Associated Press
Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster
We talked yesterday about Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster, who believes he found evidence of "voter fraud" last week -- "dozens of black people" voted in rural areas, he said, which he sees as problematic because "nobody" in those towns "knows anyone who's black." Webster said he'd launch a vote-caging scheme to prove these voters were casting illegal ballots.
Yesterday, the Maine Republican talked to TPM, and after falling in a ditch, Webster just kept digging.
Webster said he wasn't racist and that he had several black friends.
"There's nothing about me that would be discriminatory. I know black people. I play basketball every Sunday with a black guy. He's a great friend of mine. Nobody would ever accuse me of suggesting anything," he said.
How is it possible in this day and age that some folks have never learned about the absurdity of the "some of my best friends" argument?
Nevertheless, Webster told TPM that he "regrets" his choice of words, and by the end of the day, the state GOP chairman was in full retreat. He said in a written statement he's "truly sorry," adding that his remarks "do not express the values of the Maine Republican Party." Webster also noted that he's also scrapped his idea for a vote-caging scheme.
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"scrapped his idea for a vote-caging scheme."
Instead, he has asked the Maine Department of Wildlife to install their night vision video cameras in Maine's watermelon patches. "Purely to ascertain a head count of the indigenous population", he added. -"And, hey, I also have a Jew friend!"
Day; you always have the best posts, but, we need to call the man for what he really is; a racist, nothing more......
I think the sling he's wearing on his left arm is rather tastefully tailored.
It's okay Charlie. Heck some of my best friends are republicans so I understand your frustration.
Great line.
Yeah, every sunday I watch hypocrite movies with my republican friend.
I watch them with my Republican son. Some peoples kids! We don't bother to argue anymore. We just glare at each other whenever politics come up.
If someone accuses or infers that you may be a racist. The first thing out of your mouth should never be "I'm not racist, because I have friends who are black, and we play basketball together." Even if it is true, it still is not helpful in your argument.
That's like saying that 'I love black people, and the Spinner's record I have at home is proof.' The only token thing this racist man left out of his rant was saying that he likes 'fried chicken!' These people need to be called out, and dealt with, immediately for what they are, racists......
Yes, I was waiting for the fried chicken line, too.
Wow don't you just love your local racist Maine ????????????? I know I love "My best friend is a Black man" moment when he says he plays basketball with a Black guy. Maine did he ever figure out where all of you Black people came from when you appeared at the polls? Did he figure out that is where your voter registration form told you to go? Obviously not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If your voter reistration form is anything like the backward Texas it tells you where to go to vote.
Hey, c'mon, winter's is coming and up here in Maine we each need something to keep us busy while we huddle next to the stove -- Charlie's hobby is just a bit odd.
(That's based on the impression of what we Mainers do during the winter. Actually we are lead active lives just like everyone else.)
But wouldn't you know this would be a Republican kind of idea? Why aren't we surprised? We just sigh and think, "Here we go again. . .".
Labels of race are employed only for conceit or discrimination.
Is this really just Stephen Colbert in disguise? He has A Black Friend? Wow . . . just . . . wow.
Preferential belief - empirical evidence = skewed, damaging perspective, and most horribly, Republican policy!
Pb - 2e = sdpmhRp!
What a messed up solution to a nonexisting problem save only in the canyons of his and his cohort's minds! -Kevo
Can I ask my American friends a question off topic I was watching Morning Joe yesterday the headline was 3 Israelis dead I regret the death of these people and pray for them, but there was no mention of Palestianin casualties particularly civilian and children killed is this a norm. If it is a norm it is appalling all loss of life should be reported. At present with the MSNBC challenging Mccain over Susan Rice why are they not challenging their one sided apparant support of Israel. As someone new to MSNBC due to the election from the UK I accepted that there would be balanced reporting but it appears that there is no criticism of Israel why not? Israel is breaking every rule of international law and yet appeared to be a good truthful reporting TV station MSNBC appears to be one-eyed please get some one like Jeremy Bowen or Frank Gardner both from the BBC to give MSNBC to give balanced reporting. My American friend why oh why are you not outraged by the behaviour of the Israeli government if Iran was doing this you would be intervening no but Israel can do anything and I thought the Obama election was a good event,
Several hundred rocket hits ago, most folks made their judgement on the issue.
