West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is making headlines today for a bizarre stunt he pulled in which he told actress and LGBTQ icon Bette Midler to “kiss [his dog’s] hiney.” Worse, he actually brandished the English bulldog’s backside at the camera while making the declaration.
Justice made the remarks in his televised State of the State address yesterday. He was responding to Midler’s criticism of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin for refusing to support President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which would have poured billions of dollars into West Virginia’s economy.
Midler characterizing West Virginians as “poor, illiterate and strung out” in dire need of the benefits of the proposed bill. So, Justice did this…
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice flashed his pet bulldog's butt to critics during his state address on Thursday, telling Bette Midler and others to "kiss her hiney."
Midler has criticized WV Sen. Joe Manchin, saying "just like his state," he is "poor, illiterate and strung out." pic.twitter.com/jOEcFnuQKc
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 28, 2022
The Associated Press reports that the 70-year-old Republican addressed Midler by name in concluding his speech, waving his English bulldog’s butt, “Babydog,” for the cameras to see.
“Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: Kiss her heinie,” he quipped. Babydog, for her part, looked really confused as to why her owner was showing her ass to the world.
Related: Everyone needs to hear Bette Midler’s moving Kennedy Center honors speech
This isn’t the first time Justice has shown himself as a disconnected moron. Last year, he participated in a disastrous MSNBC interview in which he tried to defend a new law that banned transgender middle and high school students from competing in sports.
When pressed to cite an example of a trans student trying to use gender identity to gain an advantage in sports, Justice couldn’t. He also couldn’t explain why he had prioritized the bill in a state that ranked 45th in education, 47th in healthcare, 48th on the economy, and 50th in infrastructure.
Midler has yet to respond to Justice’s butt waving remarks.
Twitter, on the other hand, has major thoughts.
And their GDP per capita?
NY GDP per capita $91k
CA GDP per capita $85k
WV GDP per capita $49k
?— Tabitha Plover (@redtailredux) January 28, 2022
So, basically Jim Justice confirmed Bette Midler’s accusations.
— I.M Hydrogen (@ChuckGore2) January 28, 2022
She's right. People move there because they don't want to pay taxes, then complain about the worst roads, education, healthcare. It's the Mississippi of the kinda north.
— H Fallatik (@BlackCowsMatter) January 28, 2022
Here ya go pic.twitter.com/PXpS9cA13G
— luke (@luger7777) January 28, 2022
I was stunned by that, too! Between the gum and the governor holding up a dog’s ass, this did very little to dispel WV stereotypes.
— Michael Markowitz (@markowitz) January 28, 2022
His net worth topped $1b a couple years ago. Why are West Virginians still so poor, still so sick, and still so dependent on the industries that leave them poor, sick, and dependent?
It's a real puzzle ?
— Laid Off at Fifty. Now What? (@loafnw) January 28, 2022
And give that poor dog a real name too!!!
— Jackie Clotfelter (@JackieC2262) January 28, 2022
— Payton (@apayton_09) January 28, 2022
So classy. ?. I feel sorry for the dog.
— Elizabeth R. ? (@JackRottie) January 28, 2022
Mister P
The repugnants have no plan for anything. A stupid stunt is all they offer.
Somehow people vote for them.
Leo
Their constituents find this 3rd grade level stunt humorous.
bachy
Exactly, Mister P. Their constituents vote to har-har over dumb stunts because their brains can’t process critical thought and problem solving. Maybe it’s all the meth.
Leo
What a sophisticated leader.
Fname Optional Lname
so if he was at the State of the State address who was running the horseshoe tournament?
bluewindboy
Horseshoes in Kentucky. In West Virginia, they play cornhole.
Jim
The Devine Miss M’s comments were NOT her finest hour.
While I abhor the man good for him for not taking her misguided mean comments lying down.
Now both of them need to put on their adult pants and apologize
Chrisk
Exactly what did Beth say that was so wrong? I’m honestly curious.
downtoearth
I’m a fan of hers but not at this moment. “exactly what did Beth say that was so wrong?” Really?
Brian
Bette is a mostly-retired entertainer, tweeting from home. She shouldn’t have written this, but she doesn’t really owe the public anything.
The governor is a currently-employed, elected politician, making videos while at work and collecting a paycheck. His actions here are a lot worse.
Bosch
When a dog’s anus is your best rebuttal…