Previous poll Next poll
Do you think Kansas Rep. Virgil Peck should resign?
| Response | Percent | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 71% | 1231 | |
| No | 25% | 435 | |
| I’m not sure | 3% | 52 | |
| Total | 1718 | ||
- Sound Off: Truck dogs May 19, 2013 · 13 comments
- Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis May 18, 2013 · 62 comments
- Opinion: Scandals undermine trust in Obama May 19, 2013 · 41 comments
- Missouri man dies of injuries after Saturday motorcycle accident May 18, 2013 · 24 comments
- Blog: As planners debate Menards project, new study finds retail vacancy rate at 7.2 percent citywide May 20, 2013 · 4 comments
- Gas prices approach record highs May 18, 2013 · 38 comments
- Editorial: Police needs May 20, 2013 · 5 comments
- For Kansas basketball, recruiting never ceases May 20, 2013 · 7 comments
- Senate approves bill banning use of tax dollars to advocate for gun control May 17, 2013 · 62 comments
- On the street: Have you ever had a memorable summer job? May 19, 2013 · 8 comments
- For Kansas basketball, recruiting never ceases May 20, 2013
- Kansas baseball routed by Utes May 20, 2013
- Free State softball draws Derby first May 20, 2013
- Two Topeka men shot in Lawrence early Sunday morning; police seeking persons of interest May 19, 2013
- KU student killed in crash on U.S. Highway 59 May 17, 2013
- Trio of Lawrence road projects to begin on Monday May 19, 2013
- Thread of pain ran through Jackson’s career June 28, 2009
- KU student sues Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, alleging underage drinking led to head injury March 19, 2013
- Summer job outlook good, not great May 20, 2013
- Higher education funding back at the forefront; Republican leaders still negotiating budget and taxes May 16, 2013
Comments
jayhawklawrence 2 years, 2 months ago
Incredibly stupid yes, but the man was elected to serve a term and he has broken no laws that I know of.
Fidogump 2 years, 2 months ago
So it's ok to go on being a know racist representing the state? Why don't you invite the kkk in they spout racist stuff also.
fred_mertz 2 years, 2 months ago
Being anti-illegal immigrant is not being a racist. Illegal immigrants are not defined by race but by nationality.
And your statement about the KKK shows your bias. Why not use the New Black Panthers or Revernd Jeremiah Wright as an example of racist groups or individuals? Why fall back on the meaningless and pretty much defunct KKK?
ivalueamerica 2 years, 2 months ago
He is NOT in trouble for being anti Illegal immigrant, and saying so is absurd.
There are many in the legislator, both sides of the aisle that are anti illegal immigrant who are NOT being asked to resign.
He is being asked to resign for making a horrible hateful statement and then suggesting those in his part of the state all agree.
Statements that to any reasonable person, including the Governor and many GOP state leaders including others in the legislature from his part of the state agree, was unprofessional, hateful and out of place.
He spoke ill of the people of his part of the state and that is more than enough reason for him to resign.
I am not sure why you pretend he is being asked to resign simply for being against illegal immigration, but that is a dishonest statement and suggests much about you.
Majestic42 2 years, 2 months ago
TL;DR
angermeier 2 years, 2 months ago
"meaningless and and pretty much defunct KKK"
WOW. "Meangingless"!?!! Do you find their history of MURDERING innocent people "meangingless" as well?
F-it, do you find MURDER meangingless?
Yeah, because you certainly aren't raciest if you suggest shooting a certain race from helicopters, you are just being funny!?!!
sr80 2 years, 2 months ago
Typical Liberal Tripe! Doesn't Pelosi have a chore for you to do Fido??
phlash 2 years, 2 months ago
He's broken no laws, however he has exhibited an extreme lack of maturity. Discretion and decorum should be expected of people who are elected to represent all human beings within their district. This person fails them miserably . . . and he should step down.
footnote2 2 years, 2 months ago
A verbal threat to kill an elected official will normally get you a serious conversation with law enforcement, with the Secret Service in the case of the President of the U.S. What does a verbal proposal by an elected official to kill an illegal immigrant get you in Kansas today? Is there no public disgrace anymore?
fred_mertz 2 years, 2 months ago
Wow, are you really that literal that you cannot discern between hyperbole and tongue in cheek and real threats?
I suppose you went out and got a gun when Obama said if they bring a knife we'll bring a gun. Hint, Obama didn't really mean that he'd resort to violence, he was simply using hyperbole to make a point.
