I almost did not believe this story until I checked a couple of different sources.
If you ever needed any more evidence that some Republicans just don't get it when it comes to issues related to race then you have to check out this story on Utah State Sen. Mark Madsen.
It seems Madsen, a Republican (although that label probably will become obvious in a few more sentences) wants to create a holiday honoring John Moses Browning, who is a native of Utah, and is considered a "gun pioneer" by some people - on the same day as MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. Are you kidding? Apparently, there is some controversy as to when Browning's birthday actually is, but supposedly it is around Jan. 21. Madsen wants to combine Browning's proposed holiday with MLK Day.
The depth and breadth of the stupidity of this is almost overwhelming and evident in the comment below from Madsen.
MADSEN: I see them as complimentary. We’ll see if they can take it in the spirit it’s intended.
When he says "they" I wonder who he is talking about, exactly.
Madsen, who wants to meet with the NAACP (yeah, it's amazing) to discuss his proposal, apparently has some support from Utah State Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins (also, you guessed it, a Republican):
JENKINS: Guns keep peace. I kind of like the idea of making his birthday a holiday. I’m all over that.
Are these guys too ignorant to understand how Dr. King was murdered and how that remains an open wound to a lot of Americans more than 40 years later? It's stunning someone could be so insensitive and it makes me wonder if he proposed this on purpose.
But, in an almost classic case of projection (from a guy who also said he wanted to meet with the NAACP), the story ends with this little nugget from Madsen:
"If the race baiters are out there looking for an opportunity, I'm not going to give it to them. I'll walk away and find another day."
The irony of that comment from Madsen is that race is not mentioned in the story until he brings it up.
Madsen would not have had to walk away if he had not walked there in the first place.
Daily Herald:
http://www.heraldextra.com/legislature/article_1ed94dc1-decb-5dcc-bfc0-681ffcb1e6f8.html
