Georgia Governor Nathan Deal is taking heat after his comments referring to minorities as “colored people” came during an Oct. 3 speech in Savannah.
In a recent interview with FOX 5 Atlanta, Deal tells the I-Team that his comments were misconstrued and that he was referring to the NAACP when discussing Amendment One, or the Opportunity School District constitutional amendment. Georgia residents will decide on Nov. 8 to give the state power over failing schools to create a statewide district that the governor runs. However, there is strong opposition to the proposed solution.
On Oct. 3, during his speech to the Technical College System of Georgia educators, he made his case for the new legislation.
“The irony of some of the groups who are opposing doing something to help these minority children is beyond my logic. If you want to advance the state of colored people, start with their children.”
But Deal backtracks. He tells reporter Dale Russell, “I did not mean to insult anyone, but I was upset.”
In addition, the governor implies that he was in the heat of the moment and his passion got the worst of him.
“Well, I think I misspoke … I didn’t use the entire name of the organization. I don’t think I misspoke in terms of where I think they should be on this issue,” Deal explains.
Subsequently, the comments set social media ablaze. Georgia residents in particular were appalled by the Jim Crow terminology. However, people are not convinced by Deal’s explanation.
User @robbin_shipp did not buy it.
https://twitter.com/robbin_shipp/status/794129100847738881
Michelle D. Bradley is adamantly voting no come Nov. 8.
https://twitter.com/FlawlessAtlanta/status/794009081270800384
Twitter user Ned Stark Son is flabbergasted by Deal’s comments and does not want to deal with the governor’s antics any longer.
Nathan Deal spoke to folks about amendment one and called us "colored people" this MF can exit quietly
— Perc Cousins (@extraORRdINary) November 2, 2016
Facebook users were no kinder. Kimberly Spinks thinks white people should be called colored because “they change more color [than] a coloring book.”
User Sion Mangione states that all people originated from Africa and that Deal’s comments are asinine.
Ismael Ausua notes that Deal’s statements are one of many coming from the right. He blames the rise of Donald Trump.
Furthermore, Sears Alston shares similar sentiments claiming Republicans have always been racist.
Facebook user Tonya Davis says Deal’s comments are nothing new. His wife has reportedly said questionable things in the past.
