The Kansas Republican Party has another PR disaster on its hands as — again! — an elected official .
On Tuesday night at the Leavenworth County Commission meeting, Commissioner Louis Klemp told an African-American female city planner:
I don't want you to feel like I'm picking on you. Because we are part of the master race. You have a gap in your teeth. You're the master race, don’t ever forget that.
The YouTube video of the meeting clearly depicts the exchange, which starts at the 1:35:00 mark. The strange remarks were directed at a representative of an architect firm working on a project with Leavenworth County.
One of Klemp’s fellow commissioners (a Republican) called him out, but so far ZERO Kansas Republican Party officials have made a statement. None.
Klemp’s term as commissioner ends on January 15, 2019. So far he has resisted calls to step down early. This isn’t the first time he has made controversial, usually racist remarks. Just one short year ago Klemp whined for eight minutes about the legacies of Robert E Lee, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington due to slavery.
Racism in the GOP isn’t just a Kansas problem. Such abhorrent views are doubly disturbing because Kansas was birthed in fire and blood as the Free State. The elected racists in Kansas don’t wolf-whistle; they have open microphones.
Just last week, the racist in chief Kris Kobach was crushed (h/t to Chris Reeves) by Democrat Laura Kelly in the gubernatorial race.
Apparently, some lessons are harder to learn than others.
Klemp should step down immediately and apologize.