John Douglas tries to unsay what never should have been uttered
The average person has a tiny little editor lodged in his or her skull, whose job it is to slam the door shut on secret thoughts that shouldn't be given a voice. Ever.
Those without these editors in their brains seem to be drawn to the Internet like moths to a flame. John Douglas, a former GOP state senator and current Newton County commissioner, was one of them last week. Let’s start with this 11Alive video:
Douglas, his head filter back on the job, eventually posted this on his Facebook page:
“Let me say one more time how sorry I am about the words I used and the impression I left with my comments on that facebook page. I do not use that language in every day conversation and would take them back if I could. I am sorry for hurt feelings, anger and disappointment I have caused and will use this as a learning experience to become a better person.”
John Douglas (right) at a Newt Gingrich presidential rally in 2012. Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson wasn’t satisfied. From the Saturday press release:
"To make matter worse, Commissioner Douglas was dishonest and untruthful in first denying he had posted his ugly and demeaning comments on Facebook. Then, after acknowledging that the offensive comments were his, he doubled down and said that he would say the same thing again, and that he would apologize only when the victim of his racist attacks apologized to him. Finally, he expressed what can only be described as a half-hearted apology. Commissioner Douglas' views have no place in public life, and he should try to reclaim what little honor he has left by resigning immediately from the Newton County Commission.
"Moreover, I call upon my Republican colleagues to join me in the call for the resignation of Newton County Republican Party Chair Bill Perugino. His refusal, on behalf of the party, to immediately denounce the comments of Commissioner Douglas displays at worst his agreement with the racist and sexist sentiments of Commissioner Douglas, or at best, his lack of understanding that we live in the 21st not the 19th century."
The reply on Douglas’ Facebook page:
"Congressman Hank Johnson wants me to resign from the county commission. I appreciate his position as a Congressman and have great respect for him but I am not leaving. I was elected to represent the first district and that is what I will continue to do."
About the Author
Jim Galloway, the newspaper’s former political columnist, was a writer and editor at the AJC for four decades.
