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By Guy Page and Paul Bean
Gov. Phil Scott and leaders of both the House and Senate Republican caucus are calling for Sen. Sam Douglass (R-Orleans) to resign following a Politico news report today of an apparent ethnic slur he made on a Young Republican Telegram account.
VDC has emailed Douglass, a first-term senator, for a response to this printed statement attributed to him, per the October 14 news report:
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.
Douglass’s comments might be perceived as relatively mild compared to other statements made by Young Republican leaders from other states and reported by Politico in the chat. One said “I love Hitler” and spoke approvingly of gas chambers. The N-word was used by others.
At 4:03 PM, Gov. Phil Scott’s press secretary sent this email:
Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement in response to leaked messages from leaders of a 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
Sam Douglass sound like a class act. I’m sure Scott will find a more suitable replacement.
Sam ,
This is Mark Coester.
Total BS reactions from GOP over a politico hit piece .
Politico can’t be trusted , any Republican should know that by now .
Let he who has never Sinned cast the first stone 🪨.
Let’s see Evidence not hearsay , Politico is and never was above Manipulating Docks .
It’s a left wing hate filled Communist rag likely worse than VT Digger .
I will Speak publicly in your Defense if you wish .
I agree with you. That was just a statement that sounds true. It doesn’t sound racist at all if it’s a True statement of fact. She’s large and she’s from India. It’s no different than saying she’s large and she’s from America… I don’t see the big deal. It is Politico that is pushing this. They aren’t the best source.
I second Mark’s statements.
The article about this is yesterday’s Caledonia Record included the information that out of 2,900 PAGES of chat texts, Senator Douglas only made the single statement of 5 words “she just didn’t bathe often”. FIVE WORDS (albeit maybe classless) out of 2,900 PAGES of text is a bit of an overreaction by the Governor and his opposition.
I agree, I posed for a picture with you and I still support you. You got lambasted and I’m ashamed of the other republicans that condemned you. Keep your head up!
It’s funny; I thought the public square and the ballot box were the final arbiters of who holds elective office. Apparently, Prefecture Captain Scott disagrees. Watch and learn, republicans, watch and learn.
But your speech can close a business and that’s ok?
Your speech can mandate taking drugs and that’s ok?
Your press can lie daily and that’s ok?
Your press can censor regularly and that’s ok?
He can say any stupid thing he wants, he can deal with it at the ballot box. What law did he break? We are a republic of laws, we are not a democracy where we can just take away somebodies rights, try as you might.
Cancel culture still looms large in Vermont
absolutyely Neil
Didn’t call for Grey to give up her run when she wasn’t qualified, didn’t meet the very generous rules to qualify for offfice.
Didn’t call for Balint to give up her run for being bought by one person to the tune of a million dollars.
Interesting priorities.
Remained silent on all of these.
Sam should not step down. Governor Scott has yet to clarify what defines a woman, and those demanding Sam’s resignation ought to reflect on their own hypocrisy. Many of these critics privately express the most derogatory opinions about Trump. Perhaps we should expose those conversations to reveal their true feelings about the president. Scott should appreciate that we now have the votes to reject the misguided bills the legislature is attempting to impose on Vermonters. All Sam needs to do is issue an apology and move forward—resigning is not the solution. After all, Governor Scott has not resigned after closing the state due to Biden’s misleading COVID mandate. The Vermont GOP has not established a solid presence in the state, yet their primary focus seems to be on calling for Sam’s resignation. Shouldn’t they be more concerned with advocating for affordable housing and winning more seats in both legislative houses? As a young Republican and an African American, I find Governor Scott’s call for Sam’s resignation deeply disappointing. And just to clarify, Sam’s remarks were not racist—let’s leave Senator Douglass alone. Let it go!!
Amen, Rohan!
lol……yeah, love it. What is a woman, followed up quickly by, what’s in your womb kicking and moving around? You could talk about how many genders are there for a kicker….then you’ll be labeled something for sure.
Uniparty has spoken, clearly everyone in the VTGOP got the message and are speaking in lock step, heaven forbid anyone think for themselves.
If it was a Commiecrat would he or she or she/he or he/she be called on to resign?
