Scary speech by gentleman with a "masters degree in communication"

Ohio councilman Phil Davison screams and shoots eye daggers at the people he hopes will vote for him to be Stark County Treasurer.

The best part is the way he frequently pauses his artificial anger to read his script. The college that gave him a "masters degree in communication" ought to be stripped of its accreditation. Scary Stump Speech of the Day

Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of Boing Boing and the editor-in-chief of MAKE and Cool Tools. Twitter: @frauenfelder. Come and hear Mark speak at the ALA conference in Chicago on July 1.

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theyallhateme

I would also like to see this video dubbed with crazy Hitler speech audio and vice-versa.

p.s. words only hurt if you let them.
Anonymous

Wow.Scary.Scary because the man is a few cents short of a dollar in thinking this was an appropriate way to seek nomination, scary x 2 if this is what you get with a Masters in Comm wherever he went…the likes of the ‘machines’ run by Carville, Obama (sorry – never bothered with Republican election programs, not enough at least to learn the names of who ran them)would chew on him before breakfast…doomed to circle the drain of lower echelon micro-local politics for the rest of his life I fear.Perhaps they need a shouty, sociopathic assistant litter warden (parks 1-2/10)in Poughkeepsie?
GrumpySteen

It’s like Glenn Beck and the “Snap into a Slim Jim!” guy had a baby together
Anonymous

Isn’t a communication degree a technical thing? i.e. the internet as opposed to speaking?

Not to rain on the parade …
Felton / Moderator

@Davidget and muteboy:

That sumbitch. You tell him, I think he’s a damn fool, Ed. You tell him I said so – H.I. McDonnough. If he wants to discuss it, he knows where to find me: in the Maricopa County Maximum Security Correctional Facility For Men State Farm, Road Number 31, Tempe, Arizona! I’LL BE WAITIN’! I’ll be waitin’.
willykea

My earlier comment was deleted by the moderator. It said that “TelePrompTers are for f*gs.” It was satire, not gay bashing. I meant no disrespect toward homosexuals and I think that they would understand that. More than anything, I was making fun of right wingers. Obama has been widely ridiculed by them for using a teleprompter yet this gentleman, Phil Davison, would clearly benefit from it. You overreacted by deleting my comment and hurt my feelings, boingboing.
- Anonymous
  
  So in your world calling someone gay is an insult and “making fun of them”?
  
  THAT’S what makes it offensive; not your lexical choice.
  
  And claiming that ‘they’ wouldn’t be offended is pushing it isn’t it? If I were of that persuasion I would be extremely offended not only that you chose such a derogatory word but also that you felt it was an insult when used in that context.
  
  If you didn’t think there was anything wrong with homosexuality then surely it would be as impactful as saying “TelePrompTers are for humans”.
  I think you would have been better of leaving your comment deleted and not trying to explain your obvious ignorance.
  - Anonymous
    
    Anon, you should go back and read willykea’s post or work on your reading comprehension. He wasn’t making fun of people by calling them gay. He was making fun of their hypocritical disdain for teleprompters – George Bush used them all of the time and that was okay but Barack Obama is a sissified idiot that can’t deliver a speech without one. He probably should have put his comment in quotes or something to indicate that it wasn’t his opinion but the likely sentiment of the subject of the video, who obviously wasn’t using a teleprompter.
- Brainspore
  
  “Teleprompters are for sissies” = levity/satire.
  
  “Teleprompters are for [offensive epithet]” = try again.
Anonymous

The guy looks like he’s being forced to give a speech while suffering from a kidney stone.
Anonymous

“Not only are we going to New Hampshire … we’re going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we’re going to California and Texas and New York! And we’re going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we’re going to Washington, D.C. to take back the White House, Yeeeeeaaaaaargh!
Anonymous

This just proves that Lewis Black is right, yelling does make everything funnier.
willykea

As a sissy, I’m offended by your use of the term “sissies,” Brainspore. Try again.
- Brainspore
  
  If you’re such a sissy why do you keep defending yourself?
Anonymous

Davison surely studied Hitler and Goebbels. They did the exact same thing, shouting, rolling with their eyes, pacing back and forth, exchanging anger and pleading, screaming and yelling. He got his Masters degree from watching old Nazi Speech videos.

troublesome
kip w

I’d really like for him to move to my area and become a weather man for one of our local stations. I’d watch.
Anonymous

