Arlington Mayor Speaks On His Facebook Comments
Posted on December 7, 2009 at 5:25 pmThe words of Mayor Russell Wiseman:
“Regarding all of the reports about my recent Facebook remarks, I want to take this opportunity to say how much I regret that I offended anyone with my poor attempt at tongue-in-cheek humor amongst friends. While my comments were certainly blown way out of proportion, I do recognize that I allowed things to go too far.
As you might have guessed, I don’t really care for President Obama or his policies. That being said, I understand how my comments might have been interpreted by people who don’t know me and who have no reason to give me the benefit of the doubt. When defenders of President Obama started chiming in on the Facebook comment thread, I’m afraid I let my frustrations and my sarcastic and joking nature get the best of me, and so I egged and goaded them on within the confines of what I considered at the time to be a semi-private conversation among friends.
I trust that we have probably all experienced things getting out of hand from time to time, and I do regret it. I also take some measure of comfort in knowing that the people who know me best, and who know my background, my work in the community, and my heart — they understand that I am a progressive and tolerant person who believes wholeheartedly in the rights and equality of all people. I think my record and the way I live my life certainly reflects those views, and I hate that I may have caused anyone to question my commitment to it. I also regret any embarrassment that might have been unfairly visited on my friends, my family, my church, and the citizens and officials of the Town of Arlington.
One troubling and eye-opening aspect of this whole episode has been the literally hundreds and hundreds of fanatics who have directed some of the most vile and profane comments towards me and my family that I’ve ever heard, including making physical threats and even posting my home phone number and address online for the benefit of the fringe element.
In the interest of moving forward, I will not be giving interviews or fielding questions because I have no interest in taking any step that might perpetuate this whole episode or inadvertently be interpreted as an attempt to dignify my unfortunate comments. I have learned a valuable lesson, and I look forward to moving on and focusing on the business of the Town of Arlington in a manner befitting the good citizens I represent.”
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8 Responses to “Arlington Mayor Speaks On His Facebook Comments”
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This is not an apology. It was not an offhand attempt at humor. This was “Wiseman Unplugged” - uncensored, unedited, as he really thinks amongst friends. Wiseman is still failing to acknowledge wrongdoing - only sorry that he offended others, not sorry that he WAS OFFENSIVE.
Wiseman is still in my doghouse. He insulted everyone in this country who’s still paying a mortgage, or renting. He insulted homeless military veterans who sacrificed for the freedoms Wiseman takes for granted. Wiseman insulted our President. He insulted our state. He insulted America.
Wiseman should resign.
Apparently the town made a statement on their site “distancing” themselves from Wiseman’s statement. But here’s part of it:
The Town recognizes Barack Obama as the President of the United States, and in accordance with the Constitution, recognizes both the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. We welcome all law abiding people to our town. We do not discriminate and we provide essential services to all Town of Arlington people without regard to their religion, race, color, age, gender, sex or national origin.”
Doesn’t it sound like they are saying “It’s OK if he’s Muslim”? Further, are they bragging they haven’t cut water and electricity from Black and Jewish homes?
WHY-THE-HELL-DO-WE-NEED-A-MAYOR?
The question the community should be asking.
Wiseman-”Vile.”
Was he looking in the mirror when he said that?
Pretty lame. His non-apology is not enough for the horrible shame he brought to his town and the people of Tennessee. He should resign right now.
Arlington is a very conservative, suburban town. Don’t expect them to be backing off Russell’s statement too much.
Ah, politics. The domain in which we’ve mastered the art of the shitty apology.
“I don’t regret what I did; I only regret that you were offended by it. Nothing can ever possibly be bad when it is private, which is how I intended for this matter to remain. Finally, don’t forget to reserve some blame for the people who were mean to me after I was stupid.”
Published his home phone number and address??
It’s on the town website, for chrissake. He published it himself. But of course he has no responsibility at all for that.
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