The Bilerico Project | Daily experiments in LGBTQ

Can we just get this bigot out of office already?

Brain Blair, incumbent County Commissioner from Hillsborough County in Florida, has once again shown what a complete scumbag he is. Readers may remember Blair as the man who attacked the National Day of Silence, which was in memory of 15 year-old hate crime victim Lawrence King, as promoting a "social and sexual agenda upon the rest of us and especially, our children." The gay-bashing email came out while Blair is in a tight race with openly gay candidate Kevin Beckner.

Well, he's back spreading his special brand of hater-ade to the masses, this time slamming the African-American community and Muslims. But don't worry- he still has plenty of hate for the gays too.

Appearing on the local news show Flashpoint with Beckner, Blair said he would definitely vote for the dangerous and deceptive Amendment 2, was proud of his stance against the "special interests" Day of Silence, and wanted a "Christian Nation." He also used the time to deny he is at all prejudiced, which he demonstrated by making a racially charged joke about Michael Jackson.

Much more (including video) after the jump...

Here's the excerpt:

BECKNER: This is part of Mr. Blair's agenda of marginalizing people in our community. He's had a history of it. He's marginalized the Muslim community. He's pushed for banning books in our libraries. He's gone after our kids. He slighted our African American community. Mr. Blair has done more to drive down the socio- and economic value of our community than anybody other than former commissioner Ronda Storms.

BLAIR: That's a complete fabrication. First off, I just supported giving the NAACP $15,000. I've been on the Urban Caucus for the last four years. I've coached black kids. Black children stay at my home almost every weekend... I was born in Gary, Indiana, you know where that is, Kevin.

There were very few white people in my neighborhood. I didn't know what prejudice was. Probably the only two white people in my neighborhood were myself and Michael Jackson. My friends were all black. ... You're flat-out wrong.

And here's the video:

iPhone users: Click to watch

Where to begin...

I like the old "some of my best friends are black" argument used by Blair (he even lets them stay at his house!! What a hero!). It might have been more convincing if he didn't follow it up with a racial slam against Michael Jackson. But not to worry- Blair has gay friends too, so he can't be a bigot.

I wonder if anyone told his "friends" that in 2005, Blair voted to prevent the county government from acknowledging gay pride celebrations. The same act also banned public libraries from putting up displays that celebrate Pride Month in June.

And as Pam Spaulding points out on Pam's House Blend, this isn't the first time he's inserted his bigoted foot in his mouth. Remember Blair's appearance on Bill O'Reilly's show where he mocks Muslims because this is a "Judeo-Christian country"?

BLAIR: Well, in December of 2004, a gentleman representing the Muslim religion came before the school board and asked if Eid, which I believe is part of Ramadan, be recognized as an official school holiday. That went to a subcommittee, a calendar committee that's comprised of 28 members. Where these members come from, we still don't have the exact answers. I guess they're citizens, friends of the school board members, various people like this. As a matter of fact, I think there's a Jewish representative and a Muslim representative on the board. Of the 28, only 12 showed up, as I understand it. They gave them very little feedback other than the option of taking President's Day and turning it -- they basically gave --

O'REILLY: So a Muslim wanted a Muslim holiday, which is absurd in a Judeo-Christian country. I mean, we can't be having Hindu and Buddha. I mean, come on. I mean, this country is founded on Judeo-Christian traditions.

BLAIR: Absolutely.

I am so proud of Kevin Beckner for taking Blair to task on his bigoted views and his obsessive focus with enforcing his "values" on an entire community. Let's make sure we all rally around Beckner, help his campaign, and make sure Blair isn't around another term to keep spreading his bigotry.