The Government Accountability Board has rejected a candidate’s questionable statement of principle on the November ballot. Ieshuh Griffin, an independent legislative candidate from Milwaukee, argued that the phrase NOT the “whiteman’s b***h”, should have been allowed to appear under her name on the ballot. “I’m stating that in my point of view, the average politician is a token,” said Griffin. “And, a b***h is not a person, it’s a dog, a female dog that rolls over.” Griffin said the politicians who’ve represented her part of Milwaukee have done nothing but roll over. “I’m stating that I’m not going to be a roll over. It’s specifically geared towards the demographics that I’m hoping to represent,” she said.
Government Accountability Board attorney Shane Falk explained that the words, taken separately, aren’t offensive. “But when you put the phrase together . . . it becomes in that context, in the aggregate, defamatory, derogatory, pejorative in nature,” said Falk. The GAB voted 3-2 to allow the use of the phrase, one vote short of the four votes Griffin needed, and that Griffin will simply appear on the ballot as an Independent. Griffin is running in the 10th Assembly District, where longtime incumbent Annette Polly Williams is not seeking reelection. Three Democrats are also running.
audio contains offensive language
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65)
