morning News, Kingston is considering endorsing his former aide for the seat. In so doing, he states something a bit curious (emphasis mine).
"I would lean toward endorsing her," he said. "She's a hard worker, very knowledgeable, very presentable and very articulate. She brings a lot more to the table than the traditional white male in a marginal Democratic district."
Now, endorsing a candidate's work ethic and knowledge base is laudable, and not out of the realm of normal campaign boilerplate.
But have you EVER heard of a candidate being hailed for being PRESENTABLE?? Also, is it terribly noteworthy for a Congressional hopeful to be...um...ARTICULATE??
Maybe the recent BillO/Sylvia's thing has my antennae up a bit, but am I the only one that finds it incredibly patronizing of Kingston to make it sound noteworthy that this African-American female candidate is presentable and articulate??
I mean...did he expect her to say "bring me some Iced Tea, M-Fer"??!!??
Maybe it is just a poor choice of words on his part. I'd like to be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But then again, this is the same guy who offered a House resolution praising Rush Limbaugh for his "support of the troops" during his "phony soldiers" flap.
It is also the same guy who ripped Nancy Pelosi for forcing the House to work a five-day work week, saying it was hurting their families.
So...maybe he is just that bad.