To the editor:
Rep. Virgil Peck was quoted in papers Tuesday saying that one way of controlling illegal immigrants would be to shoot them from helicopters in the same manner that feral hogs are controlled in Kansas. When asked about the inappropriateness of the comment he simply responded that “I was just speaking like a southeast Kansas person.”
Virgil, please know that you were not speaking for me. Your ill-advised comments were strictly crude and offensive. I find it appalling that a person elected to the Kansas House of Representatives would speak so ignorantly. The remarks suggesting that immigrants should be slaughtered like so many hogs demonstrate a complete disregard for any common human decency. Not only have you humiliated yourself, you have become an embarrassment for the region and the state as a whole.
This ought to go over big with the economic development folks, seeing how Montgomery County has led the state in unemployment rate now for a couple of months. You betcha, move your business and factory to our region and just talk like a southeast Kansas person. This thing makes us all look like a bunch of stupid rednecks. Thanks a lot, Virgil.
The only right thing to do now would be to resign. You should quit as you are clearly not fit to represent the interest of southeast Kansas in Topeka. You should quit and walk home from Topeka, begging the forgiveness of every person you meet on the way.
Comments
pace 2 years, 2 months ago
Good letter.
consumer1 2 years, 2 months ago
get over yourself.
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 2 months ago
Across the state, progressives are having to pause every few minutes to wipe the spittle from their monitors while getting all cranky & stuff over this issue.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Yes, if Progressives get upset over an elected official's hateful comments that liken people to feral hogs, then call me a Progressive.
However, I'm not at all surprised at your reaction.
fred_mertz 2 years, 2 months ago
Any bets on whether he gets re-elected next time? Heck, what Peck did pales in comparison to what Otto does and they keep sending him to Topeka. Perhaps Peck was right in that is how they talk and think in SE Kansas - of course not all, but enough to keep electing these guys.
lucky_guy 2 years, 2 months ago
Funny thing is that Brownback's efforts to repopulate western KS will only work if we let the people who at least look like illegals in. The census Finney co is 30% latino, that is the only growing segment. Looks like Peck is going to need a lot of ammo.
vertigo 2 years, 2 months ago
Yes, according to Connie O'Brien. If you have "the olive complexion" you are an illegal.
Lynn731 2 years, 2 months ago
The comment was a joke. Can no one take a joke any more? Thank you, Lynn
bad_dog 2 years, 2 months ago
Yeah, Peck should be doing stand-up routines. Nothing like shooting folks from a helicopter as a source of humor. Leg slapping, gut splitting funny. I just can't understand why everyone isn't still laughing...
I am as opposed to illegal immigration as possible, however thinking that comment is funny for any reason is just sick, IMHO. But you feel free to laugh on. Perhaps some day you'll be the target of someone's "joke". After all, it's just a joke, albeit at your expense, right? He who laughs last, eh?
whats_going_on 2 years, 2 months ago
it was only a "joke" because he realized that this was going to hurt...tried to take it back.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Lynn, what if the "joke" were about shooting Christians like feral hogs on the way out of church? Funny? Think conservatives would just ignore an elected official making this type of comment?
The comment speaks volumes about Peck and his views of others, especially given his original refusal to apologize.
consumer1 2 years, 2 months ago
Beatrice, Is being a CHristian and going to church illegal now? Ever heard of comparing apples to apples? Guess not. Your lack of comparison makes you look stupid.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
The comparison is about the shooting of groups of people, not their activity, legal or otherwise. If you prefer, do you believe conservatives would be upset if the joke had been about shooting a group of people with which they might sympathize?
More importantly, would it really matter if people being shot like feral hogs were here legally or not? Murder is murder. Do you consider peoples' lives of less importance if they are here illegally? You appear to suggest so.
Now, how do you like them apples?
angermeier 2 years, 2 months ago
consumer1, isn't shooting human beings from a helicopter also illegal?
Progressive_Kansan 2 years, 2 months ago
Yea genocide is hilarious.
angermeier 2 years, 2 months ago
It was so funny, right Lynn!?!! And so is ALL genocide. Screw it, Hitler was hysterical as well, right?
( note sarcasm here people)
If it was "a joke" like you say, how come he apologized!?!!
I'm going to assume you are a really funny person as well...
kugrad 2 years, 2 months ago
If Rep. Peck was a Democrat or if he worked for NPR the same people who are ready to excuse him now would be rightfully calling for his resignation. Rep. Peck should resign. He crossed the line.
