Cynthia Davis circling the wagons

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As Michael Bersin just pointed out, Rep. Cynthia Davis is speaking up in her own defense:

“….My weekly Capitol Report is a way for me to have two-way communications with my constituents and not a national manifesto for you to mock, distort, and to be quoted out of context…”

She’s right, of course, that we mocked it. But whenever a politician gets quoted pretty much in her entirety and still claims that the opposition distorted and took her remarks out of context, I’m reminded of the politicians who resign office to spend more time with their families. Maybe one in a hundred of them really do want to spend more time with their families, but it’s, you know, boilerplate excuse.

Now that I mention it, Davis has a large family. I suppose it would be too much to hope that she’ll want to spend more time with all those children.

But Fort Cynthia is barring the gates because it is besieged now, not just by liberal bloggers, by the old media, and by the TV punditry, but even by her own colleagues.

Democrat Trent Skaggs, Kansas City, sent this e-mail out to all House members and their staff:

I cannot believe the liberal media did this to one of our own members. I am shocked and appalled.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/31496805#31496805

And Republican Rob Schaaf, St. Joseph–et tu?–answered him, writing also to all House members and their staff:

Nah, she can’t be the worst person in the world until she at least has a remonstrance behind her!

Skaggs’ crocodile shock didn’t fool Davis’ legislative assistant for a second. Terra Guittar wrote:

I find your comments regarding Representative Davis distasteful, disrespectful, and extremely unprofessional. Even under the guise of being “shocked and appalled”. The fact that you have sent this email to the entire “House Members and Staff” distribution list clearly demonstrates your apparent lack of professional courtesy and behavior for fellow colleagues.

Personal political beliefs aside, the public workplace email system is absolutely no place to make such unprofessional and crude comments regarding anyone.

Indeed. How dare he! Oh. Wait. She’s using the entire “House Members and Staff” distribution list

and the public workplace e-mail system to carry on the argument.

5 thoughts on “Cynthia Davis circling the wagons”

dyan27 said:

June 25, 2009 at 4:35 am

No wagons, just the crazy train.

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Michael Bersin said:

June 25, 2009 at 4:56 am

…Worst Person in the World:

…But the winner, State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri. When she first won this award hands down on Monday we told you that Miss Davis had had attached a series of what she called commentaries to a report on the state’s meal program for underprivileged kids while school was out for the summer, insisting that these meals should be curtailed.
Among her original observations: ” Anyone under eighteen can be eligible? Can’t they get a job during the summer by the time they are sixteen? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals? Tip: if you work for McDonald’s, they will feed you for free during your break.”
Representative Davis has not apologized for, retracted, nor clarified her remarks. She has blamed “an editorial that misrepresented my views.” Even though her views were in her editorials which she wrote. She continues to believe that one fifth of school age children in Missouri who face hunger every day have somehow chosen to do that, that this is a family rights issue.
Quote,“We all agree on the importance of feeding children, but we differ on who should do this. I believe this duty belongs to the parents. Instead of respecting this time honored jurisdiction of the family, the summer feeding program treats families like they do not exist.” You’re wrong. It treats families like they don’t have enough money to get meals for their kids and they need our help.
“When government takes over a family function, like feeding children on a daily basis, we take a group of people who are capable and treat them like they are incapacitated…Look into your own heart and ask, ‘What made a difference in my life as a child?’ Was it standing in a line for a cafeteria style meal at school or was it sitting around the kitchen table with others in your family?” You’re wrong. Gosh, Miss Davis, I think more than either of these things what would have made a difference in my life as a child was if one day there was no breakfast and some idiot politician was trying to make sure I couldn’t get one. And cafeteria style meal at school? You’re wrong. Missouri’s summer meals are given out in churches. Your own state and you don’t even know the simple facts?
“My goal is not to replace parents, but to reinforce them. The solution is found in helping those near us, not in yet another gigantic federally funded mass market approach. Bigger government invites fraud and robs people of the dignity of personal human relationships.” You’re wrong. Your goal here is to try to take an efficient program providing needy kids millions of healthy meals at about two and a half bucks each and turn it into another wedge weapon of paranoia to use on the buffoons who would vote for a political hack like yourself.
“My weekly Capitol Report is a way for me to have two-way communications with my constituents and not a national manifesto for you to mock, distort, and to be quoted out of context.” You’re wrong. There was no distortion, no loss of context, and any mocking done here you have richly earned, for today, for tomorrow, and for the rest of your tenure in public life, brief though the rest of us hope that might be.
“Yet to dare suggest there are alternatives for rational people to discuss and consequences of government taking over so much in people’s lives is to be branded an inhuman monster…” Hey, on this we agree. Well phrased. You’re right. You’re an inhuman monster. And you chair the state’s permanent committee for children? You are a positive menace to the health and well being of the children of Missouri. Resign. State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri once again, today’s Worst Person in the World. And not for the last time…

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WillyK said:

June 25, 2009 at 5:56 pm

to find Dear Cynthia hoisted on her own petard — which is to say her own evil rhetoric. I laughed and laughed though usually mention of Davis leaves me howling with frustration. She is getting some little bit of what she deserves — although the truly sad thing is that such simple-minded and cruel sentiments should gain such purchase among so many voters.

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Michael Bersin said:

June 25, 2009 at 11:51 pm

…via Twitter:

On Mo’s Rep Cynthia Davis’ remarx concerning meals for hungry poor children:Fagin agreed that hunger was a motivator for children. I don’t. about 10 hours ago from web

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Cynthia Davis circling the wagons

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