Rep. Eli Crane, a Republican from Arizona, caused controversy this week during a floor debate over his proposed amendment to an annual defense policy bill when he allegedly referred to Black people as “colored people.”
This remark drew a stern rebuke from the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“I find it offensive and very inappropriate,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio.
During the debate, Crane expressed his belief that the military’s strength lies in its adherence to standards rather than in its diversity. He pushed his proposed amendment aimed to prevent the Defense Department from considering factors such as race, gender, religion, political affiliations, or any other ideological concepts as the sole basis for recruitment, training, education, promotion, or retention decisions.
“My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or Black people or anybody can serve,” Crane said, a combat veteran. “It has nothing to do with any of that stuff.”
Beatty requested that the derogatory phrase he used be struck from the record. Crane, who said he “misspoke,” asked for his comments to be amended to “people of color,” but Beatty insisted on their complete removal, which was approved through unanimous consent. She also said it “undermines the freedoms for us to learn about one another, for us to hire one another, for us to understand our cultures.”
Read the full article here
