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Rep. David Scott sees link between 'tea baggers' and racist attacks

By Amanda Carpenter on Aug. 10, 2009 into Hot Button Blog

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Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, who came under scrutiny after accusing a local doctor of “hijacking” a recent town hall meeting is standing by his remarks and says some of the conservative protesters are motivated by racism.

Mr. Scott, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, appeared on Fox Business’s “Happy Hour” Monday afternoon to give his side of the story after a Washington Times report of his contentious town hall was linked by the highly-trafficked Drudge Report over the weekend.

During the interview the congressman said "drama" over health care reform was being manufactured by right-wing protesters and has produced an uptick in racially-motivated attacks.

“There were tea baggers all over the place,” the congressman said of his past town hall meeting. Later in the interview Mr. Scott produced a flier for the television camera that had an image of President Obama styled as The Joker.  “If you look at this, that’s a picture of President Barack Obama,” Mr. Scott said holding the sign up. “He’s grinning there like here’s the clown from Batman. Underneath that it says Nigga, nigga David Scott. It says you were, and you are, and you always forever shall be but a nigga. If that ain’t it I don’t know what is.”

“This was sent to my office as a result of this event that we had in terms of reaction to the news clips” of an angry exchange he had with an Atlanta doctor during a previous event he said.

Mr. Scott also read portions of offensive letters he said he received calling him a racist. “There have been a lot of racial overtones and these are a sampling of what I’ve gotten in my office,” he said.

[Click here to watch the Fox Business segment with Congressman Scott]

The event that helped sparked the racist attacks, according to the congressman, held to discuss a new road project. When the floor was opened for questions, however, Dr. Brian Hill asked Mr. Scott about health care reform. 

The congressman replied by accusing the doctor of "hijacking" his event. "I'm listening to my constituents, OK?" Scott said, "These are people who live in the 13th Congressional district, who vote in this district. That’s who I’ve got to respond to … So what you’ve got to understand, those of you who are here, who have taken and came and hijacked this event we dealing with here, this is not a health care event."

"You chose to come and to do it on your own," he yelled. "Not a single one of you had the decency to call my office and set up for a meeting." He went on, in a threatening voice, "You want a meeting with me on health care, I'll give it to you!"

Mr. Scott's public tirade against the doctor was filmed by WXIA-TV News, a local NBC affiliate that confirmed the doctor lived in the congressman's district in a follow-up interview.

The doctor told WXIA he wasn't working for any outside causes and had called Mr. Scott's office repeatedly, asking to speak with the congressman.

"I did not go to a meeting to create any problems, I went to the meeting to literally ask a question that I thought was very, very important for my patients," he said.

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There are 7 Comments

Latimer

Quite simply, as anyone could see from the manner in which Obama was 'sold' to Americans as the 'first black candidate' for the Presidency (he isn't), race was intended to be, and remain, a playing card in anything to do with him and, if he was successful in his bid, his administration. Naturally, therefore, the ultimate 'charge' against anyone or any group disagreeing with him and his policies, will be that racism is at the root of it. This, from a man who belonged for 20 years to a disgustingly racist en---y calling itself a church which extolled the 'value' of Black Liberation Theology and, in its 'values system' on its website, 'rejects the pursuit of Middleclassness' (the ultimate evil?!).
Mark as offensive

cndfox

Mr. Scott would be far more accurate if he talked about the "closed mind set" that most of these people have versus saying they are racist. Their lack of common sense and ignorance to the subjects (versus demonizing, name-calling, conspiracy thinking and fear mongering to prevent needed change) is where the main problem is.
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shipley130

I guess the flip side is that Democrats are a bunch of liberals like Saul Aulinsky and others that want to destroy our Republic. If I had to chose, I will chose tea baggers. At least they are not trying to let new age commies take over.
Mark as offensive

Dee321

It is a shame the teabaggers cannot be civil. It is clear they are blind followers of racists like Glenn Beck (912 groups), Lou Dobbs, Michelle Malkin and Hannity. Each of these repulsive racists LIE to their audiences and scare them to death. This racist doctor ranted and raved. The Congressman was subject to his attacks. I read the evil letters sent to him. I saw the awful, racist cartoons of our President Obama. I can imagine the terrorists Laughing over the right wingers demonizing our President. Shame on the doctor. Shame on beck, hanity, malkin, dobbs and all of the other anti-american zealots. Shame on them!
Mark as offensive

Romey

When the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, your problems all look like nails. Race baiting has served Democratic leaders for generations. Why stop now? It is in the eye of the beholder; if the persons feels they were a victim of discrimination, then it is so, no discussion allowed. The only people who are qualified to judge racism are minorities.
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geriatric1943

Seeing how the derogatory meaning of 'teabagger' I guess that it is Dee321's idea to criticize Barny Frank. As far as those attending these meetings, it was quite obvious that Scott was very 'civil' in his exchange with one of his constituents. If you are in Congress you have to be able to face the fire of your constituents or get out of Congress. These people have every right to be upset and at the tricks of Congress trying to force things through. And what did the doctor do that you would shame him for? He was accused by Scott as being a plant and not in the district. I'm afraid Scott should be shamed for the way he treated one of the voters in his district.
Mark as offensive

Jaayd

Dee321-- you are mistaken about the doctor ranting--he asked questions that David Scott did not want to answer. I attended another so called "health forum" put on by the AARP that David Scott was on a panel. He would not answer specific questions about health care by stating that there were multiple bills and he could not speak to the details. Why is someone opposing the President called a racist while those opposing Bush were considered patriots?
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