Controversial candidate calls protesters 'thugs;' says violent protesters need to be neutralized
DANAECKE, Ansleigha -- Comments from a high-profile candidate for governor in Ansleigha are drawing strong condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.
Rosamond Burkes, the wealthy, eccentric and controversial mining magnate who is running for governor of Ansleigha, made her stunning remarks at a debate in the eastern Ansleigha city of Danaecke last night.
The seven candidates were asked by host John Rocklan, a correspondent with the Metropolitan News, about the Black Lives Matter movement, which has sprung up in the United States following several shootings of black men by white police officers.
Burkes was asked if she agreed with the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Yes I do agree partially. I'm all for combatting racism and opposing police brutality. There are some terrible cops out there and we need to weed them out. But I don't agree with throwing rocks and bottles and Molotov cocktails at cops. That's not protesting that's rioting, and it has no place in Grassadellia and no place in Ansleigha," said Ms. Burkes.
When asked what should happen to protesters who oppose police with force, Burkes responded by saying they should be shot in certain circumstances.
With the audience aghast and amid a growing roar, Burkes sought to clarify her answer.
"Let me speak," she insisted, while gently banging her clenched fist against the podium in a gavel-like manner.
"People - I don't care who they are, protesters or not - people who throw dangerous objects at a police officer, objects that could endanger the life or safety of a police officer; people that use deadly force or potentially deadly force against a member of law enforcement should be neutralized, either by being tackled or tasered, shot with a beanbag, whatever. Non-lethal force should be used whenever possible. But in some unfortunate cases where no other alternatives are available, deadly force is acceptable. I think that's justified and constitutional and appropriate protocol," Burkes said.
She continued, "Look, people have the right to protest. That's a right I will protect vehemently as governor. But you don't have a right to attack police. A lot of these people who are apart of this protest movement in America and here in Grassadellia are not legitimate protesters. They may have legitimate grievances but some of them are nothing more than violent thugs who are hell-bent on hurting police officers. And I will not stand for that. I will not stand for violence against our police."
Her most inflammatory remarks came next, however.
"A lot of these people protesting the cops are thugs. They're wanna-be gangsters. They walk around with their pants falling off their butt, they don't own a belt, a lot of them are high on God-knows-what drug and a lot of them are on welfare when they should get off their ass and go get a job. These people are losers. They're users, they're parasites of the government, and they need to clean up their act and provide for their families and give up the drugs and the guns and be productive, contributing members of society," said Burkes.
Many audience members booed her answer. One unidentified woman yelled "shame on you" to Burkes, who did not shy away from her comments.
She also vowed to require welfare recipients to pass a drug test before collecting benefits.
Her opponents on stage seemed almost dumbfounded by her audacious comments.
"I strongly, strongly disagree with what you just said, Rosamond," said Paul Biddington, the fiercely-liberal mayor of Churchtown. "You are assigning an unfair stereotype to African-Grassadellians and African-Americans."
Mark Haller, the tenuous front-runner in the race, said Burkes is entitled to her opinion but her tone and verbiage are "beyond offensive."
Paris Westerman, the progressive city councilor from Koeurn, said it would be hard to unite people and be a governor for all Ansleighans by saying what Burkes said.
"The governor of Ansleigha has to be a leader that can unite people and bring people together and be a governor for all Ansleighans of all ethnicities and backgrounds," said Westerman. "Dale Lindstrom is not that kind of governor, and I'm afraid Ms. Burkes would not be that kind of governor based on comments like that."
Businessman Russ Hawley, who has been leading some polls in the NAT race, said he was "troubled" by Burkes' comments, while Bill Seiffert called her words "poorly chosen."
Outside observers were quick to condemn Ms. Burkes' remarks.
"I can't think of a more ignorant thing to say in front of a television camera and a live audience," said Terrell Jackson, executive secretary of the African-Grassadellian Advocacy Organization (AGAO), the country's largest such group.
Tom Keller, chairman of the Ansleigha Nationalist Party, told the National Press Federation (NPF) that Burkes' comments were "unacceptable."
"It's simply unacceptable for a candidate for the Nationalist Party gubernatorial nomination to say something as offensive and insensitive as that," said Keller.
Keller's counterpart at the Ansleigha Conservative Party also criticized Ms. Burkes.
"What she said was incredibly ill-thought and inappropriate," said Tom Morales. "And coming from the so-called 'party of diversity,' the 'party that defends the interests of minorities,' it's especially stunning."
Burkes' campaign manager, Ian Gregg, attempted to clarify his boss' position.
"Rosamond is known for her candor and bluntness," Mr. Gregg told a local reporter from Danaecke's Channel 9 News. "She was by no means expressing support for police brutality or racism toward African-Grassadellians. Rosamond is and has always been strongly opposed to racism and police brutality. I think the point she was trying to make is that some protesters are using the banner of racial equality as an excuse to justify violence against police."
"Police brutality toward minorities is wrong, but so is violence against police. It's never okay to target law enforcement with violence."
Gregg went on to say he believed Burkes was implying that violent protesters should channel their violent tendencies and passion into positive avenues, such as work and family.
"Taking you anger out by throwing rocks and bottles at police is not a positive release of your emotions. Instead, why don't you take that passion and that righteous anger and channel it into an honorable career and family and community. I think that's what Rosamond was trying to say tonight. She worded it in her own unique way but I think that's the message she was trying to get across," said Gregg.
The Lindstrom campaign declined to comment on the controversy. A spokeswoman for Dale Lindstrom's campaign referred reporters to the Burkes campaign.
"You'd have to ask Rosamond Burkes about her comments, she's the one that said them," said Lindstrom spokeswoman Theresa Gammon.
