Senate leader says there was no malice in ‘fried chicken’ remark
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, says there’s no need to condemn Sen. Randy Brogdon for a remark made on the Senate floor earlier this week.
During discussions on House Joint Resolution 1054 that would allow Oklahoma voters to decided whether to change the state’s Constitution to allow the state to opt out of the federal health care plan, Brogdon, R-Owasso, said:
“I believe what Congress did this weekend was unconstitutional. It’s a mandate. Where’s it going to stop? Are they going to require us to purchase fried chicken for dinner tomorrow night?”
During debate on the same bill, Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, asked Brogdon why he used “fried chicken” as an example. Brogdon said that’s what he had for lunch that day.
On Wednesday, the Legislative Black Caucus asked Coffee to discipline Brogdon for what they believed was a racially insensitive remark. Here’s the statement from Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus.
“Members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus were both shocked and disappointed at Senator Brogdon’s comments on the Senate Floor that asked whether President Barack Obama would consider forcing Oklahomans to eat fried chicken.”
The Caucus further noted, “What we see from the removing of President Obama’s portrait in the House Chamber to Senator Brogdon’s comments in the Senate Chamber is a pattern of disrespectful and inflammatory actions and statements. We call on President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee to admonish Senator Randy Brogdon for his actions on the Senate Floor.”
On Thursday, Coffee said there was no need to admonish Brogdon.
“I was on the floor when he made that remark,” Coffee said. “There was no malice intended in that comment. I think they’re just trying to change the subject.”
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or follow this blog's RSS and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
This “mandate” is no more than a tax / tax credit system. You are not required to by a high-efficiency hot water tank for your home but you get a tax credit for doing so. Same as health reform: You can buy it (tax credit) and not have to pay extra taxes (fines). Sour Grapes GOP, sour grapes.
I am liberal person and while I am sure Brogdon is a racists, it is a stretch to call this comment racist.
[...] his credit, Sen. Coffee, an Oklahoma City Republican, isn’t taking the bait, either. On Thursday, Coffee said there was no need to admonish [...]