UPDATED: Speaker Ralston Calls For Representative Spencer’s Resignation
Sunday night, Showtime aired the episode of Sasha Baron Cohen’s (Borat) new program that duped Representative Jason Spencer into…embarrassing himself.
The New York Times and the AJC have some background.
The NYT’s Sopan Deb has a recent statement from Rep Spencer regarding his appearance.
This is QUITE a statement from Jason Spencer, a state rep from Georgia, also duped by Sacha Baron Cohen. Says he took part in an anti-terrorism training video, including “a kidnapping scenario where I was repeatedly asked to shout provocative language….” pic.twitter.com/2OUR6GEHEN
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 16, 2018
House Speaker David Ralston is…not amused. He issued the following statement just after midnight Monday morning:
“The actions and language used on this video are reprehensible. Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately. Georgia is better than this.” —Speaker David Ralston
A resignation at this point is mostly symbolic. Spencer lost his primary election in May to Steven Sainz.
UPDATE FROM SPEAKER’S OFFICE:
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Spencer would have never said all these things unless he was already comfortable saying them. I guess Spencer’s prior comments were not enough for Ralston to ask him to resign? This is not the first time Spencer has done something idiotic.
While I’ve always assumed Cohen would get sued repeatedly, my guess is that the suits don’t succeed because the individuals have a choice, and there is no actual duress. I saw a clip that Matt Gaetz didn’t fall for the whole schtick, so clearly judgment matters. I have to watch now- sounds more embarrassing than coverage of Michael Williams’ campmaign.
Like a lot of pols, Spencer is loud, vain, and not as smart as Borat. Maybe if more of them lost reelection bids Ralston would call for more of them to resign.
There is Noway Spencer resigns. He’s set himself up to be the next Fox News host or Supreme court Justice.
Perhaps both sides are at fault. Spencer is probably a fine person.
/s
Maybe Sacha Baron Cohen, and Showtime, should take some blame for this.
Blame? More like credit to them.
I just watched the segment and it’s astounding.
They exposed the shameful character and utter idiocy of an elected official.
We only had a hint of it when he made that Facebook comment to LaDawn.
Btw, LaDawn, I’m curious about how you feel abt this.
Casey Cagle:
Casey Cagle today called for the immediate resignation of state Rep. Jason Spencer in the wake of his racist, obscene and humiliating appearance on “Who Is America” aired last night.
“Rep. Spencer’s behavior embarrasses the state of Georgia, dehumanizes many proud Georgians and offends any sense of decency,” said Cagle. “Even though his constituents wisely defeated him at the ballot box in the May primary, his term runs through the end of this year. He has no business drawing a paycheck from taxpayers for one more day. He must resign immediately or face expulsion from the House by his colleagues.”
Spencer, a vocal supporter of Brian Kemp, last week issued a statement reversing his position on recordings done under false pretenses. He is now against them.
This is the latest example of Kemp and his supporters suffering karma-related injuries.
After self-righteously campaigning on “doing the right thing even when no one is looking,” reports surfaced last week that at a private gathering of political insiders, Kemp made jokes about sexual assault aimed at President Trump. “He should have groped her,” Kemp said to other secretaries of state after watching the post-Access Hollywood tape debate between Hillary Clinton and Trump in 2016.
Unable to run on his record, Kemp based his entire campaign on a sleazy secret recording.
His most prominent supporter just last week referred to secret recordings done by one party as “inconceivable,” “unheard of,” and “perhaps illegal.”
A point could be made that conservatives are beginning to use the first amendment against us with the equation of money as speech, religious liberty etc.
Hopefully there is a special session for Amazon. If so, this guy can be expelled because he’s not going to resign. If Kemp wins Abrams must hang this around his neck with endless creative ads. His nekkid rear end should become the face of Kemp.