What the eff?!
Anonymous

Make fun of it if you want, but his tone of voice has resulted in the speech getting a whole lot more attention than I bet the Stark county treasurer’s office election has ever gotten before. So who’s to say he’s not a very effective communicator?
Crispinus211

All this, and he didn’t even get the nomination.
thebonobo

Matt Foley wants your vote!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4183/saturday-night-live-down-by-the-river
JoshuaZ

He seems similar to Glenn Moon who was running for the city council of Livonia:

http://villagethinker.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/raving-nutbag-running-for-livonias-city-council/
Anonymous

I think we found the replacement for Billy Mayes. OXYCLEAN!!!!!!
sapere_aude

Okay, at long last I have finally stopped laughing and have caught my breath. And yet I’m still speechless.
willykea

From Wikipedia:

Sissy is a pejorative for a boy or man to indicate that he fails to behave according to the traditional male gender role. Generally, it implies a lack of the courage and stoicism which are thought important to the male role. It might also imply interests seen as strikingly un-masculine. This pejorative may be given to anyone as an insult. Several variations, such as “sissy boy” or “sissy baby”, exist and any term can become pejorative or insulting if preceded by “sissy” and applied to a boy or a man. Sissy is the male converse of tomboy, but has none of the latter’s positive connotations. Even amongst gay men, behavior thought of as sissy or camp produces mixed reactions. Other similar terms include “wimp,” “wuss,” “femboy,” and “pussy.”

Pejorative = offensive.

You must take down the “sissy” post if you’re going to take down the “fag” post.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Read the Comment Policy, please.
- robulus
  
  Drop it.
  
  It is one of the few words expressly prohibited here:
  
  http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/01/commenting.html
  
  We get it. You didn’t mean to be offensive. You were anyway, I’m sure everyone will forgive you, assuming you shut up about it and move on.
Blue_Jaunte

“…one of my most favorite quotes in the history of the spoken word”. Priceless.
sirkowski

Take your meds dude!
- Milo
  
  Exactly what I was thinking while watching this. Those vocal tremors? The back-and-forth pacing? The random saccades? Dude. C’mon. Rotate your benzos if you need to, but get back on that med-go-round. Your mental well-being is worth more than winning an election.
  
  Mr. Davidson will need time to understand this truth. Luckily, time is now on his side: he lost the nomination to Alex Zumbar.
knoxblox

I think we just had a rare sighting of the “papa grizzly”.
agreenster

Reminds me of my high school basketball coach.

He was weird too.
Eugene

Against my better judgement I’m going to reply to Sam1148. I understand your point of view and I’m not intending to antagonize you but I stand by my previous statement.
I was talking about context. I believe your choice of venue illustrates my point – the rules for what is acceptable at work are for many good, and some bad, reasons significantly more strict that what is acceptable in conversation on, say, a website where a wide variety of subjects, some of which would be inappropriate at work are presented and discussed.
In the choice between freedom of expression and avoiding offending people at all costs, I come down on the side of freedom of expression.
I would like to think that the portion of the moderation policy referred to here was created to avoid people insulting others with crude epithets, not to avoid the acknowledgement that some people use said epithets in their utterances. I would also like to think that people here could be allowed to use whatever language they like as long as it’s within the spirit of the moderation policy. If Willykea had said what he posted in meatspace, in the tone and manner intended, do you believe anyone would have been compelled to punch him (the test suggested in the mod pol)?
If the post had stood, I think it would have been perfectly appropriate for you, or anyone, to point out that that particular usage of the word was offensive to you, and why; and perhaps even some understanding might have come out of the situation. But what happened instead is someone reflexively deleted his comment because it seemed to violate the letter of the law. Okay, I promise to shut up about this now.
- Anonymous
  
  Maybe the moderator that took his post down felt personally offended by it, non?
Matt Elliott

http://i39.tinypic.com/1417el0.gif
Anonymous

Well, he’ll never need help from Garrett Morris, President of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing. Seriously, this guy is nuts.
Anonymous

maybe he suffers from a form of “voice immodulation”
ala will farell:

http://clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=5CAFD7C894F4C17C
- Anonymous
  
  Yes! Exactly what I was thinking!
Anonymous

He seems like he cries a lot. What a creepy fellow.
Spencer Cross

The original Political Wire article has a link to an interview with Davison (not Davidson) regarding his speech that’s kind of interesting:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/the-daily-need/anatomy-of-a-political-freakout-interview-with-phil-davidson/3433/
Anonymous