Guess you’ve never heard of Al Franken. I agree with my governor. Pretty pathetic that the libs standards are higher than the commenters here.
If Sam had written this on a crudely made cardboard sign and stood in a pro-Palestinian rally, wearing a Covid cloth, no one would have noticed. He would have been praised for exercising his right to free speech.
Given a choice between the resignations of Sam Douglass or Phil Scott, I’d prefer Phill leave.
I certianly didn’t turst Politico to tell the truth yesterday…I don’t’today. I trust that voters chose Senator Samuel Douglass.
Wow. I have never seen the republicans move so fast! What’s up?
It’s like a herd of charging RINO’S.
The Uniparty called and told them what to say and print, nothing new.
Jay Jones- a Demorcrat candidate for Attorney General, Virginia.
Virginia Mercury October 5, 2025: “Virginia politics erupted into a full-blown national scandal when screenshots of private, three-year old text messages showing Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones fantasizing about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children were made public. The National Review story revealed an August 2022 exchange between Jones — a former Norfolk delegate and one-time assistant attorney general — and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield. In the texts, Jones described a scenario in which Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head,” followed by a wish that the Republican lawmaker’s children “die in their mother’s arms.”
Politco also ran a piece about this story. Yet, they spun it through their deflect and project cycle – neglecting to report the details of what was said…gee, I wonder why?
Let it be clear, it is not each other they hate, it is the power and money they love above all else. They all do it, either publically or privately. Funny how they can’t discuss real issues or offer logical solutions. Mostly, it is because they’re incapable and controlled to memorize scripts. There is no business like show business.
GOVIE. Stop giving out grants to your friends, like the one in St. Albans City for over 700,000.00 dollars. Comment from Richard Day. Got to wonder who owns that house??????
Jay Jones the man running for AG in Virginia fanaticized about putting bullets into the Speaker of the Virgina House and his children in a group chat. Sam Douglass should resign after Jones drops out of the race for Virginia AG. The Commiecrats of Virginia with no pity or remorse have refused to force jones from the race. Just sayin.
Just saw this story on Not The Bee. It tells of the many people involved.
I’m out of the loop here but…
Politico??? A spin machine for the left.
Telegraph??? I wouldn’t use it, nor trust it, given it’s origin, and controllers.
Kangaroo court? Kind of looks like it, from my perch.
Fat Indian girl who stinks? If I dated a fat Indian girl who stinks, and was the kiss and tell type, I’d call a spade a spade, as I speak my mind ,and the truth…don’t like it? Go piss up a rope.
Storm in a teacup? Wouldn’t surprise me, but if the Senator went public he was a racist…I’d be against it.
Indiscreet locker room bander among good old boys? Wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve heard worse on Capital Hill.
I do not like Kangaroo courts…saw too much of that under Joe Bidens puppeteers…for what it’s worth.
Sounds like a smear campaign .They have rounded up the troops .
Scott, like the democrats, doesn’t refrain from calling our President Hitler, a fascist, a nazi, inciting hate with every word, shows himself the ultimate hypocrite by calling out a republican for noticing a fat woman from India smells bad. I’ll tell you what really smells bad everyone associated with the Montpelier state house.
Totally agree! Bet nobody would have even mentioned it if he said it was a fat white woman! If it’s the Truth it’s the Truth! That doesn’t make it a racist statement it just makes it a fact! The left just hates facts period! He should never have been forced to resign over stating the TRUTH!
What happened to free speech? Douglas did NOT call for violence against any individual or group.
Democrat/Progressives say extremely offensive things every time they get up to a podium. If we follow the same logic, all of those idiots should resign immediately.
Free speech protects your right to express offensive opinions, but it does not shield you from potential consequences, such as social backlash or disciplinary actions from institutions.
“She just didn’t bathe often,” … am I missing something? There HAS to be more to this than is here indicated.
Surly Senator Douglass has ruffled someone’s feathers, perhaps he hasn’t bowed down to the power brokers or maybe he spoke out without permission in a hearing.
I am content to let it lie and observe.
The Vermont house and senate wanted the Franklin County Sheriff to resign and how did that work out??????? Comment from Richard day.