O Mai

She’s a uniter, not a divider

Last week Republican Texas State Representative Betty Brown (The name Betty White was taken) caused a shit storm during House testimony on a voter ID bill. When asked to address issues concerning the potential challenges faced by Chinese-Americans under the proposed bill, Brown replied:

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese—I understand it’s a rather difficult language—do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?”

Thus bringing about a new age for the term “you people” and debuting “you citizens” as its shiny new, modern counterpart.

Apparently concerned that people didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of her ignorance, Brown continued, telling Organization of Chinese Americans representative Ramey Ko (Pronounced “Koh,” for those of you currently bewildered by the complexity of the name):

“Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?”

Brown was initially unapologetic, but after the races of the world united and rose up against her, she finally relented and issued an apology–or at least, finger pointing half-heartedly disguised as an apology. While she was busy issuing a prepared statement recognizing the contributions of the Asian-American community in Texas, her rep, Jordan Berry was flapping his gums at the press, telling them “Brown’s comment is being used by the bill’s opponents to obscure the real issues involved.”  The real issues involved assumably being that she’s a xenophobic twat. It makes no sense for her opponents to try to obscure that fact, but rest assured, “you citizens.” She will not allow her racism to deter her racism!