Black political and civil rights leaders in South Carolina say Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer’s recent comments comparing poor people to stray animals is an example of how the politician presents different messages to different communities.

“When he’s in our community, he’s the professional baby kisser, and he visits black churches,” state Rep. Leon Howard, a Democrat from Columbia, told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “But when he’s in places like Greenville, the crowd is different, and his message is not consistent.”

Bauer, a Republican who seeking to replace Mark Sanford as governor, has come under fire in recent days for the statements he made last Thursday during a town hall meeting.

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals," Bauer said. "You know why? Because they breed! You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that."
 
Dr. Lonnie Randolph, South Carolina president of the NAACP, called Bauer’s comments “inhumane and disrespectful.”
 
The NAACP president said it is sad when a person “seeking the highest elected office in the state doesn’t understand that people who are in need are supposed to be helped.”

"I am disgusted by these comments. They show an unbelievable lack of compassion toward the unemployed workers in our state who are hurting during these hard times," said state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, a Democrat who is also running for governor. "His comments were immoral and out of line."

South Carolina schools Superintendent Jim Rex, another Democratic candidate for governor, called Bauer's comments "reprehensible" and said he should apologize.
 
Bauer, one of at least three Republicans and five Democrats running for governor, said Monday that he regrets his choice of words, but maintains that government should expect welfare recipients to try to better themselves. He wants to require them to take drug tests and attend parent-teacher conferences if they have children in school.
 
A child of divorce who benefited from free lunches himself, Bauer insisted he wasn't bad-mouthing people laid off from work in the recession or advocating taking food from children, but rather emphasizing the need to break the cycle of dependency.

"Do I wish I'd used a different metaphor? Of course I do," the 40-year-old said. "I didn't intend to offend anyone."

Howard said Bauer’s comments will have a negative impact on his efforts to win black voters.

Bauer had gained favor among some blacks and senior citizens by introducing initiatives to address some of their concerns, Howard said, adding that his own father liked some of Bauer’s programs. But Bauer’s comments will cause him to lose ground, he said.

Others like Bauer’s message, Randolph told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “You must remember when he made those remarks, he was talking in Greenville. That’s the home of Carroll Campbell, the modern day neo-conservative.”

Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon said Bauer's words "came out as condescending and insulting," but his overall message about government dependency and personal responsibility will appeal to his evangelical Republican base.

State GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd, who is not taking sides in the race for the nomination, said the flap should be a lesson to everyone to "choose our words more carefully."

Randolph said while Bauer took aim at those who rely on some form public assistance, he apparently didn’t take into account the public benefits he receives.

“He doesn’t pay for gas. He has a state car. He receives benefits every day more than the average person in this state,” Randolph said.

“It’s a shame that he would want children to go to school and not .....

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It just cracks me up when WHITE FOLKS like Bauer whine about "less government" & citizens receiving handouts." Until politicans like him quit making THEIR LIVIING off of government & receiving "handouts" & giving "bail outs" to their corporate cronies, politicians like him need to shut the f@ck up.

by   
Lovelyhoney
January 27, 2010, 12:03 pm
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(continued)
I'm sick of these so-called boot-strap honkies & their darkie supporters picking on poor & poor-working class people. White people are only complaining about these issues because NOW blacks & other minorities now receive these benefts--because there was a time ONLY white folks (especially poor white women) could get welfare--that's what they're really whinning about.

by   
Lovelyhoney
January 27, 2010, 12:02 pm
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It just cracks me up when WHITE FOLKS like Bauer whine about "less government" & citizens receiving handouts." Until politicans like him quit making THEIR LIVIING off of government & receiving "handouts" & giving "bail outs" to their corporate cronies, politicians like him need to shut the f@ck up.

by   
Lovelyhoney
January 27, 2010, 12:01 pm
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Comparing benefits received by a Lt Governor to those received by non-working, non-productive citizens is silly; do welfare recipients deserve equal right/access to your pay, house, car, and possessions as do you? All nod “no” in unison! So too it is with the Lt Governor – he’s a state employee; they aren’t. He exchanges his labor in return for benefits (salary, car, housing, etc); many of them don’t…they breed and apply for benefits. BIG DIFFERENCE! Claiming that he doesn’t earn it is legit for criticism; if so, hopefully his bosses will recognize and reward accordingly.

by   
WhatIThink
January 26, 2010, 6:20 pm
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The Lt. Governor should’ve calibrated his words better; unfortunate use of crass metaphor. That aside, he is spot on when he says “You're facilitating the problem if you give... ample food supply. … will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that." Please, anyone, refute the statement with fact vs. denigrating the messenger. Why folk react in racial terms is beyond me; I see his comments as referencing “behaviors/attitudes” endemic across racial lines as negativity is not race cognizant. Maybe the rock throwers are guilty of that which they malign others.

by   
WhatIThink
January 26, 2010, 6:06 pm
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Lt. Gov. Bauer, our taxes take care of you and your family in the riches country in world no one should be hungry or have to go without. There are enough resources to provide for everyone. Shame on the American politicians they are as bad as the third world country politicians that steal resources for themselves from their people, talk about living in a glass house.

