State Senator requests apology from Governor Nathan Deal
ATLANTA - Outspoken State Senator Vincent Fort is asking for a “formal, unqualified” apology from Governor Nathan Deal for the Governor’s use of the phrase “colored people” during a speech.
“We think it is time for the Governor to make a formal unqualified apology and that's what this letter requests,” Fort told us.
The letter follows a FOX 5 I-Team report that found in early October Governor Deal used the phrase "colored people" during a speech expressing his support for Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to temporarily take control of failing public schools.
During the speech, Governor Deal said, “The irony of some groups opposing doing something to help these minority children is beyond my logic. If you want to advance the state of colored people start with the children.”
Governor Deal told me he wishes he hadn’t said it, but he was frustrated that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People didn’t support an amendment that he felt would help minority children.
“I did not mean to insult anyone, but I was upset,” Governor Deal told me.
But Atlanta NAACP President Richard Rose, who accompanied Senator Fort during the delivery of the letter, doesn’t buy that explanation.
“Of course it is offensive, but I don’t expect anything else from this Governor, who talks about ghetto grandmothers and who is against the voting rights act,” said Rose. “This is consistent with Governor Deal, this is who he is. It doesn't surprise me.”
Governor Deal had no comment.