Opponent doesn't pile on after Davis calls Obama 'boy'

Michael Kelley, the Democratic opponent of 4th District Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), said Davis’ comments about Presidential candidate Barack Obama were “thoughtless,” but said his campaign against the incumbent would focus on other issues. Kelley, a physician from Oldham County, told PolitickerKY.com Davis showed “poor judgement.”

“It was thoughtless. To ascribe it to racism, I don’t know him well enough, one way or the other,” said Kelley. “Am I planning on really hammering away at that? Probably not.”

While discussing Obama during a speech at Saturday’s 4th Congressional District Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner, Davis said “I’m going to tell you something – that boy’s finger does not need to be on the button.”

After an uproar over Davis’ use of the word “boy,” Davis delivered a letter of apology yesterday to Obama’s Senate office in Washington, D.C. “My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity,” wrote Davis.

Kelley said he hoped to focus his campaign against Davis on other issues, including what he said was extensive use of the Congressional franking privilege by Davis.

“Calling an African-American candidate ‘boy’ is stupid, while spending $168,000 to self-promote with franking privileges in light of the fact that you called out Ken Lucas for spending less is hypocritical,” said Kelley.

For 2006, Davis ranked near the top of the list of users of the free mail privilege afforded to members of Congress. In an earlier campaign, Davis criticized then-Congressman Ken Lucas for his own use of the frank. In light of the controversy over Davis’ remarks on Obama, Kelley suggested the public’s focus should be redirected.

“I don’t know what to make of it,” said Kelley. “Stuff like [the Obama comment] gets more press instead of a concerted effort to waste taxpayer dollars.” Kelley offered an example from Davis’ record, citing the Congressman’s vote on legislation related to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). “[Davis] voted against SCHIP...Its hard for me to square dropping so much money on the war and not on health insurance for indigent children,” said Kelley.

Davis voted against SCHIP reauthorization legislation in the form of H.R. 3963 and an amended version of H.R. 976. Both of those bills passed the House but were ultimately vetoed by President Bush. In response, a spokesman for Congressman Davis' campaign referenced Davis' apology and his support of alternate SCHIP legislation.

"Congressman Davis' apology for his poor choice of words has been widely covered by the media. Kelley's comments amount to nothing more than piling on to score cheap political points," said campaign manager Jeremy Hughes.

"Congressman Davis supported the responsible reauthorization of SCHIP. What he opposed was the attempt by the majority in Congress to use a program intended to assist low income children to cover adults making $80,000+ per year, who could afford to purchase private insurance."

ALSO on PolitickerKY.com: Louisville NAACP President calls Davis' 'boy' comment 'insulting'