Pecks comment was inappropriate, insensitive and offensive, but it was not a real threat which is obvious to most people.
acsgreens 2 years, 2 months ago
Y'know, that's kind of funny too. You somehow feel Tom has a crushing case of monomania (which i am assuming you only used in an attempt to intellectually intimidate him) and say so in a insulting manner? I happen to agree with Tom, but in now way does that consume my mind and take over all rational thoughts. No need to get personal on here, although i can see you feel the need to do still remaining anonymous. "If you are not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart and if you are not conservative at thirty, you have no brain."-Winston Churchill
Ceallach 2 years, 2 months ago
pretty sure it was "40, you have no brain."
Corey Williams 2 years, 2 months ago
"no" way
The rest of your statement is moot and invalid.
Good day.
overplayedhistory 2 years, 1 month ago
Too bad you can't have a heart and a brain.
Cappy 2 years, 2 months ago
Monomania-the kissing disease?
ivalueamerica 2 years, 2 months ago
I liken it to homophobia. There are many studies that suggest those who are the most homophobic have homo-erotic feelings that they can not figure out how to address.
I suspect Tom is deeply madly in love with Obama and actually idolizes him and finds him a hero and poor old Tom is unable to process that information with the capacity God gave him in his processor, and so reacts this way.
Really, in a way, it is sort of cute and sweet....and sad...unrequited love.
Cappy 2 years, 2 months ago
Nailed it!
Alceste 2 years, 2 months ago
Were good ole boy Virgil EMPLOYED by the state of Kansas, he most certainly would face termination for saying what he said. Funny how "that" works, eh?
AreUNorml 2 years, 2 months ago
I think he was just caught reading from the playbook of government officials. us and them mentality.
mrjcg2 2 years, 2 months ago
Of course not - I think its important that our elected officials make vicous racist statements and then claim that he's talking like any Southeast Kansan. Thanks for perpetuating the stereotypes.
If I were in his district, I would demand his immediate resignation. Four of my family's best frineds are from his district - they are intellegent, thoughtful, and would never say anything like that, even as a joke.
Un freaking believable. He sounds like a jerk, and I'm not joking.
sassykansan 2 years, 2 months ago
I was born and raised in Southeast Kansas and am mortified that this idiot made us all sound like a group of racists. It makes me sick. I hope he steps down.
jhawkinsf 2 years, 2 months ago
Peck should resign if the people who elected him want him to resign. There is a process that should be followed, a recall. I have no idea who this man is nor do I know his character, other than this statement made in extremely poor taste. Presumably, the people in his district know him better and can therefore make a more informed judgement.
acornwebworks 2 years, 2 months ago
Thank you for an intelligent comment.
bd 2 years, 1 month ago
actually this same poll was listed in the Wichita paper and the results were opposite Larryville's
question4u 2 years, 2 months ago
It's no longer Peck who is doing the worst damage to Kansas. It's the people who insist that there is nothing wrong with what he said. The story made international news, and every posted comment is potentially being read by people across the country and abroad. That doesn't seem to have helped Kansas's reputation. CNN International, for example, pointed out that at least six anti-immigrant "hate groups" have been identified in the state.
You can't buy that kind of publicity. Let Peck shoot his mouth off, let his supporters add their comments, and watch Kansas grow!
cheeseburger 2 years, 2 months ago
I thought we learned from the recent Supreme Court case concerning the Phelps clan that a person can pretty much say whatever they want without fear of reprisal. I wish Peck hadn't said what he did, and I'm sure he does, too, but the man did not break any laws that I know of. I suggest we worry more about the state's budget woes, school finance, and KPERS, and less about an ill-advised remark.
acornwebworks 2 years, 2 months ago
Thank you,as well, for an intelligent comment.
bad_dog 2 years, 2 months ago
The Phelp's Supreme Court ruling only indicated one can indulge in certain free speech without legal "reprisal" such as an adverse judgment. It doesn't address a politician being "pantsed" by the public, becoming an object of ridicule or being subjected to a recall election should it occur.
Orwell 2 years, 2 months ago
A public official making such a vile, contemptuous statement, even as a joke, demeans us all. If he has any decency and sense of responsibility at all – which I doubt – he'll resign.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
rush, y u so funny?
bad_dog 2 years, 2 months ago
Heck no. Politicians should feel free to say whatever stupid thing pops into their minds. You know like George Allen and "macaca". No big deal. No repercussions from using a word like that in his statement, right?
xbusguy 2 years, 2 months ago
I voted yes, Yep, yep..... kick him out. No wonder they make fun of us Kansan folk.
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 2 months ago
Considering the posts on this thread, emergency supplies of hyperbole will have to be rushed to Lawrence in the near future. You're using it all up, YDP!
acornwebworks 2 years, 2 months ago
Sadly, I'll bet they don't know who you're referring to.