Note to self: Do not consume Angel Dust if ever running for office, especially during the campaign.
Bobby A

Looking forward to the obligatory auto-tune remix
Felton / Moderator

He got his master’s degree from the Nicholas Cage School of Communication.
- Anonymous
  
  I am stealing your comment. It made me laugh as hard as the that speech is disturbing.
- Davidget
  
  OH, NO! NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY’RE IN MY EYES! MY EYES! AAAAHHHHH! AAAAAGGHHH!
- muteboy
  
  I LOST MY HAND
Anonymous

All he needs is the narrow mustache and a red armband, and he sounds like Der Furer
Anonymous

IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!!
- Anonymous
  
  Yes!!! That is what I heard.
- Anonymous
  
  lol!!!
bmcraec

Wow. Justâ€¦ Wow. I think Bill Murray could play this guy in the inevitable biopic. Maybe he’s too old and mellow now.

What’s really scary about this guy is wondering what kind of world he perceives that a presentation like that makes sense to him. Has he done pitches like this before? And not been ridiculed?

13 years in public (village?) serviceâ€¦ Is it just him, or do others drinking the same water have similar reactions to stressful situations? Love the little hiccup when he misquotes Einsteinâ€¦

“Aggressive campaigner” wowâ€¦Â if government could only be like WWFâ€¦

And now the audience starts to giggle.

INfestâ€” ation. Wow.
- wylkyn
  
  He sounds more like he’s doing an imitation of Chris Farley’s motivational speaker. “And I will do my job as Stark County Treasurer where I do all my work…IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!”
Galaxyhead

Before submitting such a thread, I would have hoped the author would have actually researched what a master’s of communication entails. First, having a master’s in communication doesn’t make you a master at public speaking or even communicating. Theoretically it should, however, that is fallacious an assumption as assuming that a master’s in sociology makes you more socially adept. It is the study of communication, which branches off into almost every other discipline imaginable (psychology, medicine, political science, etc.), not HOW TO BE A BETTER COMMUNICATOR.

In reality, most communication programs only offer a gen ed level public speaking course, which is the same almost every major is required to take.

So…gee, I am having a hard time communicating how this thread fails because I never took a course in politeness.
- ma6ic
  
  Thanks. Was going to clarify on the comments as well.
Anonymous

I love the way he has to check his read his notes to remember his name :)
Galaxyhead

P.S. I am still going to use this to teach my public speaking class how not to give a speech.
- Ugly Canuck
  
  Excellent idea, Galaxyhead, and I do hope that Mr Davison will be gratified that at least some good may come from this speech.
bassplayinben

LISTEN TO ME, MEAN GENE!
Teller

Utterly fantastic. In his next job, when he recites specials like ROAST LOIN OF PORK IN A MANGO CREAM SAUCE!! there will be tears. Tears! God I miss Sam Kinison.
Antinous / Moderator

Didn’t he play the minister in Pollyanna?
mgfarrelly

Here’s a thought, mad as this gentleman appears, he surely is the most memorable speaker of the evening. I mean, how many other candidates for Stark County Treasurer have YOU heard of? Getting his name out there, that’s for damn sure.

Mind you, he’s doing it using the Dwight Schrute method…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kysRQP0ca7s
Eugene

I think he needs a doctor, something is wrong.

The over the top screaming isn’t fooling anyone, but he’s truly scary in those quiet moments when he’s trying to look normal.
The Mudshark

The pacing back and forthis a nice touch. Any minute I expected him to jump and smack someone in the face.
willykea

Out of respect for the blog and the group, I will not comment any further after this on this topic. Given the context, most would not consider my original post offensive and I don’t believe I expressly violated the terms of the moderation policy. Telling someone to “shut up” in an attempt to quash intellectual discourse, however, robulus, is certainly very base and offensive. Your holier-than-thou, bully-like comment places me in a position where I’m some sort of jackass for replying, which is not the case. I’ve been a boingboing fan and reader for about the last ten years and I will continue to be. I’m sure that everyone will forgive you for being a busybody and trying to be the moderator, when Antinous has done such a yeoman’s job of it for so long.
- robulus
  
  http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/01/commenting.html
  
  Please avoid using offensive words like avttre, snttbg and phag, which have been ROT13ed for your reading pleasure.
  
  I did tell you to shut up about it. Sorry if you found it dickish, but you are really going on and on about it. Quite dickishly.
  
