Rep. Dave Hunt email exchange on taxpayer rally

By In the news
In: Measure 37
Tuesday February 16, 2010

From Radio Host Bill Post
www.thebillpostradioshow.com

This is a couple examples of Dave Hunt’s response to listener’s asking why he used the term “teabaggers” yesterday:

FROM TAXPAYER (Name withheld)
Dear Mr. Hunt,
I had the chance to see video of you yesterday talking to a small crowd at the capitol. I found the tone of your speech disturbing. I seems to me that you would try to be above the name calling, referring to tax opposition at “tea baggers” and indicating that they did not get the fact that 66 and 67 had passed. You should know that divisive speech as that will never win people over to you way of thinking and in fact may separate you from your constituents. Consider acting as a representative for us.

REPLY FROM REP. DAVE HUNT
Thanks for your message. I appreciate your feedback. My comment about “teabaggers” was only referring to those who were rallying at the Capitol yesterday. They self identified themselves using that term. I do not believe that I have referred more broadly to opponents of 66 & 67 with that term. There are obviously opponents of those measures who are not tea baggers. I hope that clarification is helpful. Thanks for the honor of representing you in the Oregon House of Representatives.

FOLLOW-UP FROM TAXPAYER:
Dear Mr. Hunt:
I am writing to inform you that the terms “tea bagger” and tea bagging” are highly offensive to supporters of the Tea Party movement. We do not self identify as such, nor do we appreciate your use of the terms.

I am not so stupid as to believe you do not know that these terms are sexual innuendos. Nor that these are terms of derision used by liberal/”progressive” commentators such as Rachael MadCow. I also know your constituents think it is funny to refer to Tea Partiers as such. Consider yourself informed. You now have no excuse to use these terms again, unless you intend to be insulting. Looking forward to the Conservative trsunami in Nov.,

REPLY FROM REP. DAVE HUNT
Thanks for that information. I have heard anti-tax, anti-government activists refer to themselves as teabaggers, so perhaps there is a difference of opinion within that “movement”.

— END —

This information provided by Bill Post,

Bill Post
Program Director
www.thebillpostradioshow.com
www.1430kykn.com

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