It appears that Rep. Don Young has a soul mate in Kansas. Saline County Commissioner Jim Gile, 68, complained in a meeting that the county needed to hire an architect to design local improvements rather than “n*****-rigging it.” It is not clear which is worse the statement or his attempt at an apology.
Gile is serving his first term as a commissioner and was in a debate with Commissioner John Price on repairs to the county’s Road and Bridge Department building. He was recorded by County Clerk Don Merriman. Remarkably, his comment produced laughter though one citizen asked Gile to repeat what he just said. Gile proceeded to offer “Afro-Americanized” as a substitute for “n*****-rigging.”
Gile later said he meant to say “jury-rigged” and “this came out.” He agreed “It was a bad choice of words.”
Gile proceeded later to dig a deeper hole by insisting “I am not a prejudiced person. I have built Habitat homes for colored people.” He also noted that he has a close friend whom he regards as a sister who is black.
Gile has been credited with public service activities in the county. However, at some point, Gile may want to realize that speaking is not a strength for him and that he may want to try silence as a new approach to life.
Source: Salina
This is disgraceful, rude, and a setback for the decades of progress that has been made to combat such ignorance. To have a person in a position of high government and power with a clear prejudicial view of the black race is an embarrassment to this nation. This comissioner should resign effective immediately as he can no longer serve all of his citizens effectively. He has lost the trust and faith of a large portion of his community and hopefully this country. It is shameful that a statement such as this could be made in the year 2013. I am not so naive to believe that racism doesn’t exist within all populations of people, however it has no place in government. Idealy it would be iradicated altogether, but that is a utopia I may never live to see. However when your position in life is one of service to ALL populations of people then preference toward one while having contempt for another simply can not be.
Hey, I’m from VA, and for once people outside of the South have their racism come out! I am tired of people pretending that racism either A) doesn’t exist, or B) exists only in the South. Politicians wrap themselves in the robe of political correctness, but every once in a while they don’t tie the belt tight enough and the robe swings open. showing some very nasty private parts indeed.