The World According to Oklahoma

If you missed it, Republican Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern gave quite a speech from her state’s House Floor this week. Part of the debate that ultimately ended in the Oklahoma House of Representatives approving a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate affirmative action in state government. She has apologized, but apparently faces no disciplinary action as of yet.

In her own words:

Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said minorities earn less than white people because they don’t work as hard and have less initiative.

“We have a high percentage of blacks in prison, and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school? I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them.”

Kern said women earn less than men because “they tend to spend more time at home with their families.”

How funny this should come on the heels of Donald Trump -- and other birthers -- now requesting President Obama release his educational transcripts. Because after all, he must not have wanted to study as hard, and knew the government would take care of him through affirmative action. Coincidental, no?

From Steve Benen, at The Washington Monthly, commenting on the speech. The emphasis is mine:

Seriously, that's what she said. Kern, defending opposition to affirmative action, went on to suggest African Americans may end up in prison because "they don't want to study as hard in school." She added, "I've taught school and I saw a lot of people of color who didn't study hard because they said the government would take care of them."

Kern went on to argue that women earn less than men because "they tend to spend more time at home with their families."

This is the same state lawmaker who argued that homosexuality is more dangerous than terrorism, and fought for a ban on Sharia law.

Honestly, where does the Republican Party even find people like this? Is there a website where a party can order cartoonish racists to serve in state government?

Where do they find these people, indeed? Unfortunately for the Republican party, these folks seem to be the only ones who can climb their ranks. Fortunately for the rest of us, they can’t go anywhere outside their ranks.

You can read more here, here and here.