Most of the news stories, the front page mention, and a recent diary have focused on the apology made by Alabama state representative Scott Beason for calling Blacks “Aborigines”. To me, in context, that was the least offensive of his remarks.
First, he KNEW he was being recorded and as the defense attorney said
“If you made those comments when you knew you were recording, what must you have said when you weren’t recording? More of the same?”
I don’t know the entire back story of this trial and his participation but it appears he was “helping” a corruption investigation by trying to get some individuals on tape offering bribes or a quid pro quo for his support of casino gambling. A casual reading paints him as an opportunistic local pol intent on a congressional run or a shot at the Governor’s office with no compunction about stepping on his fellow Republicans.
Under cross examination by defense attorney Bobby Segall,
Segall brings up a conversation Beason was having with some Republican colleagues — a conversation Beason recorded. Another Republican, speaking Greenetrack, the gambling hall located in predominately-black Greene County, suggests the bingo hall is run by Native Americans. “They’re aborigines, but they’re not Indians,” Beason says on the transcript.
In context, I find it uninformed and ignorant but not nearly as bad as some of the other
things he had to say such as him wanting Blacks to take over the leadership of the Democratic Party in order to hurt them.
Beason argued that the Republicans should support Rep. Yvonne Kennedy to lead the Democratic caucus.
“If the blacks take over the Democrat caucus and she’s speaker, she’s completely disorganized,” Beason said on one recording. “She cannot raise money from the business community.”
and
In the same conversation, Beason and his colleagues called black voters ignorant and illiterate.
He also was recorded saying
If a statewide referendum were held on gambling, casinos would bus black voters to the polls and entice them with free food and bingo, Beason and his colleagues said.
THESE are the comments for which he
and his Republican colleagues should be called to task. Why is there such a focus on the Aborigines remark in the face of his other outrageous stereotypes and slurs? Even if these opinions are so normal as to go unremarked by the local citizenry, they should not be here on DKos or in a story that has gone national.
3:45 PM PT: I changed the title because the focus was NOT intended to be the Aborigines comment but everything ELSE Rep. Beason had to say. Why is there no concern here or in the media over those remarks?