Politician's Mother Makes Him Apologize for Calling Neil Gaiman 'Pencil-Necked Weasel

MrsJoseph · 05-10-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

A Minnesota legislator had a bit of a jocks-vs-goths meltdown this week when he declared best-selling comic book writer and novelist Neil Gaiman to be a "pencil-necked little weasel who stole $45,000" from the state in the form of a speaking fee (that the writer ultimately donated to charity). The remark came from House Majority Leader Matt Dean, who is trying to pass new legislation changing the way programs for culture and the arts are funded in Minnesota. The Republican apologized after he was admonished by his mother.

Don't you love moms?

tubemonkey · 05-10-2011, 02:59 PM

Shoulda called him a pencil neck geek

rhadin · 05-10-2011, 04:49 PM

It's nice to know that there are still people with power who have a sense of civility -- go, mom, go!

carpetmojo · 05-10-2011, 06:01 PM

"....The remark came from House Majority Leader Matt Dean, who is trying to pass new legislation changing the way programs for culture and the arts are funded in Minnesota....."

Like, let's have a book-burning, destroy all art after the Sistine Chapel, ban actresses wearing trousers in popular dramatics and radiophonic & televisual presentions,(or skirts above the ankle), & close all museums that refuse to allow a McDonalds in the foyer ?

Yeah - let's get practical about culture ...............

Allegedly.

P'raps........

Andrew H. · 05-10-2011, 10:54 PM

It's interesting that the politician is an architect.

crich70 · 05-11-2011, 07:36 AM

Good old mom. Who would want to cross her? lol.

MrsJoseph · 05-11-2011, 10:23 AM

What I love is that his mom made him publicly appoligize. Don't mess with mom. She'll always win.

Pomtroll · 05-11-2011, 10:58 AM

Yeah for Mom!!!!!

J. Strnad · 05-11-2011, 11:08 AM

Should've elected Mom instead.

DuskyRose · 05-11-2011, 11:37 AM

I hope his apology also covered the "who stole..." part.

I don't have any problem with them limiting the amount of money they want to pay a guest speaker. Every one and every business and committee should have a workable budget. But don't say someone 'stole' money when they quote a price for their work and are accepted at that price.

If they're too expensive, find someone else. Don't whine later about how someone "stole" from you when you're the one who agree to pay the price.

Seriously, Mom didn't train her kid very well at all.

Hellmark · 05-11-2011, 12:32 PM

His apology was only retracting the "pencil necked weasel". He isn't backing off his criticism of the payment of $45,000 to Gaiman itself.

Joonbug1 · 05-11-2011, 12:38 PM

LOL.

Good story!

odiakkoh · 05-11-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuskyRose

I hope his apology also covered the "who stole..." part.

I don't have any problem with them limiting the amount of money they want to pay a guest speaker. Every one and every business and committee should have a workable budget. But don't say someone 'stole' money when they quote a price for their work and are accepted at that price.

If they're too expensive, find someone else. Don't whine later about how someone "stole" from you when you're the one who agree to pay the price.

Seriously, Mom didn't train her kid very well at all.

Meh moms can only go so far. Can't blame her much for how her 40-60+ year old son acts. By then they have a mind of their own and had enough time to work out any issues their parents made them have.

Andrew H. · 05-11-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

His apology was only retracting the "pencil necked weasel". He isn't backing off his criticism of the payment of $45,000 to Gaiman itself.

Criticizing the payment itself it not at all unreasonable - I'd certainly be disappointed if my cash-strapped library spent enough to pay a librarian for a year on bringing in a speaker for 4 hours - even someone like Gaiman, whom I like.

But none of this is Gaiman's fault at all.

Joonbug1 · 05-11-2011, 12:58 PM

Well, did Neil actually speak at the event? If he took the money but bailed, then I could see why there would be people upset enough to make remarks like that in public. If he took the money and fulfilled his part of the agreement, well, a deal's a deal. If they didn't want to spend that much on a speaker, someone should have raised objections before they wrote out the check.

05-10-2011, 06:01 PM	#4
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Yoh !!!!!!!! "....The remark came from House Majority Leader Matt Dean, who is trying to pass new legislation changing the way programs for culture and the arts are funded in Minnesota....." Like, let's have a book-burning, destroy all art after the Sistine Chapel, ban actresses wearing trousers in popular dramatics and radiophonic & televisual presentions,(or skirts above the ankle), & close all museums that refuse to allow a McDonalds in the foyer ? Yeah - let's get practical about culture ............... Allegedly. P'raps........

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05-10-2011, 02:59 PM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Shoulda called him a pencil neck geek

05-10-2011, 04:49 PM	#3
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	It's nice to know that there are still people with power who have a sense of civility -- go, mom, go!

05-10-2011, 10:54 PM	#5
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	It's interesting that the politician is an architect.

05-11-2011, 07:36 AM	#6
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Good old mom. Who would want to cross her? lol.

05-11-2011, 10:23 AM	#7
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	What I love is that his mom made him publicly appoligize. Don't mess with mom. She'll always win.

05-11-2011, 10:58 AM	#8
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	Yeah for Mom!!!!!

05-11-2011, 11:08 AM	#9
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Should've elected Mom instead.

05-11-2011, 11:37 AM	#10
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 752 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Note Air3, Palma, K-Scribe, Eclipsa 2e, & Libra 2, Ipads	I hope his apology also covered the "who stole..." part. I don't have any problem with them limiting the amount of money they want to pay a guest speaker. Every one and every business and committee should have a workable budget. But don't say someone 'stole' money when they quote a price for their work and are accepted at that price. If they're too expensive, find someone else. Don't whine later about how someone "stole" from you when you're the one who agree to pay the price. Seriously, Mom didn't train her kid very well at all.

05-11-2011, 12:32 PM	#11
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,591 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	His apology was only retracting the "pencil necked weasel". He isn't backing off his criticism of the payment of $45,000 to Gaiman itself.

05-11-2011, 12:38 PM	#12
Joonbug1 Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 409000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	LOL. Good story!

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05-11-2011, 12:58 PM	#15
Joonbug1 Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 409000 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	Well, did Neil actually speak at the event? If he took the money but bailed, then I could see why there would be people upset enough to make remarks like that in public. If he took the money and fulfilled his part of the agreement, well, a deal's a deal. If they didn't want to spend that much on a speaker, someone should have raised objections before they wrote out the check.