Asshole and Former DNC Chair Don Fowler Under Fire For "God Is On Our Side" Mega Gaffe

Saw this story on Hotair.com. On a flight from the DNC convention from Denver to Charlotte, NC, Don Fowler commented about an impending hurricane, Gustav, that was projected to make landfall near New Orleans at the time of the start of the Republican National Convention. In the conversation, taped without Fowler's knowledge by blogger Caleb Howe, Fowler said, "The hurricane’s going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. [Chuckle] The timing is — at least it appears now that it’ll be there Monday. That just demonstrates that God’s on our side. [Laughter] Everything’s cool." As a person with family in the path of this storm, I like to be the first to tell Don Fowler to "drop dead and go to hell you asshole ass licker dirty motherfucker son of a bitch." Damn I hate politicians.

The former Democratic National Committee chairman apologized Sunday for suggesting that Hurricane Gustav's expected arrival as Republicans prepare to open their national convention is a sign God favors Democrats.

During a flight from Denver to North Carolina last Friday, Don Fowler - who was DNC chair in 1995 and 1996 - was recorded telling a fellow passenger that it appears Gustav will make landfall on Monday.

"That just demonstrates that God is on our side," Fowler added, according to a video posted on YouTube under the headline: "Fowler Fouls: Hurricane is God's Favor To Democrats."

The person who recorded the conversation is not identified. The person whom Fowler was talking to is not visible in the video, but was identified on the conservative Web site http://www.redstate.com as Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.

On Sunday, Fowler told The Associated Press that he was making fun of comments made by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said the attacks were God's punishment for abortion, homosexuality and other sins.

"This is a point of national concern. I think everybody of good will has great empathy and sympathy for people in New Orleans," Fowler said. "Most religious people are praying for people in New Orleans. There is no political connotation to this whatsoever. This was just poking fun at Jerry Falwell and the nonsensical thing he had said several years ago."

Fowler said if anyone was offended, he apologized.

"I don't believe in a God that's vengeful. I believe in a God that's compassionate," he said.

South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson called Don Fowler's comments "disappointing and despicable."

"A storm is not a partisan event and that is what they've done. I am outraged," Dawson said, speaking by telephone from St. Paul, Minn., where the Republican National Convention is scheduled to start Monday, but may be altered because of concern over Gustav.

Bio

Donald L. Fowler (born 1935) served as National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1995 to 1997. (Christopher J. Dodd served as "General Chairman" during this same period.)

Fowler is a political science professor and businessman from South Carolina who has spent most of his adult life in various Democratic Party roles, including state party executive director, state party chair, and CEO of the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Prior to the 1984 Democratic National Convention, he was appointed by party chairman Paul G. Kirk, Jr. to chair the "Fairness Commission," one of many Democratic commissions created to reform the presidential nomination process. Fowler's Fairness Commission banned winner-take-all districts in primaries and caucuses, expanded the reach of the 15% threshold rule, and increased the number of convention superdelegates from 568 in 1980 to 650 in 1988.

Fowler's term as National Chairman included the 1996 presidential election between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. As national chairman, Fowler ran the party's day-to-day operations, but Christopher Dodd, the general chairman, served as the party's public face. The two co-chair positions were established several times by President Clinton from 1995-2001, although the roles are usually combined. After Clinton's re-election, Fowler was accused of contacting the CIA about a businessman, Roger Tamraz, who had donated money to the Democratic party. His answer to questions from the US Senate about this was, "I have in the middle of the night--high noon--late in the afternoon--early in the morning, every hour of the day, for months now searched my memory about conversations with the CIA. And I have no memory, no memory of any conversation with the CIA." Fowler was never formally charged of any wrongdoing.

Fowler remains active in Democratic politics as a member of the DNC. Following the 2006 midterm elections, in response to James Carville's call to remove Howard Dean as chair, Fowler e-mailed his fellow DNC members, saying, "Some ill-advised voices have suggested that, because of his 50-state strategy, Governor Dean should be replaced as Chair of the DNC. This is nonsense. The 50-state strategy is exactly what the Democratic Party needed and continues to need.... Democrats won a great victory on November 7 -- control of the United States House of Representatives, control of the United States Senate, majority of Governors, and majority of state legislative bodies. Why should anyone want to mess with the team that won these remarkable results? Governor Dean deserves to continue as DNC Chair."

Fowler earned a degree in psychology from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 1957 where he had his basketball jersey retired, was president of the student body, and became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. For his master’s and doctoral degrees, he attended the University of Kentucky, a pioneering institution in the disciplines of political science and public administration. He has taught public administration and American politics at the University of South Carolina since 1964, and has taught at Wofford from time to time. He is also a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

Fowler and his communications agency have handled state and federal government relations projects for a diverse group of clients. He also has carried out marketing studies, advertising, public relations and marketing programs for national and international clients.

Fowler's son, Donnie Fowler, ran unsuccessfully for DNC chair in 2005.