Posted on 12/31/2014 9:33:14 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-La.) said Wednesday that House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) needs to respond with "more than words" to a controversy over a speech he gave to a white supremacist group in 2002.
Jackson Lee, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, implied that she doubted her fellow Louisiana lawmaker's explanation, that he did not know the views of the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, which was founded by well-known former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
"This was not 50 years ago, it was 12 years ago, and every member knows what David Duke stands for, and any organization that was affiliated at that time with David Duke is obviously the Ku Klux Klan," Jackson Lee said on MSNBC's "NewsNation." "And we know what the Ku Klux Klan stands for, for hate, for the killing of Jews and Catholics and African-Americans and anyone that they disagree with, even today.
"So I’m enormously disappointed, and I frankly believe that it is important for further statements to come from the whip," she added.
Scalise added in a statement on Tuesday that the appearance was "a mistake I regret."
Echoing a statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) spokesman Drew Hammill on Tuesday, Jackson Lee called for policy action.
"Why doesn’t he take the leadership in reauthorizing the voting rights act in a bipartisan manner, or moving forward on criminal justice reform, or even working to pass immigration reform," Jackson Lee said. "I think it’s got to be more than words, it’s got to be action."
Jackson Lee's comments contrast with those of Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), another Black Caucus member who is also from Scalise's home state.
“I don't think Steve Scalise has a racist bone in his body," Richmond told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in crucial early backing for Scalise.
Jackson Lee said Republicans have a long way to go.
"I think the Republican leadership, the Republicans in the House and the Senate, have a huge mountain to climb," she said. "Because it was not in the dark ages that he made this speech, it was just a few years ago."
“rumor has it that Kim Jung Un has quite a crush on Sheira Jackson Ree!!”
He wants to rick her crit!
I wonder how long it will take “The Hill” to fix this article.
According to my calculations, that would be 12 (twelve) (an even dozen) (more than a decade) years ago. What took so long, Lee, to get incensed about it?
Right on cue. Should he also write a check for Rev. Al Big Mouth?
“He needs to shoot a couple of cops.”
The pattern of dirty tricks from dossier files continues.
Just ignore her, and the Dems and the media.
Tell them it was 12 years ago, it’s old news, and what difference does it make now?
Also, ask her where here indignation was when Bob Byrd was a Senate leader?
He didn’t just speak to a group he WAS the Ku Klux Klan.
Tell her to take her limo two blocks from the Capitol to her home like she does every day and shut the hell up.
Sullivan apparently does not check his facts-Silly Jackson Lee is from TEXAS, not Louisiana-but they can certainly have her, if they want her...
12 years ago
“The Hill” has corrected the state Rep Sheila Jackson Lee is screwing over (it isn’t LA as was reported in the original piece above). Here is the new text.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Wednesday that House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) needs to respond with “more than words” to a controversy over a speech he gave to a white supremacist group in 2002.
Jackson Lee, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, implied that she doubted her fellow lawmaker’s explanation that he did not know the views of the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, which was founded by well-known former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
“This was not 50 years ago, it was 12 years ago, and every member knows what David Duke stands for, and any organization that was affiliated at that time with David Duke is obviously the Ku Klux Klan,” Jackson Lee said on MSNBC’s “NewsNation.” “And we know what the Ku Klux Klan stands for, for hate, for the killing of Jews and Catholics and African-Americans and anyone that they disagree with, even today.
“So I’m enormously disappointed, and I frankly believe that it is important for further statements to come from the whip,” she added.
Scalise added in a statement on Tuesday that the appearance was “a mistake I regret.”
Echoing a statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) spokesman Drew Hammill on Tuesday, Jackson Lee called for policy action.
“Why doesn’t he take the leadership in reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act in a bipartisan manner, or moving forward on criminal justice reform, or even working to pass immigration reform,” Jackson Lee said. “I think it’s got to be more than words, it’s got to be action.”
Jackson Lee’s comments contrast with those of Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), another Black Caucus member.
“I don’t think Steve Scalise has a racist bone in his body,” Richmond told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in crucial early backing for Scalise.
Jackson Lee said Republicans have a long way to go.
“I think the Republican leadership, the Republicans in the House and the Senate, have a huge mountain to climb,” she said. “Because it was not in the dark ages that he made this speech, it was just a few years ago.”
Not only was it 12 years ago, it was also NOT in front of the David-Duke-associated-group that the Left is pretending. They had the room reserved for the NEXT meeting. Some had trickled in early to drink coffee and kill time. Scalise never addressed THAT group, other than those who arrived early... but the media ran with it anyway.
OK, did he speak to the Duke EURO Conference, the Jefferson Heights Civic Association, as the previous post suggests, or both? Which is it?
That could be as close to the truth Lee has gotten in years, i.e. "Scalise might have spoken to them if for some reason he didn't get out of the building on time."
LOL! You’re awful! LOLOLOL!!!
When the absolute most stupid member of Congress talks... you should ignore her.
My life is so boring and unchanging that I could hardly be expected to say who I talked to 12 years ago. Its safe to say that I probably went to the post office that day. I may or may not have spoken to one of the Hutaree militia members who live in the area.
I was probably sitting in a different chair, in front of the same computer, doing something kinda silly. :’)
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