DANAECKE, Ansleigha -- Comments from a high-profile candidate for governor in Ansleigha are drawing strong condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.
Rosamond Burkes, the wealthy, eccentric and controversial mining magnate who is running for governor of Ansleigha, made her stunning remarks at a debate in the eastern Ansleigha city of Danaecke last night.
The seven candidates were asked by host John Rocklan, a correspondent with the Metropolitan News, about the Black Lives Matter movement, which has sprung up in the United States following several shootings of black men by white police officers.
Burkes was asked if she agreed with the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Yes I do agree partially. I'm all for combatting racism and opposing police brutality. There are some terrible cops out there and we need to weed them out. But I don't agree with throwing rocks and bottles and Molotov cocktails at cops. That's not protesting that's rioting, and it has no place in Grassadellia and no place in Ansleigha," said Ms. Burkes.
When asked what should happen to protesters who oppose police with force, Burkes responded by saying they should be shot in certain circumstances.
With the audience aghast and amid a growing roar, Burkes sought to clarify her answer.
"Let me speak," she insisted, while gently banging her clenched fist against the podium in a gavel-like manner.
"People - I don't care who they are, protesters or not - people who throw dangerous objects at a police officer, objects that could endanger the life or safety of a police officer; people that use deadly force or potentially deadly force against a member of law enforcement should be neutralized, either by being tackled or tasered, shot with a beanbag, whatever. Non-lethal force should be used whenever possible. But in some unfortunate cases where no other alternatives are available, deadly force is acceptable. I think that's justified and constitutional and appropriate protocol," Burkes said.
She continued, "Look, people have the right to protest. That's a right I will protect vehemently as governor. But you don't have a right to attack police. A lot of these people who are apart of this protest movement in America and here in Grassadellia are not legitimate protesters. They may have legitimate grievances but some of them are nothing more than violent thugs who are hell-bent on hurting police officers. And I will not stand for that. I will not stand for violence against our police."
Her most inflammatory remarks came next, however.
"A lot of these people protesting the cops are thugs. They're wanna-be gangsters. They walk around with their pants falling off their butt, they don't own a belt, a lot of them are high on God-knows-what drug and a lot of them are on welfare when they should get off their ass and go get a job. These people are losers. They're users, they're parasites of the government, and they need to clean up their act and provide for their families and give up the drugs and the guns and be productive, contributing members of society," said Burkes.
Many audience members booed her answer. One unidentified woman yelled "shame on you" to Burkes, who did not shy away from her comments.
She also vowed to require welfare recipients to pass a drug test before collecting benefits.
Her opponents on stage seemed almost dumbfounded by her audacious comments.
"I strongly, strongly disagree with what you just said, Rosamond," said Paul Biddington, the fiercely-liberal mayor of Churchtown. "You are assigning an unfair stereotype to African-Grassadellians and African-Americans."
Mark Haller, the tenuous front-runner in the race, said Burkes is entitled to her opinion but her tone and verbiage are "beyond offensive."
Paris Westerman, the progressive city councilor from Koeurn, said it would be hard to unite people and be a governor for all Ansleighans by saying what Burkes said.
"The governor of Ansleigha has to be a leader that can unite people and bring people together and be a governor for all Ansleighans of all ethnicities and backgrounds," said Westerman. "Dale Lindstrom is not that kind of governor, and I'm afraid Ms. Burkes would not be that kind of governor based on comments like that."
Businessman Russ Hawley, who has been leading some polls in the NAT race, said he was "troubled" by Burkes' comments, while Bill Seiffert called her words "poorly chosen."
Outside observers were quick to condemn Ms. Burkes' remarks.
"I can't think of a more ignorant thing to say in front of a television camera and a live audience," said Terrell Jackson, executive secretary of the African-Grassadellian Advocacy Organization (AGAO), the country's largest such group.
Tom Keller, chairman of the Ansleigha Nationalist Party, told the National Press Federation (NPF) that Burkes' comments were "unacceptable."
"It's simply unacceptable for a candidate for the Nationalist Party gubernatorial nomination to say something as offensive and insensitive as that," said Keller.
Keller's counterpart at the Ansleigha Conservative Party also criticized Ms. Burkes.
"What she said was incredibly ill-thought and inappropriate," said Tom Morales. "And coming from the so-called 'party of diversity,' the 'party that defends the interests of minorities,' it's especially stunning."
Burkes' campaign manager, Ian Gregg, attempted to clarify his boss' position.
"Rosamond is known for her candor and bluntness," Mr. Gregg told a local reporter from Danaecke's Channel 9 News. "She was by no means expressing support for police brutality or racism toward African-Grassadellians. Rosamond is and has always been strongly opposed to racism and police brutality. I think the point she was trying to make is that some protesters are using the banner of racial equality as an excuse to justify violence against police."
"Police brutality toward minorities is wrong, but so is violence against police. It's never okay to target law enforcement with violence."
Gregg went on to say he believed Burkes was implying that violent protesters should channel their violent tendencies and passion into positive avenues, such as work and family.
"Taking you anger out by throwing rocks and bottles at police is not a positive release of your emotions. Instead, why don't you take that passion and that righteous anger and channel it into an honorable career and family and community. I think that's what Rosamond was trying to say tonight. She worded it in her own unique way but I think that's the message she was trying to get across," said Gregg.
The Lindstrom campaign declined to comment on the controversy. A spokeswoman for Dale Lindstrom's campaign referred reporters to the Burkes campaign.
"You'd have to ask Rosamond Burkes about her comments, she's the one that said them," said Lindstrom spokeswoman Theresa Gammon.
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