Sorry for the brief hiatus, but between watching election returns, drinking cheap beer, and dodging that pesky coyote, the roadrunner has been busy. However, I was summoned by conscience to return to highlight an esoteric but revealing move made by a certain Arizona GOP Representative.
Arizona Congressman Eli Crane, who infamously referred to African Americans in the military as “colored people” has done little to dispel the notion he might be racist, by introducing an amendment to the House Interior appropriations bill that would’ve reduced Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory’s salary to $1. In addition to being someone looking out for environmental quality (that’s a good thing in case you weren’t sure), Brenda Mallory also happens to be African-American.
Now I’m sure Mr. Crane or his supporters will argue that his offer to pay Mallory just a dollar isn’t racially motivated, but since he’s on a “hot mic” referring to African Americans as “colored people”, its certainly a tad awkward even under the most charitable interpretation.
His Amendment fortunately failed, although it did end up receiving a disconcerting 161 Republican votes and zero Democratic votes. Representative Crane has “distinguished” himself as being one of the most extreme members of Congress, aligning himself with Matt Gaetz and other extremists on the far-right fringe.
The freshman Congressman however lives in just a single digit red district, and has a credible opponent, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, who will stand up against racism and marginalizing rhetoric, and instead bring communities together. Mr. Nez’s webpage can be found here, and one way to make it clear that Eli Crane’s divisive racial politics should be rejected, would be to support his opponent’s efforts to unseat him, and restore dignity to the seat.
www.jonathannezforaz.com
Meep meep