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Freshman GOP senator urged to resign by Scott, Senate/House leaders following published ethnic slur
By Guy Page
Sen. Sam Douglass Wednesday afternoon issued an apology for his statements made on a Young Republicans chat room but did not resign from the Senate as requested by Gov. Phil Scott and House and Senate GOP leaders. The freshman senator from Orleans County promised a further statement by the end of the week.
The account of comments by Douglass and others was published yesterday afternoon in a news article by Politico. Douglass decried the racist and anti-semitic statements made in the chat by others.
“I completely denounce and fully condemn the vile and disgusting comments included in the POLITICO article and I have cut all ties with those involved,” Douglas said. “My role in the group chat in question was a procedural one about bylaws and floor strategy. There were often periods of multiple days when I didn’t check this group chat and I was unfortunately unaware of those comments. I should’ve been more vigilant, more careful, and less naive about who I associate with and my digital environments. I will continue to call out this behavior whenever I see it.”
Douglass then addressed statements about and by him in the Politico article:
In one instance, Walker — who at the time was a staffer for Ortt — talked about how a mutual friend of some in the chat “dated this very obese Indian woman for a period of time.”
“Giunta responded that the woman “was not Indian.”
“She just didn’t bathe often,” Samuel Douglass, a state senator from northern Vermont and the head of the state’s Young Republicans, replied to Giunta.
About this comment, Douglass said: “The comment attributed to me in the article was not a generalization and doesn’t represent my views or character,” Douglass said today. “I apologize so deeply to my constituents and colleagues that our county and state have been dragged into this. I am currently weighing all my options to ensure that the outcome of this is what’s best for the safety and wellbeing of my family and my constituency, and I will make another statement before the end of the week. “
Governor Phil Scott Tuesday issued the following statement in response to the leaked messages from the national Young Republican group chat: “The hateful statements made in this group chat are disgusting and unacceptable. The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing. There is simply no excuse for it. Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party – including Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass.”
Ditto, said Sen. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia), Senate Minority Leader, in an email to VDC:
“We are in agreement with Gov. Phil Scott. Sen. Sam Douglass’ statements as reported by Politico are unacceptable and deeply disturbing. They cannot be excused and are inconsistent with Vermont values and what Vermont Republicans stand for. It is time for Sen. Douglass to step away from his position as a Vermont Senator and resign.” The note was signed Sen. Scott Beck Senate Republican Leader, Sen. Brian Collamore Senate Asst. Republican Leader, Rep. Pattie McCoy House Republican Leader, Rep. Casey Toof House Asst. Republican Leader.”
The Politico story also attributed an anti-semitic remark to Douglass’s wife.
The Vermont Young Democrats vilified the comments and echoed the GOP call for Douglass to resign.
“Vermont Young Republicans Chair, State Senator Sam Douglass, in a group chat with his peers, made deeply offensive and prejudiced comments, including derogatory stereotypes about Indigenous women and antisemitic remarks about his Jewish colleagues. These comments are disgraceful, and we call on Senator Douglass to resign and apologize for his actions immediately,” Communications Director Hudson Ranney saud. “Baseless hatred is not a problem for others to deal with. As this incident shows, bigotry is inside our own house. It is a stain that we all must confront. The Vermont Young Democrats firmly believe that every citizen deserves representatives who respect and faithfully represent them, which Douglas has failed to do in this instance.”
If Douglass resigns, Gov. Scott will appoint a replacement, traditionally nominated by the GOP county committee, to complete his term.
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Categories: politics
Forgiveness is a most powerful way to change.
We have all said dumb and stupid things in our lives, mean things, nasty things, to think otherwise does not grasp the human condition.
Forgiveness is the opposite of cancel culture.
Forgive us for joyful obedience….the pardon and confession is a wonderful thing. Here it is below.
Confession and Pardon
Merciful God
We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart
We have failed to be an obedient church
We have not done your will
We have broken your law,
We have rebelled against your love,
We have not loved our neighbors
And we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
As a true Christian, one can easily look at oneself and say…..I”ve broken every one of the 10 commandments today…….Christ having forgiven us, such that we don’t live in sin, wallow in state of hot mess, gutter games, start anew, be reborn, it’s only through him, TYL! We get better, and better with the guidance, admonishing and support of the Holy Spirit….
TGBTG
“Vice-President J.D. Vance weighed in unapologetically on the YR Politico story controversy on his X page: “This [Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones saying he would kill his challenger’s children] is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence.”
I completely agree with Vice President Vance!