Unfortunately, this bias is quite typical of most American news media. Deaths of Americans are often reported with no mention of deaths of people of other nationalities, and in Middle East reporting, deaths of Israelis and attacks on Israelis are emphasized and reported much more than deaths of Palestinians and violations of Palestinian human rights.
What you are saying, Big Gary C, is true and a travesty. We appear to attempt shielding the American public from the dirty side of war. I believe that the American news media should report all aspects including casualities on the side of the "enemy". It would seem that the truth might show the true cost of war and push us toward peaceful solutions.
Back in the day they reported alleged Vietnamese casualties to justify how effective they wanted the public to believe the war effort was. It helped the protests in the streets to grow. GWB stopped allowing filming of the return of American dead to try to diminish the visual impact of his wars on the rest of America. Rachel wrote Drift to remind us how far removed we are from having to more directly feel the pain of war. As one who served, it is the most obscene thing I have ever experienced.
We may have killed over 2 million people.
Some of my best friends are ignorant fools ...
Here's a PR tip: When you say something racist, don't add "I'm not a racist, but ..."
I've never yet heard anyone say that without a racist comment following.
Now that he recanted his "Voter Fraud" theory so he can now devote is full attention to getting Maine to secede from the union... if you can't join 'em...
He has binders full of "black friends"...
Heh, that binder joke just never gets old for me.
Some of my best friends don't know about the "some of my best friends" argument.
At least he knows one black person. That might be an improvement.
I don't believe that for one minute. This man has prior issues in regards to a prior voting issue, and he was ruled batty for that issue as well. I am sure that he is talking to commies under his bed.......
Thanks it`s nice to know that some have wider perspectives, we have the same in the UK if one UK is killed it is reported forget about the rest who may have died as a past Empirical nation this may explain itself but I thought America had a higher perspective I suppose not. All I want is that there is balance fortunately the BBC World Service does that and I would like to hope that MSNBC would want to hold to that kind of standard
All I can say, about charlie, is this! " I live onan Island of app. 6000 to 7000 people for most of my adult life, and I still don't know everyone, and I would like to"! But As a person who belives in "live and let live" I wouldn't try to impose my self on others. If I'm lucky to meet them, fine.
Your comments on this issue is as stupid as stuoid can be. Or you are trying to stick your nose in everybodies buisness. Just because you don't know them, Does not mean they should be their to vote. DO YOU KNOW EVERYONE IN YOUR TOWN?
Did he just admit there are black people in Maine? Doesn't that torpedo his original argument?
He gave up on vote caging but is still up for caging voters.
As a feedback I forgot to say that Gaza at the moment is isolated in the sane way as the Warsaw Ghetto. For some people that may appear offensive, but what happened in that situation what did some os those ghettoised they tried to attack their oppressors the Nazis who were attempting to stop anything getting in or out. It is a ultimately sad situation that the Israeli secular state non-Jewish no matter how Netanyahu attempts to protray it has replicated in Gaza the same circumstances that occurred in the attempt to destroy the Ghetto in Warsaw. To say this is ironic makes a horrific position bathotic. The Jewish state needs to do one thing accept that its occupation of both Gaza and the west Bank is an occupation and to move towards a position which ends the apartheid state and moves toward a Palastinian State. I doubt it with Netanayu in place but De Klerk ended Apartheid in south Africa can we live in hope that a racist might be converted
I don't know what all the fuss is about. Some of my best friends are idiots.
2x Facepalm COMBO!
All the joking and all the "excuses" and apologies do not change what he said and what he meant. Every time someone does this, walk it back or apologize, whatever, it just slightly broadens what we are a little less offended by, what we call out as as just plain obvious and inherent racism. It's just another thing that goes in the pile of "well, it wasn't as bad as that" which is part of the whole discussion I hear so much of (and find so distasteful) promoting and supporting the concept of racism being "comparatively" better or worse.