George Galloway - "window licker" tweet

[faceless]

George Galloway criticised for 'window licker' tweet
Respect MP causes further controversy over use of derogatory term for disabled person following recent comments about rape
Damien Pearse and James Meikle
guardian.co.uk,
27 August 2012

After being widely condemned for his remarks about the rape charges facing Julian Assange, George Galloway was under fire again at the weekend after calling someone a "window-licker" (a derogatory term for a disabled person) in a conversation on Twitter. Galloway made the comment during a conversation on Sunday. He tweeted to @Hawfa: "you badly need medical help son. Will decent Rangers fans please substitute this windae-licker … "

The tweet was attacked as insensitive by fellow Twitter users and @Skipjack451 wrote: "I wonder what the disabled members of your constituency will make of your use of the slur 'window licker'? You're a disaster." Paul Carter (@Juniorc0) wrote: "@georgegalloway just called someone a window licker. Beyond contempt." In 2003, the term was voted third most offensive that could be used relating to disability in a poll run for the BBC's Ouch! disability talk show.

Dan Scorer, senior campaigns and policy manager at the learning disability charity Mencap said: "We are appalled that George Galloway, a member of parliament, has used this unacceptable term of abuse, which is deeply offensive to disabled people. Hate crime and bullying are a daily reality for many disabled people and the use of language like this only furthers hostility and violence. We call on him to apologise immediately."

Galloway is in Indonesia and could not be immediately contacted.

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What the blithering fuck? GG is really getting caught up in the whole live-media pish lately.

[luke]

he could try and say he was on about the aphex twin track window licker but i doubt thats going to work!

i didn't know it was a derogatory term for a disabled person, i'd heard it before years ago, but never knew what it meant

[MegaChairmanMao]

Slow news day?

[faceless]

yeah, who wants to know if a politician uses such language?

"In 2003, the term was voted third most offensive that could be used relating to disability in a poll run for the BBC's Ouch! disability talk show. "

[pirtybirdy]

I've never heard that term before. How does being a window licker relate to being disabled?

[luke]

[gordonrussell]

[faceless]

GG - Apology For Tweet

I'm glad he's done this and that he recognises how stupid it was to get drawn in.

[major.tom]

This is the 1st I've heard the term "window-licker" referring to the disabled. The obvious connection is to the French term for "window shopping" which directly translates as "licking windows" (lecher les fenêtres).