DALLAS - Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price’s comments telling audience members to “Go to Hell” at Tuesday’s commissioner’s court have triggered emotional responses from across North Texas.
But the man who provoked Price claims what happened during the meeting wasn’t about race. Instead, he said it was about politics and respect.
Dallas Attorney Jeffery Scott Turner was the final public speaker during Tuesday’s meeting. He blasted Price for Bruce Sherbet’s exit as elections administrator and repeatedly referred to him as “Chief Mullah.”
“One of the elections commissioners who also happens to sit on this body joined in the Chief Mullah’s plan,” Turner said.
“Our Chief Mullah seems to want elections to operate in secret. I would say to this Chief Mullah,” he continued.
Also, “The Chief Mullah pointedly told Mr. Sherbet…” and “I would Аск the Chief Mullah who has been in power for 26 years to look in the mirror and Аск himself if it’s not time to go.”
Price sat silently through six references to the term. Then when Turner started also referring to Price’s “tribal area” he spoke up.
Price, the only African American on the commissioner’s court, said he was offended because the term “mullah” is close to “moolah” or “moolie” -- a slur that has its roots in a slang that was used against Italian immigrants and was later used by the same to defame or discredit African Americans.
“I resent that tribal,” Price said during the meeting. “You want to talk to me then call my name. If you want to talk to me, call my name.”
Both men tried to outtalk the other. It was the only direct exchange between the two.
After Judge Clay Jenkins adjourned the meeting into executive session Price spoke up again.
“Why are all the speakers white? Ain’t nobody else? Anyway, let’s go,” he said.
The people in the audience began yelling at Price and he shot back.
“All of you are white. Go to hell,” Price said.
One person shouted that Price should be ashamed of himself.
“I’m not ashamed. Go to hell,” he said.
Another person shouted that Price was part of the problem.
“Go to hell,” he said.
A day later, Turner e-mailed a statement to the Dallas Tea Party and county commissioners.
In part he said, “Whether I am a racist is a matter between me and my God and his church. [Note to the media and Commissioner Price: I do not judge people by the color of their skin but by their words and actions.]”
Turner said he referred to Price as the “Chief Mullah,” not “Chief Moolah.”
"The real news is whether Commissioner Price Price has established, or is attempting to establish, a party machine political system in Dallas County with himself being the 'Boss.' Or, as I referred to him as the 'Chief Mullah,'" he said in his statement.
“We hear in the news about the mullahs of Iran, for example, who essentially run that sad country by dictate and corruption and who remain in power through intimidation and dismissal of any and all opponents.”
He also said he will pray for Price and the other commissioners so that God may grant them “the courage to truly govern this county unselfishly, with integrity, with wisdom and understanding, and with respect due to their fellow commissioners and to the people (especially to people’s pocketbooks).”
During an interview with FOX 4’s Heather Hays on Tuesday night, Price maintained that he was racially insulted and found the timing of the outburst “real peculiar.”
"You can call me the racist if you'd like," said Price, who was live from an event where filmmaker Spike Lee was featured. "My position is he said 'moolah' at least six times before I finally responded."
"The fact is there had been only anglo speakers at the commissioners' court. I find this all real peculiar. They can come and speak until time eternity, I don't care. But at some point in time, you crossed the line."
A political figure since 1972, Price is known for being a force to be reckoned with and a politician who’s hard to categorize. He’s made enemies and piled up controversy. He’s even clashed with fellow Democrats and African Americans.
He calls himself an equal opportunity butt kicker and vows to be around a good while longer.
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Commissioner Price Tells Citizens to 'Go to Hell' Jeff Turner's Statement to the Dallas Tea Party and County Commissioners
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