Fayette County Republican Commissioner David Barlow says, “I was wrong,” and issued an apology Nov. 19 for his remarks at the Nov. 13 meeting of the Fayette County Commission where, among other comments, he decried the current treatment of conservative Christians by liberal “Demoncrats.”
After a firestorm of criticism from both parties, Barlow said:
“My passion for Jesus Christ and saving lives was wrongly portrayed by me this past Thursday evening. During a regular commission meeting, I gave a prepared statement to our local press and during commissioners comments read the statement into the record. I was wrong,” Barlow said. “I spoke with Ms. Pota Coston and offered my humble apology to her and asked for her forgiveness, which she graciously gave. Also, I am sending this apology to the other board members to include the local Democratic Party, asking for their forgiveness as well. I truly regret my comments and would like everyone to know that I look forward to working with Pota as we move Fayette County forward.
“The Lord hates six things, in fact, seven are detestable to Him; arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony and one who stirs up trouble among brothers – Proverbs 6:16-19. I clearly violated, ‘stirs up trouble among brothers.’”
Apology or not, Barlow’s remarks have opened the political floodgates from across the spectrum. Weighing in with outrage about Barlow’s comments were the Fayette County Democratic Committee Chair Dawn Mabra, the Fayette County Republican Party chair Scott Fabricius, the Fayette County Issues Tea Party and Fayette County Commission Chairman Steve Brown.
Barlow at the Nov. 13 commission meeting made a series of statements during the “Commissioners’ Reports” portion of the meeting, including the following:
“We conservative Christians have been unmercifully attacked by the liberal demoncrats [Barlow’s intentional misspelling] and liberal press throughout Obama’s presidency,” he said. “November 4 changed all that. I will work tirelessly to see that in 2016 the GOP regains the presidency thereby nullifying the evil that has been proliferating throughout our great nation. I declare this, in the mighty name of Jesus.”
Taking another drastic shift in tone, he congratulated Democrat Pota Coston, who was in the audience, on her win in the recent race for District 5 commissioner, although he made it clear how he felt about the election process itself.
(At left, Pota Coston.)
“I have known Pota for four years. We first met in Tyrone across the street from one another. She was campaigning for herself and I was campaigning for then-candidate Eric Dial who became mayor of Tyrone,” said Barlow, who represents District 1. “Pota and I would be on the street every morning holding signs so naturally we began to speak to one another. We even prayed together for God’s will to be done. Even though I disagree with how she won, I look forward to working with her.”
Commission Chairman Steve Brown disavowed Barlow’s comments in a letter to The Citizen. “Let me say that Commissioner Barlow’s comments should be in no way construed as the official or unofficial opinion of the Board of Commissioners,” Brown wrote. “His words and sentiments belong to him alone. I have never once heard any of the remaining commissioners or county staff members ever agree with or approve of Commissioner Barlow’s comments.”
As for those who questioned why Brown did not cut off Barlow during his statement, the chairman replied, “I believe in free speech. As a sitting commissioner, he should be able to express his feelings and I would be a hypocrite to say otherwise. The voters make the ultimate decision.”
Brown called Barlow’s remarks incendiary and divisive while bemoaning his references to Jesus, whom he called “the most non-political being ever to grace the planet.” But he reaffirmed his belief in Barlow’s right to speak freely, nothing that “his words will only cause division if we allow them to do so.”
(At right, Fayette County Commission Chairman Steve Brown in a photo on the county’s website.)
Mabra in a Nov. 17 letter to Brown asked why Brown permitted Barlow to continue with the remarks.
Brown in response said, “With Commissioner Barlow being an elected official of the citizens of Fayette County, I gave him significant latitude to express himself. On the subject of free speech, I can easily claim to be one of the staunchest supporters of public expression in the State of Georgia. Please know that the we, other four commissioners, had no idea that Commissioner Barlow was going to make those remarks. I have to agree with your positions on the lack of professionalism and respect, but, again, I felt it important that in his elected position that he be given the ability to express himself and to allow his constituents to draw their own conclusions. I purposefully chose not to engage in debate with Commissioner Barlow in his current state of mind, thinking it could elevate his level of hostility and the meeting could get out of hand. Instead, I submitted a letter to the editors of the local newspapers expressing my opinions on the situation.”
Mabra responded to Brown on Nov. 18 saying, “With all due respect, Chairman, no elected official should be given the ‘latitude’ to use their position as a platform for their personal crusade against any group of individuals. I am sure you are aware that our first amendment right to free speech is not absolute and does not protect hate speech or ‘fighting words.’ Nonetheless, this is not a first amendment rights issue. Plainly, procedure was not followed and ordinances were violated at a public meeting. Furthermore, the county ordinances clearly lay out your duty as the chair to maintain order in the meeting. Allowing Commissioner Barlow’s statements to stand on the record unchallenged shows a lack of leadership. While I appreciate your letter to the local newspapers, it reads as an afterthought with no accountability. Chairman, we can no longer afford to do business as usual. We must hold our public officials to a higher standard. Any response from the board of commissioners that lacks consequences fails to discourage future occurrences of this unacceptable behavior and only goes to perpetuate the status quo.”
At left, Dawn Mabra sits next to her husband, District 63 Rep. Ronnie Mabra.
Also responding to Barlow’s comments at the commission meeting was Fayette County Republican Party Chairman Scott Fabricius.
“On Nov. 13, Commissioner David Barlow made some inflammatory and inappropriate remarks at the County Commission meeting. While Mr. Barlow was elected as a Republican candidate, it should be clearly understood that his statements are neither endorsed nor embraced by the Fayette County Republican Party. Moreover, his attempt to buttress his personal expression by adding that his declaration was done ‘in the mighty name of Jesus’ made it even more objectionable. The Jesus I know and love preached a message of love and forgiveness,” Fabricius said.
“Mr. Barlow’s opinion that Democrats are evil is true. My Bible teaches that ALL men are inherently evil and that includes Republicans and Independents as well. While I too am hopeful that with the recent election our great country can move back to restoring the religious freedoms upon which it was founded, my allegiance to any political party pales in comparison to my allegiance to the God who died for me, and, in doing so, demonstrated that we are to love everyone and not hate anyone.”
The Fayette County Issues Tea Party also weighed in on the issue. A statement on the organization’s website said, “At the Nov. 13 County Commission meeting, Commissioner David Barlow made a series of highly inflammatory comments that the founders of the Fayette County Issues Tea Party strongly object to. While our position on voting for BoE (Fayette County Board of Education) and County Commission candidates is different than that of some other organizations in Fayette County, members of those organizations remain fellow citizens, and in some cases, friends and neighbors. It takes a county of sincere and involved citizens to sustain and grow a highly successful county like ours — a fact we strongly urge Commissioner Barlow to recognize and embrace through actions as well as words.”
