Like so many before him, Mayor Daniel Pokorney of La Grande, OR, didn’t quite get the meaning of the term “social media” when he posted inflammatory anti-gay remarks on his Facebook page last week.
Almost immediately the responses against his rant poured in, reports the La Grande Observer (there are more than 180 comments on his Facebook post alone), prompting Pokorney (right) to issue an apology on Monday when addressed a forum at Eastern Oregon University.
“I sincerely apologize for my choice of words in the two Facebook posts last week. My choice of words was harmful and hurtful. I don’t hate anyone. My intent was not to be hurtful, but to express myself on important issues. I understand there is a right way and a wrong way to address the issues.”
Don’t hate anyone, huh? What emotion, then, was behind you calling Washington State the “latest state to transition to Sodom and Gomorrah” after it passed marriage equality? And how about when you said New Jersey was promoting the “abomination of same- sex unions.”
Maybe we should make Pokorney wear a mood ring?
How about we take this to the next level?
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Cam
So he still feels the exact same way but thinks that somehow he just used the wrong words.
Ok, so if he says “I hate Homosexuals” instead of “I hate Faggots” he is still an ignorant bigot.
Spike
If he didn’t mean it he would have posted it and thus wouldn’t have had to apologize. he meant every word of it.
Jim Hlavac
Well, I suppose he then thinks that wording the disdain and hate a bit more artfully would be better. Alas, erudition does not hide the bile.
Miranda
As a resident of La Grande I was outraged by his comments. I wasn’t impressed by his apology, and at the end of the forum he tried to make it seem like he was the one being attacked. I still think he should be forced to resign.
Amanda
I too am a resident of La Grande and I agree with Miranda he should resign but that
unfortunately would not solve the problem with this kind of bigotry and hatred in
this town. Mayor Pokorney is only one of many that share this view on same sex
unions, I do not feel that the real focus is on the marriage issue.
These people have a fierce hatred of anything they deem not “normal”. These states passing laws for the right to marry just gives them a soapbox to stand on, gives them a
a chance to make their hatred known and their judgemental statements heard in public. Mayor Pokorney knew exactly what he was doing and he knew what he said would get back
to the exact group of people he intended to hurt…no I do not believe or accept his apology and I am ashamed to have such a judgemental and hurtful person representing me and my children.
Isaac C
There is no reason why he should resign. He hasn’t done anything wrong except disagree on an important issue. The language he used in his disagreement was offensive but that’s all.
Dave Lara
I vote…no pass on this one…he should be fired.
Mav
Apology not accepted.
B
“What emotion, then, was behind you calling Washington State the “latest state to transition to Sodom and Gomorrah” after it passed marriage equality?”
Extreme sanctimoniousness comes to mind.
Cam
@Isaac C: said…
“There is no reason why he should resign. He hasn’t done anything wrong except disagree on an important issue.”
______________________-
In multiple posts you keep calling bigotry a difference of opinion. You do realize that having an opinion that a group should be discriminated against because of who they are is bigoted.
Yes, it is a difference of opinion, but by your logic then the KKK and the NAACP merely have a difference of opinion.
Isaac C
@Cam: Cam, we’ve already been through this.
Ben
Is he sorry that he said it or sorry that he was caught?
MKe
Yeah Tootsie needs her glasses back.
the crustybastard
“Christian love” a/k/a hate.
Evji108
He looks like an abomination to me. The abominable pig man.