TheSychophant 2 years, 2 months ago
i think all of the clowns in Topeka need to resign.
pace 2 years, 2 months ago
He should resign. He should be charged.
cheeseburger 2 years, 2 months ago
Charged with what? Last I knew, making stupid remarks isn't illegal. If it were, there would be lots more people incarcerated!
pace 2 years, 2 months ago
He has a right to make stupid remarks but as an official of the state of Kansas he has no right to speak from the state house inciting the public or law officer to violence. He has a higher standard to meet. If he resigns and continues to make stupid statement he has no more responsibility than you. He can make stupid and irresponsible statements and people have the right to criticize him or defend them. I don't approve of his wild west let'sget them ,dead or alive, preferably dead. He advocated shooting illegal aliens from helicopters. His unapologetic apology was obviously insincere.
rando1965 2 years, 2 months ago
no. this is america come on people..... freedom of speach.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
freadom, FTFY
mloburgio 2 years, 2 months ago
TomShewmon(Tom Shewmon) says…
No, I think Obama should resign---A.S.A.P. ----American Tragedy. tommy you must have a very short memory, we just got rid of the worst president ever george bush or have you forgotten what a mess he left this country in when he left office.
AreUNorml 2 years, 2 months ago
Bush was a plant, put in place to set up the current economic situation. Obama's on the same team and is doing exactly what he's been told. The next president, if we're lucky enough to get one, will continue the fine tradition, until we become a dictatorship, preferably not theocratic.
newmedia 2 years, 2 months ago
Same poll question asked by KAKE (Wichita). 62% say he should NOT resign.
TheStonesSuck 2 years, 2 months ago
I would question the framing of the question as presented. Also the data regarding sample size and demos is needed to draw a remotely reliable conclusion from this. I'm not surprised though, Sedgwick county is a depressing place filled with unhappy people.
wounded_soldier 2 years, 2 months ago
What is this politically correct stuff? If we are all politically correct, we really don't know how the other truly thinks or feels about an issue. Speak your mind regardless of what others think and we will know where you stand. Then and only then can we know whether or not to vote for you.
This Peck is a fool and we know it now. If he kept his mouth shut and said nothing but still felt that way, we wouldn't know. But now we know and next time he runs for election we know who we are voting for and what kind of man he is. Perfect sense to me. Stop being superficial and lets be real.
seriouscat 2 years, 2 months ago
Sometimes keepin it real can go bad.
blindrabbit 2 years, 2 months ago
Sure he should resign, unfortunately, he probably represents tje views of many of his constituents. Southeast Kansas is not the most progressive part of the State or nation and therefore his vomit fits the area well.
pizzapete 2 years, 2 months ago
Heck no, where else are we going to find an idiot with a name like that?
Paul R. Getto 2 years, 2 months ago
His behavior and demeanor may not please all, but the people who elected him are the ones to deal with this in their district, not the average keyboard koward making judgements from afar. Let it rest, folks. Much more important than imprudent language: The real legislative issues are getting to the Senate, where one can hope most of them will die.
bad_dog 2 years, 2 months ago
While I concur with much of your post Paul, keep in mind folks are commenting in response to a "hot-button" topic placed in front of them by the LJW. Responses therefore are kind of Pavlovian, I guess.
civilunrest 2 years, 2 months ago
I thought terroristic threats were illegal.
JJE007 2 years, 1 month ago
No, not at all... All you have to do is say is that you were joking. Just remember these words- "I was kidding about the (fire/rape/assassination/genocide/deadly mutating virus)!"
ivalueamerica 2 years, 2 months ago
Another reason he should resign is because his actions have caused distraction for him and his job to represent his district. For the good of his district, he should step aside and let someone meet the needs of those he represents.
Kris_H 2 years, 2 months ago
I would be interested to know what people in his district really do think about his words. Any of you here?
If I were in his district I'd be working on that recall election right now...
nanimwe 2 years, 2 months ago
I'm not so worried about his actual comment - I don't take it seriously because I don't think he meant it to be taken seriously - than I am about his intelligence. How could he be so dumb not to know that such a comment is inappropriate? He should be recalled for being stupid, not racist.
Guitarzan 2 years, 2 months ago
While doing the public's business on state property, this man stated for the record that he thought human beings should be culled like wild hogs by gunmen in helicopters.
There is a difference between being "anti-illegal immigrant" and being an ignorant child who says that some people are the same as wild animals and need to be brutally slaughtered.
That sort of ignorance is pathetic, but to then state that "I was just talking like a southeast Kansas person" is either more pathetic, or perhaps a worryingly accurate summation of the constituency he represents.
