Republican Yost rebukes Bolling for comment about Obama supporters
Joseph Yost
Bill Bolling
Correction: The original version of this post incorrectly listed Yost’s occupation as jail diversion coordinator for the nonprofit Mental Health Association of the New River Valley. Yost said that he left that job in March and now does consulting work in behavioral health.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is catching heat for a remark he made about supporters of President Barack Obama over the weekend, and some of it is coming from his own party.
Bolling, the state chairman of Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, made the comment Saturday at a “prebuttal” event prior to Obama’s campaign stop in Henrico County. Here’s the way it was reported by the Daily Press newspaper.
“Bolling said that if people think Obama has done a good job over the past three years , they should vote for him — then ‘check themselves into a mental hospital.’”
Representatives of the National Alliance on Mental Illness condemned Bolling’s remark on Monday, calling it “outrageous, ignorant and prejudiced.”
Today, Del. Joseph Yost, R-Blacksburg, issued a statement calling on Bolling to apologize.
“I am disappointed in the Lieutenant Governor’s comments and I call on him to issue an apology not only to the citizens of this Commonwealth but to all individuals who suffer from a mental health issue and their friends and family,” Yost said. “The comments were not only a disappointment and distasteful but continue the stigmatization of individuals with mental illness.
“This is not a partisan issue. Twenty-five percent of the population suffers from a diagnosable mental health problem.
“While we may elect to disagree with each other’s political views, we should chose to do it in a respectful manner and not one that continues the practice of stigmatizing individuals with mental illness or any others.”
Bolling spokeswoman Ibbie Hedrick responded:
“The Lieutenant Governor did not intend to offend anyone, and if anyone was offended by his comment he would certainly apologize for that. His point was that he just doesn’t understand how anyone could objectively conclude that President Obama has done a good job and deserves a second term. However, he agrees that he could have expressed that view in a better way.”
– Michael Sluss
July 18, 2012 - 11:11 AM
“I’m sorry you were offended” is not an apology at all, and misses the point entirely.
I did not vote for Delegate Yost in this past election and, frankly, didn’t hold much hope for a Tea Party backed candidate. I must say that he has impressed me with his rational votes during the past legislative session – especially his support for public education. I thank him for his effort to keep the conversations civil.
I love elected republicans who call out other elected republicans on their shenanigans. Since republicans in the party are not allowed to do it b/c of fear of being called a traitor or a non-supporter, it is refreshing to see those elected doing so.
I see his point, I certainly don’t understand how anyone could objectively conclude that Willard Romney will do a good job and deserves to be elected.
Claiming “the other side” is mentally ill has long been the joke…not a funny one, but still the joke.
Like Sarah Palin calling out the use of “retard” as an epithet, I am appreciative that Yost was not as selective as she was. It certainly makes me consider the point more seriously. And I agree with him. Like John Sununu, it is part and parcel to “question” mental acuity, patriotism, integrity, connections, history and anything that will be “red meat” for the base. Never mind how offensive it is for the Independents they need so badly. Might get applause, but it is not smart.
I can not believe an individual running for a public office would elect to use language sugguesting that people are mentally ill. His spokeman’s comment is not an apology. The Lt Governor had the idea to use the language so he should apologize to those that are fighting for care for the people suffering from the dreaded disease of mental illness.
Beyond the insult to those who struggle with mental illness, the comment is one more unfortunate example of the extreme polarization of what passes now for political dialogue. Why can’t we just state and explain our positions?
I’m very doubtful that Yost will be the GOP nominee for the next election.
Obama’s “Elizabeth Warren” like comment on how government is the creator/purveyor of all will go down in history as the most left leaning socialist comment ever made by an American president. It was a disgusting display of liberalism’s misguided view of reality courtesy of a
Harvard education no less…
America was created by individuals. Individuals ALLOW the government to collect taxes to be used for infrastructure building that they WILLINGLY approve – such that future individuals can continue to create wealth for themselves and growth opportunities in America.
Without individuals and their success in the private sector – there would be no government and resultant public sector opportunities. These comments by Obama and Warren are proof positive that government needs to be reset in size and jurisdiction, and sweep clean of socialists.
Think back to Edison, Bell, Wrights, Ford and many others – some self educated – who brought their ideas to life without big government, roads, electricity, or infrastructure. They did not get block grants and loans from a central socialist government or approvals from some government agency to create lights, phones, phonographs, flying machines, affordable cars, etc.
This very software [ Disqus ] used to comment here was a dream in an individual’s head, before it was an idea that became a reality. America became great due to individuals and their self initiative, not big central government directives. To think otherwise is to fall victim to the greatest con in human history, which is that socialism/collectivism leads to a utopia where everyone is treated the same and all outcomes are equal and fair. As history shows – on your way to this socialist utopia or about the time you pull into the station – the economy will meltdown and all will be lost because socialism is NOT sustainable. Your socialist utopia is a smile on an OWS dog.
Interesting how Bush presided over the biggest increase in the size of government in decades yet he wasn’t a “socialist.” Edison, Bell, Wright, Ford, no one is self-made. Mama had to change their diapers, too.
This isn’t Disqus. What are you talking about?
KevinL, Yost seems to lack sufficient jerk-face qualities to be a Republican in this state. His political career might founder, or the VA GOP might get it’s collective head out of its butt and he’ll go on to do great stuff.
I agree, Yost is toast for not following the preferred, attack mode of the TP/GOPers. He can leave proudly, which is a lot more than most TP/GOP can claim.
#8 You do realize that even Steve Jobs admits he built on technology hatched by either government scientists or work financed by the government, right?