August 13, 2003
Beckwith apologizes

David Beckwith, spokesman for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, has apologized to Democratic Senators for a remark he made Monday.


According to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Beckwith said 11 Democratic senators who fled to New Mexico to prevent Senate action on redistricting planned to stay just a few days and "declare victory."

Instead, Beckwith said, "they got captured by the Democratic National Committee blowing smoke up their rears and telling them what great Americans they were. So now they've gone from making a statement to `doing the right thing.' They think they are Rosa Parks II."

Parks, a black seamstress and civil rights activist, gained fame in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat near the front of a bus in Montgomery, Ala. Her arrest triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system by blacks and led to court rulings desegregating public transportation nationwide.

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said he was offended by Beckwith's remarks, which he described as "besmirching the memory of Rosa Parks" -- apparently a reference to the memory of her civil rights activities. Parks, 90, lives in Michigan.

On Tuesday, Beckwith faxed a letter of apology on Dewhurst's stationery to Ellis and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, in Albuquerque.

Dewhurst said he had "chided" his spokesman and suggested he choose his words more carefully. "He assured he meant the comment in a historical context, and I took him at his word," Dewhurst said.


So, like I said when this happened, Beckwith, who has a history of making dumbass statements, made a dumbass statement. As in 2002, his boss, who undoubtedly cringed when he read what was being said on his behalf, made him take it back. I'm sure that like John Cornyn before him, David Dewhurst has made it clear to Beckwith that he needs to be a lot more circumspect when performing his official duties.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 13, 2003 to Killer D's | TrackBack
Comments

...And the 'Texas 11' should have been more circumspect in their statements when they accused Republican leaders of being racist.

Beckwith may have apologized to avoid controversy, but his statements were accurate. The Texas 11 are portraying themselves as civil rights crusaders thwarting racist politicans, when in reality they are fighting for nothing more than partisan representation.

Posted by: Owen Courrèges on August 13, 2003 8:32 PM

Awfully wimpy of him to apologize for making an accurate statement, isn't it? What does is say about David Dewhurst if he'd make Beckwith apologize for telling the truth? Face it, Owen - it was a dumbass statement.

Posted by: Charles Kuffner on August 13, 2003 8:51 PM

(Sigh.) The horse is dead, Owen. Dewhurst and Beckwith at least knew when to stop trying to ride it. As Charles said, Beckwith made a dumbass statement. However I may view the statement itself, Beckwith was courageous enough to apologize for it, straight to the people who were offended. (Well, except perhaps Rosa herself; who knows what she thinks of all this.) Why not allow Beckwith the dignity of his apology.

Posted by: Steve Bates on August 13, 2003 8:58 PM

Chuck, you're wasting your breath hectoring the lad.

What I want to know is why all these dumbass Republicans keep hiring Beckwith when he obviously needs a muzzle put on him. Once burned, twice shy, and three times exactly what?

Posted by: Ginger on August 13, 2003 9:18 PM

Charles,

It was wimpy, but he was ordered to apologize by Dewhurst, who wanted to avoid a controversy. But none of that says anything about the appropriateness of the comment itself. The comment could be accurate, but still be controversial for purely political reasons.

Moreover, Ellis didn't deserve an apology, being the disgusting race-baited that he is.

Posted by: Owen Courrèges on August 14, 2003 2:27 AM