  I was, and remain, unaware of any intellectual discourse that is in danger of being quashed.
  
  And yes, if I’d scrolled down and read Antinous’ post, I probably wouldn’t have bothered, and we all could have moved on with our lives, and put this unpleasantness behind us. There you go, eh?
  - sapere_aude
    
    At the risk of getting off topic: Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that one of the ROT13ed offensive words in this list is the phonetic equivalent of the offensive word being debated here? (I’m not taking sides in the ongoing debate, mind you. I just found it interesting and perversely amusing.)
    - Antinous / Moderator
      
      The alphabet is a cruel mistress.
The Mudshark

HeÂ´s coming.
Anonymous

He’d make a BRILLIANT DALEK
(Someone stick that through a ring modulator and post it)
frankieboy

wow, painful to watch. Assuming 4 year terms, it’s hard to believe he was elected 3 times. He comes off like a freakin’ maniac. He is, however, registered to the appropriate party.
Eugene

I have to agree with willykea here. In the context in which he used the word, riffing on a cultural meme, the use of the “word which must not be mentioned” would not be considered offensive by reasonable people. A word that is usually offensive is not automatically offensive in every context. There’s a big difference between calling someone a pejorative and using same pejorative as part of a common phrase in order to parody the mindset of those who would use that phrase. Sorry, I know this is off topic but mindless application of rules gets under my skin. Especially when I encounter it among a community of intelligent thinking people.
- robulus
  
  Good point, you should have that discussion with Laura Schlessinger.
  
  OK. I am actively derailing the thread now. I’ll stop it at once.
- sam1148
  
  A word that is usually offensive is not automatically offensive in every context. There’s a big difference between calling someone a pejorative and using same pejorative as part of a common phrase in order to parody the mindset of those who would use that phrase.
  
  —-
  
  Nope. It wasn’t like using N-Jim in Mark Twain.
  Which was never used a pejorative in that book.
  It was using F@G as pejorative, and insult. The fact it’s being used against a heterosexual is minor. The fact it’s somewhat accepted by so called intelligent people is disturbing.
  
  Okay..try it at work. Call a co-worker a f@g. Put it in your common language at your work place; and see how long it takes for to HR boot you. Why not, if you really think it’s acceptable–do it in your workplace. Please try it.
Anonymous

“Christ, what an asshole.”
Anonymous

If you close your eyes and listen, he kind of reminds you of Jim Belushi.
Anonymous

This can’t be real, can it? If it is, that man has my vote. I like to see maniacs and psychopaths in public office.
Anonymous

favorite word: poh-lit-ikul
danma

His presentation technique is a little frightening to say the least. I don’t see how effective an administrator he could possibly be when he demonstrates his propensity for being a complete and utter psychopath.
Anonymous

all politics *are* local.

masters of communication my ass
Anonymous

A Republican, of course. He has a bright future as a Tea Bagger Party candidate, though.
Anonymous

wow…i don’t know what to say.
Cowicide

I would pay good money to see a video of the audiences expressions while he was pantin’-n- rantin’.
Brainspore

Dr Hibbert: Your playing days are over my friend. But you can always fall back on your degree in [checking chart] communications!? Oh dear lord!

Lubchenko: I know. Is phony major. Lubchenko learn nothing. Nothing! [Weeps]
frankieboy

make that 4 times! wow, what’s going on with the good folks of Stark Co. Ohio?
Alex

I’d vote for him! Free show every Thursday evening at the council meetings. I’ll bring the popcorn!
trevcaru

will someone PLEASE MAKE A REMIX!?!?!?!?!?! GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH WAYAYAYAYAYAYA
Anonymous

I think Fox has found a new star
Unanimous Cowherd

Sure Phil, you can have the nomination.

Just please don’t hurt me.

[back away slowly, don't look at his eyes]
Ugly Canuck

Stunning. Simply stunning.
Anonymous

I wonder if he lives in a van down by the river.
Anonymous

THIS… IS… STARK COUNTY!
ZippySpincycle

AIDE: (Inaudible, whispers in DAVISON’s ear)

DAVISON (to AIDE): It’s not?

AIDE shakes head

DAVISON (to audience, in a suddenly well-modulated, perfectly calm tone of voice): I’m terribly sorry, ladies and gentlemen. I have just been informed that this is not, in fact, Stark Raving Mad County. I sincerely regret the error.
voiceinthedistance

I now finally know how to hold up my fingers to represent the number 13.

