GOP Official Apologizes To ‘Colored People’ For Using Racial Slur

[Bennyboy]

Source: Think Progress

Jim Gile, a Republican commissioner in Saline County, Kansas, used an offensive racial slur during an argument with a fellow commissioner, but he wants everyone to know that he isn’t a racist because he’s “built Habitat homes for colored people,” and also that he has a black friend:

In a recording made by County Clerk Don Merriman of the study session, Gile, who is white, can be heard to say the county needed to hire an architect to design the improvements rather than “n[*]gger-rigging it.”

His comment brought laughter from others in the room. Salinan Ray Hruska, who attends most commission meetings and study sessions, asked Gile what he said.

“Afro-Americanized,” Gile replied. . . .

Gile said he grew up around the term, but it is something he shouldn’t have used.

“I am not a prejudiced person,” Gile said Friday. “I have built Habitat homes for colored people.”

Gile said he also has a close friend whom he regards as a sister who is black.

More at link: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/04/10/1845601/gop-official-apologizes-to-colored-people-for-using-racial-slur/

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/04/10/1845601/gop-official-apologizes-to-colored-people-for-using-racial-slur/

[Buzz Clik]

1. He's not using "colored" in a racist way, he's just being elusive. The homes he built ...

were for people of the white color.

[SunSeeker]

2. I wonder what your "sister" thinks of that, Mr. Gile. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Just let them keep talking

I love how they are finally coming clean and being honest with themselves and us about who and what they are!

I want them to be the rich wasp male party by 2016. At this rate - this stupity and ignorance will make it happen.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

52. Yes!

[bowens43]

4. the very worst kind of racist, doesn't even realize that he is one......

[PeaceNikki]

8. Dare I say.... an "Accidental Racist"?

[Bennyboy]

13. BINGO>

I get the song myself.

[watrwefitinfor]

22. Good call.

I was born one,, too, but outgrew it by the age of three or so. Never figured out why all of us didn't.

Wat

[PeaceNikki]

24. like most of the GOP, this guy is about 50 years behind the rest of society.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. He thinks that "colored people" should be the only poor people poor enough to need HforH homes. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I thought at first that this was from The Onion.

But, sadly, no. He digs the hole deeper by referring to "colored people," then pulls the dirt in after him by claiming to have a close friend who is black.

[vduhr]

17. So did I...

I actually had to stop reading and check the source to be sure it wasn't The Onion or The Daily Currant, or perhaps a satire site I had never heard of. This is a good example of how it has become hard to tell the difference anymore.

[etherealtruth]

29. One really wants to believe ...

... that no elected official can be this big of a dumb ass.

[Eleanors38]

38. He's probably still hunting for the "colored" water fountain.

[PeaceNikki]

7. I literally did a facepalm.

So did Godzilla.

[freshwest]

40. Godzilla, a favorite of my childhood. Thanks.

[treestar]

9. Anyone using that language in 2013 even in Kansas

Who are these black people who go around making friends with white racists like this guy and agreeing with them about every issue pertaining to race? Are they the Herman Cain Society? White racists all have this Fictional Black Friend with the views of Clarence Thomas and Herman Cain. There may be a few, but enough to go around?

[catbyte]

35. It's like people claiming that their Great Great Grandmother was a Cherokee Princess

There must have been a colossal tribe of nothing but Cherokee Princesses at one point, right along with that population of Fictional Black Friends, LOL.

[Gemini Cat]

37. I've noticed!

From my limited observation, it's usually the dumbest of dumb racists that make that claim. There seems to be a lot of them in my area.

[freshwest]

41. Yes, I can see them now:

Looking at an invisible Will Smith.

[silverweb]

10. I clicked on this link because I thought it was The Onion.

[Squinch]

11. OK. When is Satan going to go on CNN and admit that Kansas is hell? The secret's out anyway.

[Paladin]

12. Knuckle-drag yourself into the mid-20th century, Mr. Gile.

Don't worry about the 21st century for now.

