I know what you mean, but don't you think it's gross that when, standing in front of a tiny child, his first thoughts are "stupid and dirty?" It be different (for me, anyway) if he had said, "Does it mean silly head?" or something more childlike. But stupid and dirty? I don't get it.
I don't get it either. It's a weird thing to say, and over the line, but it doesn't seem malicious and I think it's a bit much that people are calling for his resignation.
Yup. He has apologized, and some people have backed off, but others are still insisting he resign. Story here. (you can login with peedash and 220911).
I like this part.
Riordan is known for a sense of humor that sometimes misses the mark. Kuehl, the state senator, said that she heard Riordan address a crowd in Santa Monica over the Fourth of July weekend.
"He stepped up to the microphone and said, 'What's the best city in California?' Kuehl said. "And everyone yells, 'Santa Monica!' And he says, 'No, L.A.'
SACRAMENTO — The NAACP called for the resignation of state Education Secretary Richard Riordan on Thursday, and one state senator questioned whether he is fit to serve, as the former Los Angeles mayor's remarks last week continued to generate outrage.
During a public appearance at a Santa Barbara library, he told a young girl that her first name, Isis, meant "stupid, dirty girl." He later apologized and said he was joking.
The California branch of the NAACP said Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should not permit Riordan to stay in the job, regardless of the apology.
"There's not a child on earth, regardless of race or creed, who should be talked to in that manner. And for him to link 'stupid, dirty and girl' to a preschooler is absolutely despicable," said Alice A. Huffman, president of the California State Conference of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. "What's in this guy's head — let alone what's in his heart — for children?"
State Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) said that Riordan's credibility is so damaged by the episode that Schwarzenegger should reconsider whether he's suited to the job.
"I don't think it makes any difference that he thought it was a joke or that he apologized," Kuehl said in an interview. "That little girl was hurt unnecessarily, and the people just shake their heads and wonder if there's something wrong with him. And I think that really limits his effectiveness. We need someone very credible and very strong in that job, because education is in need of a lot of help at this point."
Riordan, a former two-term mayor, was at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho. A press aide, Rose Garcia, said she was not able to reach him Thursday for a comment. Schwarzenegger has condemned Riordan's exchange as "unacceptable in any context." But the governor does not want him to quit, a spokesman said.
"The governor appreciates the mayor's commitment to education, to reform and to children and looks forward to him continuing in his job," said Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director. "He and the secretary spent time together over the weekend. I don't know specifically what they may have discussed."
Riordan and Schwarzenegger are friends who occasionally dine together. Both own homes in Sun Valley.
Riordan's gaffe, the focus of considerable murmuring in the Capitol in recent days, gained traction Thursday after the scheduling of a news conference by the office of Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton). Also set to attend were members of the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality of California. The intent was to repudiate Riordan's remarks.
Dymally later canceled the event, saying he accepted Riordan's apology and had no opinion on whether Riordan should be kept on. Dymally said that "race is not a factor in this issue." The child is white.
Dymally said he did not learn about the girl's race until Thursday morning, but insisted it had nothing to do with his canceling the event.
The assemblyman said in an interview, "that was never my motivation."
Dymally's staff director, Warren Quann, said that the governor's office was elated that the news conference was called off.
"They were staying on top of it. They were just trying to manage the issue," Quann said.
Regardless of Dymally's position, Huffman said the NAACP would press ahead with its campaign to dislodge Riordan. "I don't know what they said to Mr. Dymally to get him to call it off, but they can't call us off," she said.
Dymally said that the governor's office did not urge him to cancel his news conference. "They don't return my phone calls," the assemblyman said.
The exchange between Riordan and the girl took place July 1 at the Santa Barbara Central Library. Carol Keator, director of the library system, said that Riordan's office had called a couple of days before and asked if he could come and read to a group of preschool children. Riordan wanted to use the occasion to announce a new website promoting summer reading, she said.
"He showed them pictures in the books and then began to chat with the kids," Keator said. "They enjoyed the chat and some were telling him their names. And this little girl said her name was Isis."
She asked if he knew what that meant, Keator said, and the education secretary offered an answer: "Stupid, dirty girl." The girl, whom Keator said was about 5, appeared unruffled.
"I don't know what he was thinking. I don't know where it came from in his head," Keator said.
The girl said that her name actually meant, "Egyptian goddess."
Riordan said that was "nifty."
"She had tremendous presence. She just corrected him. She didn't cry," Keator said.
She added: "I would consider the phrase, 'stupid, dirty girl' to be rude, insensitive and totally inappropriate — for any child or any person of any age. And I was sorry it happened in our library."
A few parents who heard the exchange later complained to library staff, Keator said. Riordan made a public apology the next day.
"I immediately apologized to her and I want to do so again for the misunderstanding," the education secretary said in his prepared apology. "I, like all parents and grandparents, want California's children to have the best education. I look forward to continuing to work on their behalf."
Ben Austin, an aide to Riordan when he served as mayor of Los Angeles, said: "The mayor stuck his foot in his mouth, and he's weathered it and I'm sure he's going to get through this. People know how deeply he cares about kids and people also know he sometimes says things he shouldn't say."
Riordan is known for a sense of humor that sometimes misses the mark. Kuehl, the state senator, said that she heard Riordan address a crowd in Santa Monica over the Fourth of July weekend.
"He stepped up to the microphone and said, 'What's the best city in California?' Kuehl said. "And everyone yells, 'Santa Monica!' And he says, 'No, L.A.'
"Why does he have to do that? Perhaps he just has a strange sense of humor."
I know what you mean, but don't you think it's gross that when, standing in front of a tiny child, his first thoughts are "stupid and dirty?" It be different (for me, anyway) if he had said, "Does it mean silly head?" or something more childlike. But stupid and dirty? I don't get it.