People want to say it was "Just a joke." If the joke had used the N-word and been about lynching, would you say that was okay too? His remarks were inappropriate. He should resign.
notajayhawk 2 years, 2 months ago
"If Rep. Peck was a Democrat or if he worked for NPR the same people who are ready to excuse him now would be rightfully calling for his resignation."
If Rep. Peck was a Democrat or if he worked for NPR the same people who are ready to call for his resignation now would be rightfully excusing him. There, see how easy that is?
QuinnSutore 2 years, 2 months ago
God forbid people joke about actually defending our country from invaders.
bad_dog 2 years, 2 months ago
"Defending" doesn't require or justify shooting people from helicopters.
kugrad 2 years, 2 months ago
Immigrants are not "invaders" and we don't need to "defend" against them. They are humans, just like you QuinnSutore. There was no 'joke' made, as a joke must involve humor. What was said was a xenophobic and insensitive remark that implied immigrants could be viewed as feral pigs; that they were a less-than-human pest worthy of being shot. I fail to see the humor.
If you can't see the offensiveness in Rep. Peck's remark, I would suggest that you share his views of immigrants. Perhaps your zeal to 'defend our country' is actually a zeal against those whom you see as inferior to yourself. If you can't understand how one would take offense to his remarks, you are either not being honest or are incredibly ignorant.
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 2 months ago
"Immigrants are not "invaders" " Legal immigrants are not the problem. Illegal aliens are.
fred_mertz 2 years, 2 months ago
Legal immigrants are not invaders and should be welcomed, but illegal immigrants are criminals and thus do pose a threat against which we do need to defend ourselves.
True, some, despite their disregard for our laws, are basically decent hardworking people, but others are human traffickers, drug dealers, rapist and terrorists.
How do we discern between the good and the evil? Simple, require everyone to go through the legal immigration channels and protect our borders, all our borders, from illegal immigrants.
I recognize that these are humans and should be treated with dignity and therefore Peck's remark was inappropriate. I am just as angry at Peck for the remark itself and the distraction it caused from the issue of illegal immigration in this country. It is just one of our major problems we must solve.
consumer1 2 years, 2 months ago
They are breaking the law. Deserve to be shot of course not. deserve to be deported you bet. They are still illegal aliens.
angermeier 2 years, 2 months ago
you are so right Quinnsutore! The jews invaded Germany, so Hitler "defend" his country. Worked for him, didn't it!?!!
This is not "defending" a country, it is genocide. Look that word up in your dictionary ( also look up "bigotry" while your at it)
sr80 2 years, 2 months ago
I lament the status of being associated with the human race !!!! We are all a sorry bunch ! have a good St. Patty Day !!!
SouthWestKs 2 years, 2 months ago
Here is my post from the other letter.. KSN did a poll about this, results were about 50/50 on weather to apologize!! Looks like Knasas is split down the middle.. Have a good day..
jafs 2 years, 2 months ago
"weather" "Kansas"
If so, that is a good illustration that many things are not best left to a majority vote.
KayCee 2 years, 2 months ago
NO, but the kids on here have to make fun of him. Name:Virgil Peck.
Grant_Runyun 2 years, 2 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Starlight 2 years, 2 months ago
Pecker Jr. Can't believe everyone keeps missing the Junior part.
Boosh 2 years, 2 months ago
"KayCee (anonymous) replies… NO, but the kids on here have to make fun of him. Name:Virgil Peck."
Um no I don't think so, see he is a republican, and as such you identify him with an "r" after his name.
Hence we have peck r from tyro, ks.
KayCee 2 years, 2 months ago
You made my point. Add the 'r' for the fun.
KayCee 2 years, 2 months ago
Also shows the juvenile thinking of the posters. :)
yourworstnightmare 2 years, 2 months ago
Who is Ferrell Hogs?
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
I believe he was a character on Dukes of Hazard.
Hong_Kong_Phooey 2 years, 2 months ago
The funny thing about all of these comments is that you all ASSUMED that Peck was strictly speaking about illegal Mexican immigrants, even though you same people always (correctly) point out that illegal immigration is not confined to Mexicans and/or Hispanics. Pretty freakin' racist of you...
If you disagree with what I've written, please, provide Peck's exact quote that shows it was confined to Mexican or Hispanic illegal immigrants.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Why don't you show us Peck's history of comments about building a fence along the Canadian border first?
To suggest Peck may not have been speaking of immigrants who arrived in our country illegally through our southern border is disingenuous.
