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At Least He Didn't Suggest Spaying and Neutering

Jan 26, 2010
By .
Politics & Current Events

The Lt. Governor of South Carolina (and a strong candidate to be Governor) Andre Bauer had some unfortunate things to say about government assistance for the poor. He brought up a folksy old tale his grandmother told him:

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed! You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that."

Lovely. Always good to equate poor people with stray animals. Heaven forbid we give a person an ample food supply. And, on cue, Bauer has gone with the non-apology apology:

"Do I wish I'd used a different metaphor? Of course I do," the 40-year-old said. "I didn't intend to offend anyone."

Of course you didn't Andre, of course you didn't. So, in which flattering way were you going to equate poor people with animals? Oh, by the way, the cherry on top of this story? Lt. Governor Bauer was a recipient of welfare and free lunches when he was a child. Maybe granny hated him? Or at least didn't want him to breed…

Last 5 posts by Ezra

6 Comments
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6 Comments

  1. Ken  •  Jan 26, 2010 @3:29 pm

    My grandmother used to say that politicians are like mad dogs — the best thing is just to put them down quickly with a bullet to the head, then bury them someplace safe.

  2. ian  •  Jan 26, 2010 @4:55 pm

    You know, I realize what he was actually trying to say. Something along the lines of "not rewarding/reinforcing unsuccesful behavior". unfortunately what he actually said was both hysterical and horrifying. Thanks Andre, from the RNC and Tea Party, for destroying all the gains from Massachusettes in one, single, insane statement.

    Oh well, at least Sanford's job is now safe from impeachment.

    I filled this under the "NOT HELPING!" file of conservatism.

    Idiot.

  3. Kelric  •  Jan 26, 2010 @11:47 pm

    Remember OOers, the best way to solve starvation in Africa is to build more supermarkets.

  4. Rougman  •  Jan 27, 2010 @5:09 pm

    Bauer ought to know that the best way to keep animals from breeding in the yard is to throw stones.

  5. bw  •  Jan 29, 2010 @5:01 pm

    So, then, why is it OK when PETA equates people and animals?

    What's really the sticking point here is that Bauer's remarks run afoul of human exceptionalism, a philosophy that's incompatible with the secular naturalism espoused by most leftists. So what's the problem?

  6. Ken  •  Jan 29, 2010 @5:06 pm

    bw, who here has said that it is OK when PETA equates people and animals?

    If you searched this blog, I think you'd find criticism of PETA.