Texas Rep. Betty Brown Apologizes For Saying Asians Should Simplify Their Names

[babylonsister]

Texas Rep. Betty Brown Apologizes For Saying Asians Should Simplify Their Names

April 11, 2009 02:18 PM EST | AP


AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas lawmaker under fire for saying that Asian-American voters should adopt names that are "easier for Americans" has apologized for her remarks.

State Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell, issued an apology Thursday for the comments made during a House Elections Committee hearing on April 7.

Brown said the remark came during a conversation on the difficulty of translating names and that she was referring to transliteration issues when she asked a representative of the Organization of Chinese Americans whether Asian-Americans could adopt names that "we could deal with more readily here."

Ramey Ko, the representative, had testified that people of Asian descent have problems voting because they sometimes list legal names that had been transliterated in addition to common English names on their driver's licenses or other identification.

Brown said she was not asking Ko to change his name.

New York City Councilman John C. Liu, who along with the Texas Democratic party had called on Brown to apologize, said in a statement that the apology was "a fair first step," but didn't go far enough. Liu said Brown's comments during the exchange with Ko went beyond the concept of transliteration.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/11/texas-rep-betty-brown-apo_n_185866.html

[Bluebear]

1. And her constituent's names are very simple. Like Billy Tom Ray-Bob Smoot. nt

[gratuitous]

2. After all, "Ko" is just too much for poor Betty's little brain

Molly Ivins, we miss you soooo much. Imagine what fun Molly would have with Rep. Brown!

[babylonsister]

6. Molly would have nailed this winger! And yes, "Ko" is difficult. nt

[burning rain]

3. Not just a dumb bigot, but a worm, too.

Betty Brown is really going for the gold!

[DCKit]

4. My sincerety meter is reading -5. n/t

[Mari333]

5. wow these people really ARE D- students arent they

I often forget how incredibly stupid they are.