Hong_Kong_Phooey 2 years, 2 months ago
Again, reading in your own assumptions to what was written. I did not state that he was not referring to those immigrants who illegally enter through our southern border. I simply stated that his comments were not CONFINED to said group.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
How do you know his intent?
consumer1 2 years, 2 months ago
Whitney M, I guess it is okay for some people on this forum to use the word Pecker, even though is relates the male reproductive organ and also is part of a Racist stereotype of white people.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Don't forget, "Pecker" is also the name of a movie by John Waters (the main character pecked at his food growing up, hence the nickname). I've seen John Waters's "Pecker," have you? It is quite good, but not that long.
If we must avoid words that relate to the male reproductive organ, then what are we to call former Vice President Dick Cheney from now on -- Elbow Cheney?
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
I imagine the response would be much the same if he was a Democrat.
jafs 2 years, 2 months ago
Double standards are part and parcel of partisan politics, unfortunately.
Your own viewpoints have expressed quite a bit of that as well.
It's one of the reasons I think partisanship is a bad idea, and unproductive.
consumer1 2 years, 2 months ago
Ms Matthew's what a double standard you operate under.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
lulz, u mad?
xclusive85 2 years, 2 months ago
Then call him a peckerwood. To capitalize it over and over and use it as a proper noun as a play on his name is wrong and violates the TOS.
MomTaxpayerCitizen 2 years, 2 months ago
Virgil Peck apologized, which is more than I can say for the 30 million foreigners who have illegally invaded our country, stealing our identities, evading taxes by working for cash and stealing our jobs, using our emergency rooms as free health care clinics, having twice as many kids as law-abiding U.S. taxpayers and lining up for welfare, then sending $billions to their own country every year. This is a scam linked to organized crime. A violent Mexico-based ring was busted recently, with branches in 21 states, selling fake IDs to illegals.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
Obvious troll account.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
I think the Indians are still waiting for your apology
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Fake IDs????? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So much for the law on requiring an ID to vote.
Grant_Runyun 2 years, 2 months ago
It's nice to see good, freedom-loving Americans clamoring for greater cencorship on these forums. Predicted response: "b-b-b-but they did it first".
equalaccessprivacy 2 years, 2 months ago
Please sign this petition denouncing Peck; Brownback is enough of a cross for KS to carry: http://americasvoiceonline.org/blog/entry/take_action_against_kansas_state_rep.virgil_peck_r_who_suggested_shooting/
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
Not defending the idiotic statement, but did anybody read this part of the letter?
how Montgomery County has led the state in unemployment rate now for a couple of months.
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
Political jokes nowadays can only be told one way. From a lib point of view. Anybody wish to give some lib greatest hits, and not by state reps.
I will start by giving you a quote by a federal senator from Minnesota.
"George W. Bush is like a bad comic working the crowd. A moron - if you'll pardon the expression."
BTW..........a moron is a person with an IQ under 50. Where be the outrage folks?
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
My point exactly seeker. There is a great deal of research showing Bush was indeed a better student than Algore.
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
When have you ever heard "just take me out and shoot me" I'd die if........
Was there not a popular television show called Just Shoot Me? I bet you are the type to protest college mascots or automobile names.
Relax witchfinder. loosen up. Oh, I do not mean literally loosen up, but......oh I give up no matter what is said you will be offended..
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
seeker of truth..........Do we in Lawrence toss rocks in glass houses? Do we allow an open forum for reverse racism?
wissmo 2 years, 2 months ago
I often ponder where and why Lawrence residents think the other part of the state is racist? Topeka is home to probably the most important civil rights court decision in history. Ft. Scott is home to a national beloved and famous black man whom was talented in all media.
Hispanics call East Central Kansas home for generations. S.W. Kansas should be a positive history lesson on multi-culturalism. Just to mention a bit of info.
The only two counties in the state to vote dem. in national elections seem to always be complaining about race problems. WYCO and Douglas.
Maybe Larrytown progressives need to make amends with the lib in the mirror first?
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 2 months ago
At least he wasn't joking about the Special Olympics like another politician was doing not all that long ago.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
Oh, what a zinger!
Grant_Runyun 2 years, 2 months ago
People say regrettable thigns in the moment all the time. I've done it, you've done it, Obama did it, and so did Peck. What defines the character of a man is how they react after such mistakes.
angermeier 2 years, 2 months ago
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Demand-Rep-Virgil-Pecks-resignation/210411825642900
Commenting has been disabled for this item.