Democratic Rep. Calls 18-Month-Old Child a RACIST in Floor Speech

When President Obama was elected, the first bi-racial President in U.S. history, the main stream media made a prediction that this would be the end of racial animus in this country.  But, that has certainly not turned out to be the case.  In fact, given events like the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case and Ferguson, the argument can be made that racial politics are alive and well and the racial divide in this country is far worse now than it was in 2008; much of it fueled by the Obama Administration.

Now, a new, utterly absurd example of racial politics in action has surfaced.  Teaparty.org and Top Right News both report:

An Indiana Democratic state representative made a shocking claim during a floor speech earlier this week when she said a Republican colleague’s 18-month-old toddler was scared of her because she’s black.

Rep. Vanessa Summers was debating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Monday when she speculated that Republican Rep. Jud McMillin’s young son is a fledgling racist.

“I have told Representative McMillin I love his little son, but he’s scared of me because of my color,” Summers speculated. “And that’s horrible.”

During a heated debate over the recently passed-and-signed Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the Indiana House, State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) went after her White Republican debate opponent’s 18-month-old son, accusing him, and his parents by extension, of racism.

Summers said of GOP Rep. Jud McMillan’s young son, “I love his little son, but he’s scared of me because of my color — and that’s horrible.”

Lawmakers could be heard gasping and groaning after the comment.

“It’s true,” Summers said defiantly. “And that’s something we are going to work on. … I asked him please, ‘Introduce your child to some people of color so he won’t live his life as a prejudice person.’ I would like for you all to not vote for this bill.”

The unbelievable comments begin after she turns the debate from religion into a race issue at around the 2:32 mark (of the following video):

This is both sad and silly.  To accuse a young toddler of being a racist is petty and baseless.

The toddler’s father, Rep. Jud McMillin, gave a much more rational explanation for his son’s supposed offensive behavior according to teaparty.org:

McMillin responded to the attack, telling the Indianapolis Star that the incident was “unfortunate.”

“You’d like to think that we would have professional discussion on the House floor and certainly be able to avoid having 18-month-olds in the discussion,” McMillin said.

“I can tell you that if he reacted the same way he reacts with anybody brand new, he buries his head in his dad’s shoulder. Whoever it is, it’s what he does. He’s an 18-month-old kid; he’s in a new environment up here in the place like the Statehouse but doesn’t know anybody. I honestly don’t remember anything out of the ordinary.”