Burns Says Terrorists Drive Taxis by Day

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:09pm

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/08/31/D8JRIA3O0.html
Burns Says Terrorists Drive Taxis by Day
Aug 31 2:06 PM US/Eastern




Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, whose recent comments have stirred controversy, says the United States is up against a faceless enemy of terrorists who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."
During a fundraiser Wednesday with first lady Laura Bush, the three- term Montana senator talked about terrorism, tax cuts and the money he has brought to his state. Burns is one of the more vulnerable Senate incumbents, facing a tough challenge from Democrat Jon Tester.

He has drawn criticism in recent weeks for calling his house painter a "nice little Guatemalan man" during a June speech. Burns, whose re- election campaign is pressing for tighter immigration controls, also suggested that the man might be an illegal immigrant. The campaign later said the worker is legal.

Burns, 71, also had to apologize after confronting members of a firefighting team at the Billings airport and telling them they had done a "piss-poor job," according to a state report. In July, the Hotshot crew had traveled 2,000 miles from Staunton, Va., to help dig fire lines for about a week around a 143-square-mile wildfire east of Billings.

At the campaign event with Bush, Burns talked about the war on terrorism, saying a "faceless enemy" of terrorists "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."

The campaign said Thursday that the senator was simply pointing out terrorists can be anywhere.

"The point is there are terrorists that live amongst us. Not only here, but in Britain and the entire world," said spokesman Jason Klindt. "Whether they are taxi drivers or investment bankers, the fact remains that this is a new type of enemy."

Responding to Democratic complaints about Burns' verbal gaffes, Republicans argued that a Tester comment earlier this week was derogatory toward American Indians.

In an interview with The Seattle Times, Tester talked about the faith he has in his staff, and said, "Nobody has done anything to make me think they're trying to tomahawk me."

Brock Lowrance, spokesman for the Montana Republican Party, said American Indians have long found "tomahawk" a derogatory term. American Indians are the state's largest minority group.

At the fundraiser, Bush described Burns as a strong advocate for Montana farmers and families.

"In Washington, Senator Burns is a respected voice on the issues facing rural communities in Montana and across the nation," Bush said.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:16pm

Burns is the kind of stupid unqualified politician only a Republican could love.

Spokesman Jason Klindt: "Whether they are taxi drivers or investment bankers, the fact remains that this is a new type of enemy."

And Jason Klindt is the kind of slimy weasly spastic spinmeister only a Republican politician could love.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:19pm

who let's these people speak in public? Honestly? Do they not have handlerS?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:30pm

I guess this guy has never bought a Slurpee at a 7-11.

[RobbO]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:35pm

i've been terrorized by a few nyc taxi drivers in my day...

Posted: 8/31/06 at 5:03pm

Thank God it's only Senator Burns! I was so worried it was Montgomery Burns, a respected local businessman I respect far more than this addle-brained senator!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 5:10pm

Updated On: 8/31/06 at 05:10 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 5:52pm

Brock Lowrance, spokesman for the Montana Republican Party, said American Indians have long found "tomahawk" a derogatory term. American Indians are the state's largest minority group.

Calling this derogatory is a little extreme. My dad owns a tomahawk. As a noun, it's not a derogatory term, it's an actual type of weapon. Tomahawk as a verb is the action to use a tomahawk. My dad tomahawked a groundhog in our backyard. *waits for hatemail from Brock Lowrance* *and possibly PETA*

Had all of his staff been American Indians, that would be another issue, but there's nothing to suggest that is the case. Jumping on him for just using a verb that has been used to mean "attack" in the vernacular since Europeans first came to America is a bit much. Wait, I used "jump", so now the jump-ropers of America will take offense, because no actual jumping too place.

Updated On: 8/31/06 at 05:52 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 5:55pm

Take a second look. Conrad didn't say that one -- his opponent did, and he's trying to point to that, saying: "Look! He's just as racist as I am!"

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 6:06pm

Sorry, fixed it. "Tester" didn't seem like a real name, so I just glossed over it.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 8:53pm

Countdown on MSNBC (Keith) awarded Conrad Burns the "Worst Person in the World" award today for his remarks on this subject as well as the firemen and the house painter.