The guy’s an absolute natural, just not an absolute natural politician. Perhaps he missed the technique of writing your name and other pertinent points on your hand, though.

At least he knows how to add a little passion to the position of treasurer, so by all means, HE SHOULD GO FOR IT!
sam1148

As a gay person. I do find it offensive, when used off hand as meaning “you’re less than human, not worthy to be paid attention too”.

To use it ‘off hand’ is even worse, as you don’t see anything wrong.

Despite the so called cultural meme. It’s like using the N word. (ask Dr. Laura). Cultural ‘memes’ that become acceptable that degrade a group of people are the sneaking memes that result in bigotry. Your intent might not be there on the surface, but it’s falling in line with those that wish gays to be second class citizens–and you should be called out for it in respectable conversations.
- Anonymous
  
  As a heterosexual person, I completely agree.
  
  As would EVERY SINGLE ONE of my gay/lesbian friends.
xian

Correction Mark, the headline should read “Scary speech by gentleman with a “MASTERS DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION”.
- Anonymous
  
  Make that “Master’s Degree.”
Anonymous

what makes this hilarious is that if he spoke in a normal voice, this would be a (mostly) average, boring, political speech.
bigreddot

Please someone send this to the Gregory Brothers.
PeaceNerd

I HAVE PEOPLE SKILLS. I’M GOOD AT DEALING WITH PEOPLE. CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT???

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/4/Office-Space-I-have-people-skills-488721.html
Michael Smith

Assuming that this is not an act, carbamazepine would do wonders.
Anonymous

I understand he uses the same delivery for pep talks to the little league team he coaches, when he gives a sermon at his church, and when he and his wife share pillow talk after an intimate evening.
Regulas

ROFL; and why is he angry when he is THANKING the committee and introducing himself???
Seth Hurwitz

He seems desperate.
BastardNamban

I can’t decide if this is funny as hell or frightening as hell!

I want to laugh the guy off the stage, but I’m afraid if I don’t vote for him, he’ll lunge at my throat and start choking me!

And I don’t even live in Ohio. He’s just that scary!

This is epic. WE NEED A REMIX!
wrwetzel

The poor guy is nervous, plain and simply nervous, clearly not used to public speaking.
- Ugly Canuck
  
  Perhaps: but then, politicking requires a lot of public speaking. It seems a crucial skill for that profession…
  Perhaps he ought to try again next time, and meanwhile, work to improve his public speaking skills:
  
  http://www.toastmasters.org/
  
  A skill, the obtaining of which could aid many people, not just politicians, as they go through their social lives, and which may be learned and perfected through application and experience.
  In all honesty, people really ought to get better at it – particularly in a democracy.
Anonymous

Forgot to take his meds!!!!!!
Anonymous

Vote for me or you’ll be living in a VAN down by the RIVER!
Anonymous

This guy is a freaking genius! When’s the last time this many people watched a councilman’s speech?
Anonymous

insane. completely insane. Someone needs to put a shock collar around his neck so that he never gets past the perimeter
pstarr

drugs are bad, m’kay?
pstarr

did he win?
- Davidget
  
  While Davison did not get the nomination (North Canton Finance Director Alex Zumbar did), he certainly made a lasting impression.
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-olson/phil-davison-gop-speech_b_710642.html
MadTwit

Pacing back and forth like a caged animal, he’s not safe I tell you, not safe at all.
Mythram

This guy should have a role in “The office” ^^
Anonymous

Did he get the nomination!!??
Billegible

“Albert Einstein issued one of my most favorite quotes in the history of the spoken word… if only I could REMEMBER IT.”
Anonymous

i think he had to pee real bad, that was all.
lolbrandon

This is embarrassing for him, and for me, and for anyone bugging my room.
aacmckay

I think he must have gone to the Steven Anthony “Steve” Ballmer school of public speaking.
- igpajo
  
  I thought the same thing…that he reminded me of an angry Steve Ballmer…except for Ballmer could remember his speech for longer than 5 seconds.
- fnc
  
  Exactly what I was thinking:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYMH3qrHFEM&feature=fvst
  
  Internet! Set your best men to this task IMMEDIATELY!
Anonymous

i stopped watching this video clip at the 2 minute mark, because I feared this freak was going to jump out of the computer and murder my entire family. no way this guy is for real.
Anonymous

This guy is clearly headed for higher offices. Sad.
Anonymous

This guy is serious. Serious funny!