The Right wants us to believe that the Tea Party doesn't attract racists and reactionaries. In Buffalo Tea Party candidate and Republican candidate wannabee Jack Davis made even the Republican leaders vetting candidates in a recent candidate interview jaws drop in shock and embarrassment.
Davis' comments shock GOP leaders
Several sources who were in the Feb. 20 endorsement interview with Davis confirmed his comments, which echo those he made to the Tonawanda News in 2008, when he said: "We have a huge unemployment problem with black youth in our cities. Put them on buses, take them out there [to the farms] and pay them a decent wage; they will work."
When Davis repeated those sentiments in the recent interview, the Republican leaders -- who later delivered the party endorsement for the vacant seat in the 26th Congressional District to Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin of Clarence -- said they couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"I was thunderstruck," said Amherst GOP Chairman Marshall Wood. "Maybe in 1860 that might have been seen by some as an appropriate comment, but not now."
For once I have to agree with a Republican Party Chairman. Davis prescription of making urban Black Youth into agricultural field workers is the most reactionary thing I can imagine short of reintroducing slavery.
Davis spokesman W. Curtis Ellis acknowledged that Davis' idea comments "may not be politically correct and ... may not be racially correct."
Racially correct?? Are you kidding me?
Here's what Jack Davis' idea calls to my mind:
Davis has been a perennial self-funded candidate, who has emphasized his anti immigration stance, is now collecting signatures to get on the ballot as a candidate from the Tea Party. Davis may have been trying to reassure rural voters that his anti immigration stance wouldn't deprive them of the seasonal workers they depend on.
Davis' comment came in response to a question about immigration, a major issue in the rural parts of the 26th District, where many farmers rely on migrant workers -- who are supposed to be on a temporary work visa -- to pick the crops.
And if you are tempted to dismiss Jack Davis as too fringe to attract Republican voters, just read the comments this story got at the Buffalo News. They are too offensive for me to add to this diary.
Hat tip to zenbassoon for bringing this story to my attention.
UPDATE:
Democrats pick Hochul in N.Y. special election
Mar 21, 2011
New York Democrats formally tapped Kathleen Hochul as their nominee in a special election to replace Republican Chris Lee in the U.S. House.