Posted by freakgirl | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 11:48 AM
I don't get it either. It's a weird thing to say, and over the line, but it doesn't seem malicious and I think it's a bit much that people are calling for his resignation.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 1:27 PM
Calling for his resignation? I didn't know that. Yeah, that seems a bit much. An honest apology would suffice.
Posted by freakgirl | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 1:46 PM
Yup. He has apologized, and some people have backed off, but others are still insisting he resign. Story here. (you can login with peedash and 220911).
I like this part.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 1:54 PM
Password no worky?
Anyway, that quote made me laugh out loud.
Posted by freakgirl | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 1:58 PM
Password shmassword.
SACRAMENTO — The NAACP called for the resignation of state Education Secretary Richard Riordan on Thursday, and one state senator questioned whether he is fit to serve, as the former Los Angeles mayor's remarks last week continued to generate outrage.
During a public appearance at a Santa Barbara library, he told a young girl that her first name, Isis, meant "stupid, dirty girl." He later apologized and said he was joking.
The California branch of the NAACP said Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should not permit Riordan to stay in the job, regardless of the apology.
"There's not a child on earth, regardless of race or creed, who should be talked to in that manner. And for him to link 'stupid, dirty and girl' to a preschooler is absolutely despicable," said Alice A. Huffman, president of the California State Conference of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. "What's in this guy's head — let alone what's in his heart — for children?"
State Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) said that Riordan's credibility is so damaged by the episode that Schwarzenegger should reconsider whether he's suited to the job.
"I don't think it makes any difference that he thought it was a joke or that he apologized," Kuehl said in an interview. "That little girl was hurt unnecessarily, and the people just shake their heads and wonder if there's something wrong with him. And I think that really limits his effectiveness. We need someone very credible and very strong in that job, because education is in need of a lot of help at this point."
Riordan, a former two-term mayor, was at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho. A press aide, Rose Garcia, said she was not able to reach him Thursday for a comment. Schwarzenegger has condemned Riordan's exchange as "unacceptable in any context." But the governor does not want him to quit, a spokesman said.
"The governor appreciates the mayor's commitment to education, to reform and to children and looks forward to him continuing in his job," said Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director. "He and the secretary spent time together over the weekend. I don't know specifically what they may have discussed."
Riordan and Schwarzenegger are friends who occasionally dine together. Both own homes in Sun Valley.
Riordan's gaffe, the focus of considerable murmuring in the Capitol in recent days, gained traction Thursday after the scheduling of a news conference by the office of Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton). Also set to attend were members of the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality of California. The intent was to repudiate Riordan's remarks.
Dymally later canceled the event, saying he accepted Riordan's apology and had no opinion on whether Riordan should be kept on. Dymally said that "race is not a factor in this issue." The child is white.
Dymally said he did not learn about the girl's race until Thursday morning, but insisted it had nothing to do with his canceling the event.
The assemblyman said in an interview, "that was never my motivation."
Dymally's staff director, Warren Quann, said that the governor's office was elated that the news conference was called off.
"They were staying on top of it. They were just trying to manage the issue," Quann said.
Regardless of Dymally's position, Huffman said the NAACP would press ahead with its campaign to dislodge Riordan. "I don't know what they said to Mr. Dymally to get him to call it off, but they can't call us off," she said.
Dymally said that the governor's office did not urge him to cancel his news conference. "They don't return my phone calls," the assemblyman said.
The exchange between Riordan and the girl took place July 1 at the Santa Barbara Central Library. Carol Keator, director of the library system, said that Riordan's office had called a couple of days before and asked if he could come and read to a group of preschool children. Riordan wanted to use the occasion to announce a new website promoting summer reading, she said.
"He showed them pictures in the books and then began to chat with the kids," Keator said. "They enjoyed the chat and some were telling him their names. And this little girl said her name was Isis."
She asked if he knew what that meant, Keator said, and the education secretary offered an answer: "Stupid, dirty girl." The girl, whom Keator said was about 5, appeared unruffled.
"I don't know what he was thinking. I don't know where it came from in his head," Keator said.
The girl said that her name actually meant, "Egyptian goddess."
Riordan said that was "nifty."
"She had tremendous presence. She just corrected him. She didn't cry," Keator said.
She added: "I would consider the phrase, 'stupid, dirty girl' to be rude, insensitive and totally inappropriate — for any child or any person of any age. And I was sorry it happened in our library."
A few parents who heard the exchange later complained to library staff, Keator said. Riordan made a public apology the next day.
"I immediately apologized to her and I want to do so again for the misunderstanding," the education secretary said in his prepared apology. "I, like all parents and grandparents, want California's children to have the best education. I look forward to continuing to work on their behalf."
Ben Austin, an aide to Riordan when he served as mayor of Los Angeles, said: "The mayor stuck his foot in his mouth, and he's weathered it and I'm sure he's going to get through this. People know how deeply he cares about kids and people also know he sometimes says things he shouldn't say."
Riordan is known for a sense of humor that sometimes misses the mark. Kuehl, the state senator, said that she heard Riordan address a crowd in Santa Monica over the Fourth of July weekend.
"He stepped up to the microphone and said, 'What's the best city in California?' Kuehl said. "And everyone yells, 'Santa Monica!' And he says, 'No, L.A.'
"Why does he have to do that? Perhaps he just has a strange sense of humor."
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 2:00 PM
Maybe he thought that it needed to be said, and he felt better afterwards . . .
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 3:56 PM
Ha! That's good.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 3:57 PM
What, those words? Aw, those are just things I say when I don't care how I sound . . .
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 07- 9-04 4:27 PM