Oh, dear.

[fabrisse]

Representative Paul Kanjorski said (via The Washington Post's political coverage):

"We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now unfortunately," Kanjorski said. "But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people -- and they're not minorities and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about -- these are average, good American people." [emphasis mine]

You'll be happy to know his office is affronted to think anyone could construe these remarks as racist.

From their release:
Anyone trying to politicize this issue clearly doesn't get it. Congressman Kanjorski is fighting for all Americans who are struggling. Any statement saying otherwise is grossly misinformed.

In fairness, Representative Kanjorski is trying to protect a program for homeowner mortgage help that is currently available in Pennsylvania through state funding and creating something similar nationally. He's defending it as not helping the "imprudent, the wasteful."

While I can admire him for thinking of this type of program and trying to help the unemployed, it doesn't change the fact that his remarks are, in fact, racist.

Comments

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Well, you served in the military, so you're probably okay even though you're Catholic. *sigh*

I think the hardest part of some of this is that I know what he means. I grew up with that from some of my relatives. Aaargh!

[eanja]

Plus I look enough like a media approved suburban lady that people assume I'm a lot more straight-laced and acceptable than I hopefully really am. (Pretty sure the poly would knock me right out of the decent category if it were obvious).