Warren Hurst is a county commissioner from Sevier County, Tennessee. Last week, he made national headlines when he exploded into anger at a public meeting about gun control.
Speaking with a toothpick hanging from his mouth, the 77-year-old raged: “It’s time we wake up people, it’s been time, it’s past time. We gotta queer runnin’ for president, if that ain’t about as ugly as you can get!”
“Look what we got runnin’ for president in the Democratic party. We can go over here to [Sevier County Sheriff] Hoss’s jail and get better people outta there than those runnin’ for democratic to be President of the United States.”
Hurst went on to say that he is not a bigot but “by golly, a white male in this country has very few rights and they’re gettin’ took more every day!”
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During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Buttigieg was asked about Hurst’s comments by a reporter.
“Well, he was right about one thing,” the 2020 hopeful replied. “He’s right that there is a gay man running for president. He doesn’t seem to be right about much else.”
When asked if he experiences “this kind of discrimination and prejudice on the campaign trail” often, Buttigieg responded, “Sure. But it doesn’t speak for most people. And I think the most important thing is to approach with compassion.”
Shortly after Hurst’s remarks, GLAAD issued a statement calling them “completely unacceptable and ridiculous, especially coming from a county official.”
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Equality Project launched a petition asking Mayor Waters and the commission members to censure Hurst for his homophobic outburst and calling for more inclusive policies for LGBTQ Tennesseans.
“The racist and homophobic comments of Sevier County Commissioner Warren Hurst have shocked people across the country,” the petition reads. “Please, add your name to protest his divisive words and call for policy change in Sevier County, Tennessee.”
Hurst has refused to apologize for the slur and has ignored calls for his resignation.
Related: Crotchety politician rants about “queers,” says straight white men have “very few rights”
Tombear
I’m support Mayor Pete because of his policies not because he is Queer!. Wake up America and listen to what Major Pete says. Pete and his husband would make a much better President and first man then the big Cheeto and Melanoma! Pete didn’t have bone spurs!
[email protected]
America should admire Mayor Pete for his decorum in the face of such ridicule that was demonstrated by this member of a TN board. Pete’s credentials are among the most outstanding of any presidential candidate in recent history. If only people would look past his sexual orientation and see his meaningful strengths, such as military service and the honor of a Rhoades scholar.
Ronbo
Please, regale us with Pete’s accomplishments.
The organization where he worked and built his network of supporters, McKinsey & Company, is far-right. You know them for: support of authoritarian regimes, Pharma scandals, ICE, Saudi Public Relations, Insider Stock trading scandals, climate change denialism, South African scandals, and the securitization of mortgage assets which encouraged the banks to fund their balance sheets with debt, driving up risk, which ‘poisoned the global financial system and precipitated the 2008 credit meltdown’.
And all this is just publicly available information. Google McKinsey & Company, and you’ll see how an “identity candidate” is turned into a status quo candidate.
Diplomat-G
@Ranbo
Gee did Pete take part in any of that? can you provide any proof that he did? So what did Pete actually say about the firm? Buttigieg writes in his memoir, Shortest Way Home, that he became a consultant because he “wanted to get an education in the real world.” The real world exists in many places on this planet; McKinsey & Company is not one of them. In 1993, Fortune magazine put it this way: “These fellows from McKinsey sincerely do believe they are better than everybody else. Like several less purposeful organizations—Mensa, Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones, the Banquet of the Golden Plate—McKinsey is elitist by design.” He calls his time at McKinsey his most “intellectually informing experience”; he left only because it “could not furnish that deep level of purpose that I craved.” So what would be your point again?
JDwrites
Understand the concern about the type of corporate “training” Mckinsey might deliver, but also understand that a junior is far, far removed from the kind of decisions that bother me most–and–that an education in analysis, data indicators, etc. is invaluable if one is going to measure progress toward outcomes. This is something far beyond the ken of too many in politics. “training” via any number of “respected” MBA programs replicates trickle down theory, Citizen’s United thinking and a host of other democracy destroying concepts that are far more concerning than a stint in a consultancy.
Hopeful, cautious, but so far supportive.
Teddybtoronto
Warren Hurst is a County Commissioner in Sevier County, TN. Sevier County includes the community of Pigeon Forge, home of the Dollywood theme park, and other tourist attractions that depend greatly on the goodwill of tourists to support the many jobs associated with those attractions. Somebody should tell Mr. Hurst that the people whose incomes depend on tourism do not appreciate him shooting his ugly, bigoted mouth off and offending many, many potential tourists who have a LOT of other tourist attractions competing for those tourist dollars.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Can’t wait til that vile abhorrent old puke brings his computer in for repairs and his trove of kiddie porn is discovered….
boymikefl
His colostomy bag was probably full. Take a break, baby.
gavo92
I don’t support Mayor Pete, But good on him.
jasentylar
I support Mayor Pete. His policies are sound and he seems trustworthy. He is very intelligent. I just don’t think he will win the nomination. He’s not making inroads with the Black community. He needs the support of the Black community to win.
Trekbike
I’m not surprised it’s a bigoted hypocrite from Tennessee. Tennessee is and has been one of the most anti-gay states in the union. Tennessee has successfully passed the most destructive anti-gay laws in the country.
djmcgamester
As I’ve said many times, who cares what that guy says? He’s a nobody from a backwater county. Qweerty’s really reaching to make this newsworthy.
Invader7
Warren Hurst : poor ole honky cracker trifling fool. His comment : ” by golly, a white man in this country has very few rights and they’re gettin’ took more everyday ! ” He is officially certifiable ( aka ready to be locked up in a psychiatric institution -hopefully til he is DEAD ) . White men have MORE rights in the USA than any other group .PERIOD. White men set up , run & benefit their whole lives from the systems that the USA is all about.. He’s just threatened his precious , privileged life may not be as comfortable as he’s like. Too FRICKING bad Warren . The mentality and values you espouse are dying off. Thankfully and hopefully are being replaced with way more encompassing ,inclusive values,beliefs,morals and people !!