A Republican state lawmaker from Colorado who calls Black people “Buckwheat” and gay people “homosexuals” says his colleagues really ought to be more respectful toward one another.
State Rep. Richard Holtorf was talking about military rules of engagement and the law of proportionality yesterday on the House floor when he called one of his colleagues a racist slur.
“Don’t worry, Buckwheat. I’m getting there,” he said, adding, “That’s an endearing term, by the way.”
Colorado State Rep Richard Holtorf (R-Akron) referred to a colleague as “Buckwheat,” leading to a heated exchange and brief recess of the House. #coleg #copolitics #9News pic.twitter.com/jYXNbEMg8q
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) May 5, 2021
(For the record: “Buckwheat” is not an “endearing term.” It’s a racist term that references Buckwheat, the Black caricature from The Little Rascals. Learn all about it here.)
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Holtorf’s “Buckwheat” comment comes just two weeks after he made similarly offensive remarks while talking to Rep. Naquetta Ricks about crime in Black communities.
“I, in college, had a friend who was an African American and he was a homosexual, and we were good buddies,” he reportedly told her.
It’s unclear who Holtorf was directing yesterday’s “Buckwheat” comment to, but Rep. Leslie Herod tweeted later in the day: “This is what I have to deal with Every. Damn. Day. #onwepress.”
This is what I have to deal with Every. Damn. Day. #onwepress https://t.co/oXfwEPAxt4
— Leslie Herod (@leslieherod) May 5, 2021
Holtorf later half-apologized to his colleagues for the racist comment, saying “we all have to do better.”
“I think we have to respect each other,” he said. “We have to respect people’s time here and listen and be good people and not try to have confrontations across this chamber.”
“I apologize if I’ve offended anybody in anyway. It is not my intent, ladies and gentlemen. If anyone would like to talk to me afterwards, I’d be more than happy to visit with them.”
When asked about the remarks by local media, Holtorf simply said, “There is two sides to every story.”
In this particular case, there’s the racist side and the not racist side.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Mister P
Once again I am shocked that someone is so stupid. Of course, it’s a republican, they seem to be pretty clueless about pretty much everything.
Cam
Republicans used to elect slightly smarter people who hid their racism when they were in public.
Apparently that is too hard for the new group so they are exposing all the racism that’s always existed in the GOP
Fahd
Someone who casually uses “buckwheat” in this way has a real problem of ignorance and ethnocentrism. I wonder if there isn’t an organization that offers reading material that enlightens about racist or other stereotypes and that would be willing to send materials to Holtorf’s office.
Also, at least in Colorado, there probably should be more sensitivity training as part of the orientation programs for elected officials. The employees of the Colorado statehouse probably have much more training than the representatives – at least, I hope so.
Gay Thomas
I like how he uses the trope “I had a friend who was” while catching 2 minority groups in one slur. Peak Republican.
darklight413
When republikkkans get caught doing something wrong, they immediately try to shift the blame. “We ALL need to do better.” Nope, just the racists.
Max
agreed. they do it all the time. as conservatives, they have zero ability to man up to their own wrongs.
Essie
I thought Colorado was slightly more progressive than some other states. Guess I got them confused because of the beautiful scenery and John Denver.
Kevan1
It seems the GOP is getting more and more bizarre. They all seem to be nuts. Trump made things worse in one way, in another it made it easier to pick out all the racist, homophobic, closeted, Misogynist, backwards inbreds that are all GOP freaks.
eeebee333
I’m not at all offended by the word “homosexual.”
CityguyUSA
As long as they say it’s a term of endearment that makes everything A OK!