by   
Wells2651
January 26, 2010, 3:20 pm
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It is a valid point made in this article about politicians receiving at taxpayers expense free lives and a salary on top of every perk, free housing, cars, postage, gas, lights and all other utilities. As taxpayers we supplement or provide everything for them, while the poor pay though taxes and are still push down further. There is something so wrong with this twisted upside down logic in America.

by   
Wells2651
January 26, 2010, 3:17 pm
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Outrageous! You know he says the "N" word a lot but covers it by proclaiming that he has black friends.

by   
MacBen
January 26, 2010, 2:50 pm
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Or at least ensure that he is not elected Governor.

by   
CAmira
January 26, 2010, 12:42 pm
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Bauer's comment is one I almost expect from a Republican, especially a white male Republican from South Carolina. South Carolina has a sizeable Black population, though. They need to make sure they vote in strong enough numbers to ensure that a man like Bauer does not get elected to public office.

by   
CAmira
January 26, 2010, 12:41 pm
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He says all while receiving state benefits as part of his state job! Crackers are coming all out the woodwork with their racism and being forced to apologize for it like it will actually mean something. It doesn't - it does highlight who they are so that black voters can ensure they are retired instead of rehired. All this does is magnify the need for us to become a collective. From neighborhood to neighborhood, from city to city and from state to state and vote them all out of office. They can then sit home and talk all the shyt they want.

by   
Debianne
January 26, 2010, 12:29 pm
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There have beena lot of things said lately that have called for apologies. A forced apology is not a sincere apology. Some things you know are just wrong unless your are accustomed to saying them.

by   
G-eyes
January 26, 2010, 12:00 pm
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Another perfect example of how "ignorance", "prejudice" and "hate" are alive, well and breeding in America!

"Out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak!" No apology needed here--"he meant what he said and said what he meant."

*South Carolina may want to consider holding Voter Registration Parties every weekend after this!

by   
Diva Supreme
January 26, 2010, 11:58 am
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The comparison of poor 2 strays is rediculous. There is some truth. I see a lot of people that have never worked, Housing, Food stamps, AFDC, etc. I have always been rejected because I only have 1 child. Drug test, require school participation, parenting classes, education. If sincere, they wont object. Put more money in education & grantsfor college. Help those trying to help themselves not those that are not. Give a man a fish & teach him how to fish and he can feed his own family.

by   
G-eyes
January 26, 2010, 11:53 am
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Guess what adayinalife, you crackers can sit up and talk all the mess you want about this and about that. But when it boils down to it. The whites have shamed our race, they have discredited our race, they have degrated our race and i'm sorry but people are still angry. I know we need to move on and let it go, but it is so hard when you still got ignorant crackers still trying to treat blacks like we don;t exist.

by   
Ann38
January 26, 2010, 10:54 am
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Farrer: There is NO element of truth in comparing Black kids to stray animals & NO element of truth in comparing social programs that****ist families unable to adequately provide for their children (THANKS TO YEARS OF RACIST’S STRATEGIES TO HOLD BLACKS BACK) TO “Facilitating the problem by giving them ample food supply”. Given GOOD EXAMPLES ANY child can learn academic & social lessons. A hungry child will only learn how to satisfy his or her hunger –even by criminal means. I know, because I grew up a hungry child. Racists & uppity negroes sicken me!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 26, 2010, 8:54 am
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NO! Guess how you stop it from happening? You get out and vote and take four others with you, to make sure that two faced-racist does not darken the doorway of any office other than Grand Dragon of the KKK. Stupid peckerwoods! Redneck racists are ALWAYS speaking their minds like I’m doing now.(Do I wish I had used a different metaphor, of course I do).(I didn’t intend to offend anyone). NO! Actually I DON’T wish I had used a different metaphor, I used the same type of metaphor that honky used and I MEANT to offend every racist who reads this.

by   
Sevennotrump
January 26, 2010, 8:50 am
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Lt Gov Bauer's comment hit me like a brick in the face, but there is "some" element of truth in his philosophy. I am a public school teacher and it seems that "our" children take everything for granted. If they valued (their) education and applied themselves, they could would not enter the world unprepared and (still) ignorant and expecting the highest wages. Wake up parents, it's time for YOU to take your rightful place in the process of raising your kids! Teach your children that their future is in their own hands. They are the "captain of their ship; the master of their soul".

by   
Farrer
January 26, 2010, 8:31 am
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Guess how you stop it from happening?

You stop depending on them

We need to build a better and more stable community for the more unfortunate in society. In that regard, I really dont understand how Obama has helped or fixed anything and NO LONGER trust American politics. Matter of fact, no form of politics was ever slated to work in this world because either way, a person or group would eventually get greedy. Capitalism was FOUNDED on greed an taking ADVANTAGE of others ie Natives land, and African slaves - those tenets will be part of the US forever.

by   
A_day_in_the_life
January 26, 2010, 6:42 am
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