Anybody who gives any credence to the concept of a "post-racial America" ought to be condemned to having this clueless prick as a commissioner.....

[dmr]

14. “Afro-Americanized,” Gile replied. . . . That was his come-back?

Afro-Americanized. That's really as bad because it still belittles.

We all goof up every now and then, but I wonder about people who slip up so badly in a public setting when they're supposedly on their best behavior.

How does he talk when he's in a relaxed setting?

If he were my commissioner, I'd never trust him to be fair in dealing with the people's business. But then, I trust no Republican.

Shame on him.

[Politicalboi]

25. That's what I thought too

He should have just stopped with the NR and apologized, than to even worsen it by saying Afro-Americanized. It slipped. We've all heard the term. And in Kansas it's a little more understandable. Not excusable, IMO understandable. He wasn't with his kind in a closed room.

[tanyev]

15. So...how's that GOP minority outreach program going?

[drm604]

16. I'd hate to hear the word he's going to use for them when he apologizes for using "colored".

[tavalon]

21. Uppity N#$%rs?

[demosocialist]

18. the local coverage is interesting.

http://salina.com/news/Gile2013-04-06T04-27-33

[Boomerproud]

39. I knew I shouldn't have gone to the comments section.

There's one person named "Michael Jones" who epitomizes all that is wrong with conservatives. There are some that are sane.

[bravenak]

19. We accept!

Thank you for this. I enjoy republican antics more and more every day. Please feel free to continue using racist terminology in public at any time. Our house of reps is seriously Afroamericanized against democrats and minorities. Hopefully any non racist republicans will be staying home next year during the midterms.

[bullwinkle428]

20. Sweet mother of god. I was hoping this was an Onion headline.

[reflection]

23. Man, he hit three spots on the BINGO card

1) Used the N word,
2) referred to a "black friend" as proof of not being racist, and
3) managed to shoehorn the word 'sister' in when speaking about an AA woman.

[freshwest]

43. You forgot his 'good works for teh poors' that he tossed in, to seal the deal!

[reflection]

45. Good catch. Thanks. n/t

[Eugene]

27. I'm not a racist. Some of my best friends are colored.

Even 50 years ago, that defense didn't work.

[jwirr]

28. Where have these people been hiding the last 30+ years? Obviously they have ignored the

language changes that have happened since the 50s.

[Arkana]

30. We really are going to have to drag these guys kicking and screaming

into the 21st century, aren't we?

[BobTheSubgenius]

50. Even the latter half of the 20th

would be a BIG improvement.

[bemildred]

31. That's it, use racist language while apologizing for racist language. nt

[Jennicut]

32. "For colored people".

That is a term that I think has not been used since the 50's. Wow. N--gger rigging and colored people. The guy is a real winner.

[LeftinOH]

33. Forced apologies are bullshit; he said what he said because that's how he thinks

and feels; that's the terminology he uses. He should be judged by his words, not by an after-the-fact apology which he wouldn't even have known to offer otherwise.

[catbyte]

34. ROFLMAO

Unbelievable.

[Sunlei]

36. republicans will probably run him with old painted rock perry

[awoke_in_2003]

42. People like this...

are going to drive the Onion out of business.

[TxDemChem]

46. I know

The Onion wouldn't make this entire scenario up. Maybe one it two of his comments, but they would never stretch into such an unreal piece if writing. Oh well, life is a lot stranger than fiction when it comes to republican gaffes.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

44. Next he'll say the contractor bid needs to be "Jewed Down".

[Melinda]

47. :::facepalm:::

Has this man no intellect?

A modicum of common sense?

[nomorenomore08]

48. No and no. Pretty easy answer.

nt

[BobTheSubgenius]

49. Whenever someone starts a sentence with:

"I'm no bigot..." or, even worse "I'm not bigot, but..." you just KNOW the next thing out of their mouth will be from moderately to outrageously racist.

[SemperEadem]

51. he means he used to have a black friend

it's amazing just how much like the fucking 40's it's become in this country these days.