According to Twitter via IdahoReporter.com, Sen. John McGee thanked Idaho smokers. Did he mean it?
Sen. @john_mcgee begins transportation meeting in new room saying ““we thank the cigarette smokers of the great state of Idaho.” about 4 hours ago from Seesmic - January 19, 2010
Senator McGee (R) is on the Senate Transportation Committee and he is also on the Idaho Health and Welfare Senate Committee and Agricultural Commitee. He hails from District 10, Caldwell.
His remark can be taken two ways. He was being facetious when he said this or he genuinely meant it. If he was facetious and derogatory, he is not much of a man or a senator but a real butt. If he meant it, then the state has entered into being responsible for the addictions caused from smoking and they condone and support smokers as a source of capital revenue. Maybe Sen. McGee is a smoker? I don’t know.
1/21/2010 Update: Brad from the Idaho Reporter.com who tweeted the above message responded to me about the comment McGee made thanking smokers for the new capitol. Brad construed the remark as neither derogatory or serious - it was a joke. (read the comment below) Well, I know one thing, a senator on the Idaho Health and Welfare committee who JOKES about smokers paying for Idaho’s Capital - $ 122 + million dollar renovation is in very poor taste. What next – is he going to joke about cancer or obesity? So, did everyone laugh? May I remind many of you, there are smokers who want to quit but cannot – it isn’t funny.
Butts!
I posted that tweet.
Sen. McGee said that comment as a joke, after telling the rest of the committee audience that he was pleased to be in the new committee room. I should have provided more context in my message.
I wouldn’t characterize his comment as either derogatory or serious.
Thanks for the comment, Brad – but I think he is still a butt. Poor taste.