Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz. used the term “colored people” in a debate on the House floor Thursday.
Crane, while referring to his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act—a proposal that would prohibit the Pentagon from requiring participation in training for race-based diversity and equity concepts used a derogatory statement in describing Black Americans.
While defending his amendment, Crane declared “My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people, or Black people or anybody can serve,” Crane, R-Ariz., said.
“I’m going to tell you guys this right now you can: You can keep playing around these games with diversity, equity and inclusion. But there are some real threats out there. And if we keep messing around and we keep lowering our standards, it’s not going to be good,” Crane said.
Many in Congress do not agree with Crane’s contention that diversity training and equity requirements are “lowering standards” in the military—and there’s growing reaction over both Crane’s remarks as well as his proposed amendment.
Crane is being blasted by elected officials as well as the public.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, immediately motioned to have the words “colored people” removed from the record.
“I find it offensive and very inappropriate,” Beatty said while on the floor.
“Wow. Republicans are just openly calling my colleagues, “colored people” on the House Floor now. They’re bringing amendments to the floor to stop military bases named after confederate traitors from getting new names…the GOP is not even hiding the racism anymore,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., on Twitter.
“You can’t make this up. This is who these people are, and who they’ve always been,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, posted on Twitter.
Social media chats and public reaction is running high.
“Republicans are the party of racism. Period. And they have no intention of changing,” wrote one Valley constituent on Facebook.
Reportedly, Crane has said he “misspoke” when using the reference to Black Americans as “colored people.”
