I see there’s been somewhat of a fallout for Stacey Campfield over those comments about gays, bullies and AIDS. (You know, because they were so brilliant and insightful.)
Apparently, the owner of Bistro at the Bijou gave the good state senator the boot yesterday afternoon.
Campfield, local comedian Spanky Brown, reporter Dan “The Man” Andrews and radio talk show host Hubert Smith went to the restaurant to eat, when owner Martha Boggs pretty much told Campfield to get the $&%* out.
(From what I understand she called him a homophobe, but there was also a choice word that preceded it. Heh.)
Anyhoo, Dan told me that as they were exiting, Brown said: “Wow, this is the first time I’ve ever seen two black guys walk into a restaurant and a white guy gets thrown out.”
(What’s that expression? You shouldn’t crap where you eat?)
For his part, Stacey was “very calm, very professional and very understanding,” Dan said.
They ended up having lunch at Latitude 35 on Market Square.
UPDATE: The Metro Pulse talked to Martha this morning: Click right smack here for it it.
10 comments:
So it is ok to villainize someone over their comments (even if untrue and ignorant) if you don't agree? I guess I now know Bistro at the Bijou doesn't support free speech. Well unless it's speech they condone huh?
So does this make it ok for a christian business owner who disagrees with a gay activists words to kick them out?
Think about the double standard this creates please.
I tend to agree with you, but it is the business owner's right not to serve the guy. Personally, I wouldn't have done it. I think the restaurant will see a surge in business for a few days, but - like you said - you don't want to get a reputation for kicking people out just because you don't agree with them or they said something stupid.
I am reposting what a friend wrote on her page. "If they are a public official speaking for the people then I believe they are responsible to those people. If someone, like Campfield, is spreading erroneous harmful information about a certain demographic, then I do believe it is an exceptional situation. You can't balance it with what the private sector does. Campfield is an elected official. I can't understand how he got elected but he is dedicated to exposing East Tennessee as an ignorant backwards community of prejudice. It was well within Martha Boggs right to ask him to leave her place. He continues to represent the small population of bigots in his actions, speech and proposed legislation. While doing so he misrepresents the rest of us. I wouldn't want to eat lunch next to him. This isn't an issue of free speech." Amy Leigh Hubbard
Sen. Campfield is a elected official just as I am. We have our own opinions on things and are still allowed our right to free speach. I do not hold anything against Ms. Boggs for asking him to leave, it is her right to do so. A better approach would be to have a adult conversation with him and the three other gentlemen with him and ask him to explain his opinion. But that is just my opinion.
I am not defending what he said or what Ms. Boggs did, just stating my opinion.
What's that Shakespeare line? Something about protesting too much? Me thinks Stacy Campfield needs to come outta the closet ;~)
Stacey Campfield should serve ALL the people he represents. He should not spread falsehoods about any group, nor misrepresent our rather educated and enlightened district. Martha Boggs probably knew this would cost her, but was very tired of the grandstanding hate-encouraging nonsense that gets Stacey so much attention. Go Martha! Do we in Knoxville want national attention for the ignorance and mean-spiritness of our representatives? We should thank Martha.
Jeff Owenby, thanks for your opinion. I appreciate YOUR not spreading untruths about some of your constituents. Of course you and Stacey have the right to free speech. Your words about a better approach are well-taken. However, I fear that Stacey has shown too often that on this issue, as on many, an adult conversation is impossible. We are not all as ignorant as Stacey; we do not all propose legislation that makes it a crime to say the word "gay" in a classroom, denying the reality of some children's lives. Stacey is a bully.
Thanks Miriam, I don't talk about anybody and it is not my job to judge anyone for their choices. I represent everyone equally. I am not defending what Stacey said, just defending his right to free speech, he just has to deal with the consequences.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- E.B. Hall, often attributed to François-Marie Arouet
Jeff's right. The Red-Headed Stepchild is free to say whatever dumbass thing he likes, and will probably continue to do so as long as he thinks (and his constituents continue to prove) that doing so will keep getting him elected to something.
If anyone wants to stop him, I'd recommend an organized and sustained counter-protest movement until closer to election time, while selecting and grooming an opponent to run against him.
Frankly, I think he's hilarious. And he doesn't represent my district, so I don't care if he continues to get re-elected or not.
Obviously, this is the kind of representation his district wants.
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