Oklahoma Legislator Reprimanded for Her Comments

I am glad that Rep. Kern recognized the error of her words. I am also relieved that she openly offered an apology. The Oklahoma House has voted to reprimand a lawmaker who denigrated blacks and women during a debate on an affirmative action bill.

State Rep. Sally Kern delivered a tearful apology on the House floor Monday, then voted for her own reprimand. Kern gained national notoriety in 2008 with an anti-homosexual rant.

Last week, the Oklahoma City Republican questioned whether there were disproportionately high numbers of blacks in state prisons because "they didn't want to work hard in school." She also said women don't work as hard as men because they "tend to think a little bit more about their families."

The president of the Oklahoma chapter for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party have called for Kern's resignation.

source