He should resign. If he doesn't resign, then his constituents should recall him. If his constituents don't recall him, then the rest of us should be very wary of these "southeast Kansas persons" he claims to represent. They obviously place very little value on human life.
ralph28 2 years, 2 months ago
He should absolutely resign. And by the way, it is a disgrace that Republicans are not calling for his resignation. Party loyalty should never trump decency. No Republican or Democrat should feel that anyone (regardless of party) should excuse such hateful remarks. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. You have to wonder what it would take to have the Republican party ask for a fellow members resignation. And any Democrat spewing such hate should never be supported by fellow Democrats as well.
KayCee 2 years, 2 months ago
It was a stupid remark, but I believe he was speaking figurtively. You can see a lot more from a helicopter, that's why they are used to hunt hogs who run through the brush. Why am I not surprised that the kids in Lawrence call for resignation?
Paul R. Getto 2 years, 2 months ago
"If he doesn't resign, then his constituents should recall him." === Guitarzan: Perhaps, but I believe the standards for a recall petition are much higher than just saying something stupid. 25-4302: Grounds for recall. (a) Grounds for recall are conviction of a felony, misconduct in office or failure to perform duties prescribed by law. No recall submitted to the voters shall be held void because of the insufficiency of the grounds, application, or petition by which the submission was procured. (b) As used in this section, the term "misconduct in office" means a violation of law by the officer that impacts the officer's ability to perform the official duties of the office.
JustNoticed 2 years, 2 months ago
If he should resign, then his consituents should secede from the state. Sure he's an idiot, but, well, you finish the syllogism.
beatrice 2 years, 2 months ago
What are the people he represents saying? While his comments are in very poor taste, he is still protected by freedom of speech. He actually has the right to say horrible things that offends me, and he was not actually advocating for the literal slaughter of people from helicopters. He was just speaking like a bigot. He should only resign if he feels his comments will keep him from continuing his duties, or if he is saying things and acting in a way completely in conflict of how he spoke and acted during his election. Somehow, I doubt it on both accounts.
Should the people he represents attempt to recall him now that there is no question to the types of comments he will say? That is their decision.
jackbinkelman 2 years, 2 months ago
"Should ...peck resign" Yes, of course he should resign.
1Dem 2 years, 2 months ago
No resignation, then RECALL Peck.
kawrivercrow 2 years, 1 month ago
I'm loving the free speech liberalism oozing off of these pages. It makes Lawrence, KS look like a town full of soft-headed pseudo-intellectuals unable to do anything but regurgitate spoon-fed, PC pabulum.
Fortunately, that is not always true.
Kontum1972 2 years, 1 month ago
shooting men, women, children, and older people from helicopters who cross borders to get away from a crappy environment to give a better life to their families...
The Statue's Message
At the time of her creation, she was saying:
Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you can just get to America, you can be free. No matter what your station where you are now, you'll be equal before the law here.
No one will ask for your papers.
No one will fasten a number on you.
No one will extort a percentage of your income as the price of earning a living.
You'll be free to pursue the life you've always dreamed of.
Emma Lazarus summed it up in those lovely words that are inscribed on the base of the Statue:
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these — the homeless, tempest-tossed — to me; I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door.
That is the America we once had — the beacon of liberty, providing light and hope and inspiration to the entire world — the America we have forsaken for a mess of tasteless pottage.
That is the America we should have.
laughingtokeepfromcrying 2 years, 1 month ago
Thanks. We need to be reminded. We need to remember.
Another thought has to do with being the first one to throw a stone. Who hasn't said something really stupid (ok, not THAT stupid!, but stupid none the less)?
.
Kontum1972 2 years, 1 month ago
obtw i grew up in southeast kansas and the people i grew up with were descent hard working Americans. I dont recognize this clown and he needs a new talior.
cheeseburger 2 years, 1 month ago
If the punishment for making a stupid remark is a petition drive for ouster, where is the petition being circulated for the 'community organizer' claiming his father served in WWII? I'd like to sign it!
Ithpeeple 2 years, 1 month ago
Native Americans were deemed heathens when protecting their land from European terrorists. Like the Islam religion, these terrorists raped, killed and indoctrinated nations with free speech, the majority of which, lies; oppression; and politics. Don't forget, "History repeats itself." Divine retribution: the ferrell shooter gets shot.
jayhawklawrence 2 years, 1 month ago
Mr. Peck embarrassed his constituents and his state by his remarks. It will be interesting to see what his political response will be.
This has been reported around the world and in this time of dramatic political changes, we need to show a good example of how we protect the right of free speech and at the same time how our system deals with undesirable political leaders.
The window of opportunity for Mr. Peck to redeem himself and be a good example to others is closing.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.