By fitsnews – May 11, 2010
By FITSNews || And you thought it was only Republicans who were at each others’ throats in the Palmetto State …
S.C. House Minority Leader Harry Ott (D-Calhoun) is desperately trying to mend fences in his shattered caucus after an explosive, profanity-laced meeting last week exposed racial tensions, generational divides and deep personal animosity between several Democratic lawmakers.
At the center of the heated exchange – which featured members angrily hurling “F-bombs” back and forth at each other – were two lawmakers, freshman Rep. Boyd Brown (D-Fairfield) and Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Leon Howard (D-Richland).
According to two black lawmakers who were present at the meeting, Brown began making a speech about the direction of the Democratic Party that allegedly impugned the integrity of House members who had fought for civil rights. That angered Howard – who proceeded to storm out of the meeting in disgust, but not before engaging in a bitter verbal brawl with Brown.
“F*ck you,” Howard allegedly yelled at Brown
“F*ck you,” Brown allegedly yelled back.
Other lawmakers joined in the shouting match, which is said to have included one lawmaker yelling “f*ck your mother” to another.
Brown denies making any remarks that were critical of the civil rights movement. In fact, he says that he recorded the entire exchange, and that the tale of the tape will exonerate him. He did not deny, however, directing remarks at several “old guard” lawmakers who were a part of the civil rights struggle. Nor did he deny engaging in a verbal spat with Howard and other members that included profanity.
“(Democrats) need to take the old guard out and put in a new guard,” Brown told FITS. “Part of that is letting the old guard know that they are outdated.”
With Black Caucus leaders threatening to take the bitter back-and-forth public, Ott was working desperately over the weekend to restore order. Those efforts are supposed to culminate with a Caucus meeting on Tuesday.
