Senators McKoon and Fort call for an apology and a resignation
Senator Josh McKoon went to the well in the Georgia Senate this morning with the purpose to draw attention to the exchange he had with the Speaker’s Counsel Terry Chastain following Thursday’s session.
Per McKoon, “The Counsel for the Speaker of the House just used some language to describe me that I cannot post here because of its profane nature. He informed me if I wantto [criticize] House bills that I should run for the House. Evidently in addition to refusing to defend the free exercise of Georgians, if he could have it his way he would take away my right of free speech. #gapol #gasen #rfra“
In the well this morning, Senator McKoon issued his response. He asked for an apology to the Senate and the resignation of the Speaker’s Counsel. He was supported in this by Democratic Senator Vincent Fort. Sen. McKoon, you may recall, went to the well to defend Fort against the recriminations of Representative Tommie Benton earlier in the session.
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Alternate headline: “Grown man complains about potty words”
In taking a private exchange between a couple of lawyers public Mr. McKoon is bringing to mind that p-word again. And it still doesn’t validate his RFRA bill.
There is a time and a place for certain words… I believe that the well of either side of the Georgia Legislature should never be a place for those words. If the Speaker’s Counsel cannot find words other than profanity to make his point…maybe he needs to resign.
This same occurrence happens daily between lobbyists, legislators, and the general public.
Whining about the use of colorful language sounds more like a millennial looking for a “safe space” than a Senator trying to be taken seriously.
And I don’t believe the incident in question happened in “the well” but rather a hallway.
I am inclined to give Senator McKoon a primer on profanity, simply to make a point. I’m a former soldier who spent years in newsrooms with lots of social contact with cops. And I’m from Boston. I’ll be naughty.
McKoon is fundraising off of this, to be sure. I wouldn’t be. I’d have to ask myself what percentage is in it for me, other than chuckles. That said, I’ve done more for less.
George does the F word qualify because it was used.
Will do you consider someone screaming at you in a public hallway with an audience of a dozen others a “private” conversation?
I could do so much better than the F-word. My drill sergeants were creative. They also gave not one well-lubricated eff about who was watching.
Here’s the thing: I like you. I really do. I respect your intellect and your chutzpah, and I don’t feel it necessary to agree with you politically to do so. I am, however, a passionate defender of free speech in general and profanity as an abstract concept, a civil liberty and an art form. As an elected official (I am one of those, believe it or not) I think of any day someone hasn’t threatened to light various parts of my sensitive anatomy on fire as a day wasted.
Plainly, you do not share my view.
And you likely have good reason not to. I’ve seen the kind of invective hurled your way. It’s unfair and occasionally threatening. (I would call it bulls–t, but … well.) There’s something to be said for a elevated degree of discourse. But I really do think there needs to be room in our politics for professionals to tell one another to get bent — or worse — as an honest expression of their views.
He should say he’s sorry. And that really should be the end of it. My two cents.
As Karen Handel once said to Nathan Deal who was whining about certain campaign ads, ‘time to put on your big boy pants’. Grow up senator.
My response to this is : Dude. Seriously?!
Your delicate ears will survive. And your fragile ego will go on.
Why does McCoon want to descriminate against someone that uses (F) words that don’t sit well with him? Isn’t that anti his RFRA? Just because he doesn’t agree with how someone talks he wants them fired? smh
I like Sen. McKoon and what Chastain did was inappropriate, but it is beyond time to let this go. Surely there are more important things to deal with.
I keep singing that song to myself about the snow glowing white on the mountain tonight.
Josh,
It seems you might need some help with being over sensitive. This link may help you deal with your issue on a personal level, without it interfering with your duties as a Senator. I hope this helps you out.
………In therapy, a person might work to:
•Become willing to consider the value that another’s critique may have
•Develop the ability to listen and understand when a critique is presented
•Resist the tendency to become defensive
•Understand the perspective of the person providing the criticism
•Welcome constructive criticism
•Develop methods of communicating one’s feelings about critical comments……
http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/sensitivity
Good.
screaming an unprovoked F word at someone in a hallway is a terroristic threat, it should be legal to knock his lights out…….??
Whining about it is not permitted, getting even is.