Republican Alabama State Senator says Blacks are “Aborigines”

What is it about Republicans that they still live in the 19th Century when it comes to protecting their votes? Think Progress has  offered us this case to prove the point:

Alabama state senator Scott Beason (R), who sponsored the state’s tough new immigration law, has been caught on tape referring to black customers of a casino as “aborigines.” Beason made the offensive comparison while wearing audio recording equipment for the FBI as part of an investigation into a group of people accused of buying and selling pro-gambling votes in the legislature.

Beason is caught in one transcript making this statement in conversation with another Republican, according to the AP:

Beason and two other Republican legislators were talking about economic development in predominantly black Greene County and the customers at one of the county’s largest employers, the Greenetrack casino in Eutaw.

“That’s y’all’s Indians,” one Republican said.

“They’re aborigines, but they’re not Indians,” Beason replied.

Questioned in Federal Court as to the subject of their conversation, Beason said they were concerned that a large black turnout would hurt Republican candidates. As to the “aborigine” comment Beason explained: “I don’t know what I meant at the time… I don’t use that term normally. I don’t know where it even came from that day.”

Uh huh. You betcha.

Think Progress goes on to say:

Back in February, Beason warned Republicans that immigration will “destroy a community” and advised his colleagues to “empty the clip and do what has to be done.” Beason later insisted that his comments were taken out of context and that he was using an analogy, not urging violence. He has also been leading the charge to redraw district lines in a way that would significantly dilute the power of black voters.

You make your own decision on the “context” of his statements.

Related articles

• Ala senator slammed for taped ‘aborigines’ comment (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Worse than Arizona? Alabama’s new anti-immigration law (shortformblog.tumblr.com)
• GadsdenTimes.com Headlines: Senator who wore wire denigrated bingo hall customers (commuteresources101.wordpress.com)
• Ala. governor signs tough illegal immigration law (ajc.com)
• Ala. to Enact Arizona-Style Immigration Crackdown (foxnews.com)
• Ala. Weighs Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants (foxnews.com)

Perhaps some good news after Saturday’s tragedy…

This from the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

clipped from www.mcclatchydc.com After Arizona shootings, gun sale background checks increase Background checks for handgun sales spiked in Texas and other states just two days after a mass shooting in Arizona left six people dead and U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life. Texas saw the number of background requests rise to 724 on Monday, up from 621 on the corresponding Monday in 2010, according to FBI records. But workers at some North Texas gun stores said they didn’t have as big an increase as they expected in actual sales of guns, ammunition and accessories. Some Arizona stores have reported a major surge in sales since Saturday. “We haven’t seen anything, and we expected more of a wave to hit,” said Glen Furtardo, manager at the Winchester Gallery gun store in east Fort Worth. “It has been pretty much normal.” Since the 2008 presidential election, some gun store workers have seen a rise in sales at least partly due to a widespread concern that the Obama administration will raise taxes on ammunition, guns and other firearms-related materials or ultimately reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

Related Articles

• Glock Sales Surge After Arizona Shootings (businessweek.com)
• Arizona Green Party continues to advocate for non-violence after tragedy in Tucson (wilderside.wordpress.com)