Posted by Calhoun County GOP gives Bishop a boxer trophy:
State Sen. Charles Bishop, a Jasper Republican who gained wide notice for a videotaped punch he threw at a Democratic colleague on the Senate floor, received a trophy of a boxer from Calhoun County Republicans.
Trophies being handed out for conduct that would get you or me arrested? A student would be at least suspended from school for this behavior. But here we are making light of dysfunction in the Senate so great that the Governor questions whether a special sesion could be productive.
How would we respond if county Democrats somewhere gave Joe Reed a Creative Writing Trophy for his letter comparing 2-year college Chancellor Bradley Byrne to Hitler? I hope the Calhoun County GOP would be outraged, as I would. Yet, here is a trophy for a physical assault which is far more offensive than Reed’s name-calling, reprehensible as it also was.
I appreciate Bishop’s perspective reported in the article that he “voiced regret over the swing he took June 7 on the tense final day of the regular session.”
“There is no excuse for what I did,” Bishop said. “I’m not sure my mother would be proud of that.”
Now, if we can get Joe Reed to see the light. Let’s err on the side of civility.
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Danny – I don’t see Joe Reed facing ANY discipline of ANY kind from Paul Hubbert and AEA for comparing a decent man to Hitler. I also see that Joe Reed draws HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars from the DROP plan which both REED and HUBBERT lobbied for the legislature to pass as a way for STATE EMPLOYEES – WHICH THEY ARE NOT- to get a benefit. I do not believe I would have made this particular comparison – looks to me like the Alabama Democratic Party and its Vice president Paul Hubbert are quite comfortable with slanderous, filthy statements.
P.S. – didn’t an Alabama Democrat – a former state senator – want to give an award to Michael Vick?
Anon, nice effort to turn the spotlight on the opposing party’s problems, while ignoring your own glass house.
Anonymous, Under Section 16-25-1 of the Code of Alabama, the definition of “teacher” includes “any similar employee or officer of the Department of Education or the Alabama Education Association”. So, as such, by law, Hubbert and Reed count as members of the Teachers Retirement System (NOT as state employees) and qualify to participate in DROP.
This is not a right and left matter of partisanship. This is a right and wrong matter of civil behavior. I have no interesting in painting one party as worse or better than another. We all have moments that we are not proud of. I’m glad I don’t get trophies for mine.
I think the fact that Bishop may face greater consequence than Reed reflects the widespread consensus that physical assault is more offensive and deserving of greater consequence than name-calling.
I don’t believe what Reed wrote in a private letter meets any legal definition of slander. Though it sure was ugly. Especially said about a man who is so highly regarded.
I don’t know anything about an award meant for Michael Vick.
Who wanted to give an award to Michael Vick and in what forum did they announce that intention?
I am afraid the wrongs and rights of civil behavior are fading away in the world of commentators, power brokers and politicians. What matters now is how it plays to their faction. Best seen in the gift of the Calhoun GOP and the silence of the AEA/alphabet soup list of organizations that should have responded to Reed’s letter.
I agree let’s not reward bad behavior like Bishop’s or Reed’s.
Former State Senator Charles Steele (D-Tuscaloosa) of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference announced plans to present an award to Michael Vick. Steele was a Democratic Alabama State Senator and a highly influential member of the Alabama Democratic Conference. He is a long time ally of Joe Reed.
This story can be accessed by a google search.
Here is the link to a story about former Alabama State senator and Joe Reed ally Charles Steele’s plan to honor Michael Vick:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13815031/detail.html
For Paine – Just because it is legal for Hubbert and Reed to participate in the retirement benefits for state employees doesn’t make it ethical. This was financial payback for all the money they give the legislators for their re-election bids.
[...] Original post by Danny [...]
[...] Monday night the Calhoun County GOP gave state Sen. Charles Bishop (R – Arley) a trophy of a boxer for “his defending of womankind,” according to the Associated Press.” (Bishop hit Democratic Senator Lowell Barron of Fyffe on the floor of the Senate on the last day of the session. Bishop claimed later that Barron insulted his mother by calling Bishop a “son of a bitch.” Barron denies saying that.) [...]
nice punch