Rep. Kanjorski's odd statement (our bill will help good people, not minorities)

[Mathilda]

Representative Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, made a statement Wednesday, now in Youtube, that made him sound curiously racist, in my opinion. This is uncharacteristic of Democrats. Kanjorski emphasized that the financial overhaul will help people that are not defective, "not minorities" etc., and went on stating the good attributes of the white people with whom he's regularly in touch.

I quote:

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."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/dem-rep-finance-bill-will-help.html?wprss=44

What was he thinking?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Uh-oh... That was pretty bad.

"...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."

That is, good, non-defective white Americans who are worthy of help. :sarcasm: Hope the guy gets his ass kicked for that.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. My guess? He was thinking that his audience included small minded bigots.

As Congressman Kanjorski stated, these programs are meant to help people and families throughout the country who are unable to afford basic necessities, including those in the Congressman's district in Northeastern Pennsylvania who he hears from every day. 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. The full video clip, rather than an edited version, speaks for itself and doesn't take the Congressman's remarks out of context

[MidwestTransplant]

5. I agree. Basically saying they aren't the Regan fashioned "welfare queens"

Still a boneheaded thing to say.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Yep. Not a carefully considered phrasing for sure. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

3. Perhaps he was just letting his true feelings come to the surface

It just seems that having a black president brings out the bigot in many.

When I voted for Obama I really did not care what color he was, I voted
for him because he promised change, he promised a better country.
I thought that having a black president, making good and honest choices
making this country move forward into a more caring place that it would show that
color was not a barrier to what a person carried inside of them.

It seems I was naive.

[Fuzz]

4. What was he thinking? He wasn't.

[LibDemAlways]

7. He's from the area of Northeastern PA where my dad grew up. The

people vote Dem, but they are no fans of minorities. In the small town where my dad grew up there were about 5 Catholic churches - one for the Poles, one for the Italians, etc. It's very insular, and the population is very elderly. Kanjorski knows his constituency.

[justgamma]

8. Read that quote again.

It sounded like he was talking to a puke.

I read it that way the first time and it didn't sound racist to me. It sounded like he was dressing down the pukes who love labeling people who need help.

Anyone else read it that way?

[Poboy]

9. Yes it does.

I say read the offending words as if he is using 'air quotes', to understand his intended meaning. Harmless, imo.

[rucky]

10. That's how I read it. n/t

[spanone]

11. republicans don't have a copyright on stupid