They think they are without blemish. They have so much pride they can’t see themselves as anything but perfect. Cancel culture is easy, more so if you never look at yourself, finding people doing dumb things is the easiest game in town.
If the want to tear down statues because people did bad things and are not wothy, then there is only one person who walked the earth that is worthy! lol, I’m very ok with replacing every statue with Jesus Christ, since they are looking for perfect people, wonder how they would like that idea?
No Kings? Meet the King of Kings!
TGBTG!
So you support vile racist, misogynistic & bigoted people?? Damn Christine, shameful.
Can they force Samuel to step down?
I know it would be extremely awkward for him to continue but I wish they would let this issue die down and just let him serve out his time.
Vermonters can vote him in or out next election.
And anyway, going back to the state house and facing the glares and uplifted noses of those who feel superior and guiltless of any such sin, would be in my opinion much more of a punishment.
But I get, I get it. This is politics. Not the real world. Samuel hasn’t got a chance.
Just wish the democrats, (like Becca Balient lamenting about the lack of migrants to wipe her backside), were required to play by the same rules of etiquette.
Oh, you mean the representative that was bought for $1,000,000?
Nothing to see here, the uniparty is in charge of cancel culture and she is most certainly UNIPARTY!
She’ll say and do anything to keep power…….clearly.
The fact we have three articles on this B.S. is depressing.
Meanwhile we know nothing from the future leaders and the plan for the VTGOP. Anything of importance is cast to the wind.
there’s something that just doesn’t pass the smell test here. that young man isn’t a saint by no means but, something isn’t right.
Sam Douglas should step down the same time Jay Jonse of Virginia drops out of the race for VA AG.
Opinions rendered on one’s own time and turf, so long as they dont cross the line into criminal threatening, libel, slander or false public alarm are protected free expression according to the Bill of Rights. Voters can subsequently wield their retribution at the polls. All the virtue signaling from others is just that…virtue signaling and political posturing. People on both ends of the political spectrum love to howl about protecting freedom of expression until someone says something they dont want to hear, then they say it should not be allowed to be said. Douglas’ comments were most definitely insensitive and egregious but fall under the protections of the First Amendment.
He’s not being prosecuted for being a political enemy of trump Rich, he’s not John Bolton. He’s simply being held accountable to the public.
Scott Beck has his OWN problems to be worrying about as 2 ethics complaints have been filed against him.
“Freshman GOP senator urged to resign by Scott, Senate/House leaders following published ethnic slur.” Where exactly is the alleged “ethnic slur”?
“dated this very obese Indian woman for a period of time.” This is not an ethnic slur.
“was not Indian” This is not an ethnic slur.
“She just didn’t bathe often” This is not an ethnic slur.
Douglass denounced the statements in the group chat. He has apologized. GOP leadership is acting in a cowardly manner by throwing him under the bus. Forgive and move on. I think VT GOP leadership needs to grow up (and grow a pair), not the Young Republicans, who often demonstrate greater courage and are more principled than their older colleagues.
So you believe that people actively demonstrating racist/misogynist/bigoted behavior are the real victims here. Wow Renee…
Sam Douglass ,Bert Saldi here.
To all the one’s that asked you to Resign including you Governor Scott, you all need to go look in the mirror long before you point your finger and say sh*t period!!
No doubt alot more could be said for sure!!
The Vermonter from the Right side period!!
Love hearing the justifications of the remarks of the chat participants.
“Justifications?” We condemn racist statements and at the same time forgive when people apologize and repent. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. You can hold a grudge if you like, if you are a child of the Father of Lies: most in Vermont will do just that – hold a grudge – and at the same time, celebrate or justify or feel indifferent about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, like our Governor did in his public statement on the assassination of Kirk. I disagree with VP Vance’s minimizing statements made by Young Republicans. They are not children. They are young adults, responsible for their words and actions. We still do not have full context of this group chat. We do not know if the messages were altered. We do not know if these messages were crude jokes. Everyone should be held to the same standard. We should not be making allowances for anyone’s racist or violent remarks. I have been called a piece of excrement on FB for my stance on this issue: it’s like water off a duck. Either you are a child of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or you are a child of the Father of lies. There is no in-between.
I say hold on tight Sam, you obviously do not fit the RINO mold certain Republicans expect. They might be trying to appoint their own puppet into your position. You apologized now tell them to move on.
In reality, Douglas’ commentcould easily be interpreted as innocuous.
“ A dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. A lack of consideration for others in minor matters, a loss of politeness of gentle manners, is more significant than a riot” – Robert L. Heinlein, from Friday and also author of Stranger in a Strange Land