(Charleston) April 21, 2005 - As a Charleston
school board member, and as a state
Representative, John Graham Altman has rarely
been shy about voicing his opinions.
In January 1997, state lawmakers battled over
what to do with the Confederate flag. At a
meeting of the House Judiciary committee, Altman
took aim at flag opponents, telling them,"Quit
looking at the symbols. Get out and get a job.
Quit shooting each other. Quit having
illegitimate babies. Let's move on from
here."
It's just one of many times Altman's comments
have enraged his critics. Later he wrote to
state Education Superintendent Dr. Barbara
Nielsen, who supported removing the flag from
the State House dome. "The kindest help I can
offer you on any level is to try to get you
quickly qualified for the Federal Witness
Protection program," Altman wrote.
Views like those have often made John Graham
Altman a target for black lawmakers. During and
after the debate over establishing a Martin
Luther King holiday, Altman repeatedly referred
to King as a womanizer and claimed King had
cheated his way through college.
Two years ago Altman moved to kill a bill by
Democratic Rep. Leon Howard, who wanted to ban
restaurants from giving out unwrapped drinking
straws. That nearly led to a fist fight on the
House floor.
Howard said it wasn't just Altman's
opposition to the straw bill, but his continuous
disrespect for African-Americans, "I cannot
apologize to a man who believes that segregation
and wearing racial comments on his shoulder is a
badge of honor."
Altman responded. "Black politicians
think if you disagree with them, you must be a
racist."
Altman has also provoked other groups. He's
against abortion and angered pro-choice forces
by proposing a "Choose Death" license plate.
He has blasted the PTA and educational
television, saying the ETV board should be fired
for plans to air "Corridor of Shame," a
documentary showing run-down schools.
Altman said a hate crimes bill would make
"white heterosexuals second-class citizens," and
he has often clashed with the gay community.
After ETV broadcast a program about gay life
called "We Are Your Neighbors," Altman called
the program "socialist, leftist propaganda."
The Charleston attorney knows he is prone to
firing from the hip. Altman, during work on a
seat belt bill, once told his fellow lawmakers,
"I never know what I'm going to say until I say
it, so I am kind of interested in hearing what I
think."
Reported by Jack
Kuenzie
Posted 7:05pm by Chantelle
Janelle
