Exhibit A:
State Sen. Stephen Huffman.
This from CNN:
A GOP Ohio lawmaker who asked a racist question last year about whether "the colored population" was contracting Covid-19 at higher rates because of poor hygiene has been tapped to lead the state Senate's health panel.
State Sen. Stephen Huffman was appointed
by Senate President Matt Huffman, his cousin, this month to the
position on the committee that reviews legislation about health care and
human services despite a racist exchange with a Black health expert in
June.
"I
understand African Americans have a higher incidence of chronic
conditions and that makes them more susceptible to death from Covid. But
why does it not make them more susceptible just to get Covid?" Huffman
had asked during the testimony.
"Could
it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash
their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or do not socially
distance themselves? Could that be the explanation for why the higher
incidence?"
The
witness at the hearing where Huffman asked the question, Angela Dawson,
who serves as the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Minority
Health, quickly dismissed his assertion, saying emphatically: "That is
not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country."
After a firestorm around his comments, Huffman apologized.
News of Huffman's appointment to the the Ohio Senate's health panel drew swift rebukes from lawmakers across the state.
State
Rep. Catherine Ingram, a Democrat, said Huffman's "racist and
problematic remarks" shows he is unfit to chair a committee that impacts
Black residents and called for his appointment to immediately be
rescinded.
"Sen.
Huffman has shown he is unable to view the health concerns of Black
Ohioans in an unbiased and fact-based manner, therefore leaving him
unqualified to serve as committee chair," Ingram wrote in a statement
last week. "Serving as chair would give the senator the ability to
decide which bills make it to the floor and potentially codify racial
prejudice into law."
Tony
Bishop, executive director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said
Thursday the group demands a committee leader who "understands and can
help enact health policy that addresses inequities in our state without
political influence." And if the Senate's leadership will not replace
Huffman as chairman, they expect him "to use his position to improve the
health of Ohio's African American population" by working with the
caucus to pass legislation that address health disparities in the state.
"Although
the senator's comments were deeply offensive, we hope that he has
learned from his mistake and moves to right the systemic wrongs that are
being perpetrated in the state of Ohio," Bishop told The Columbus Dispatch.
CNN reached out to Huffman for comment Monday.
John
Fortney, press secretary and senior communications adviser for the Ohio
Senate Majority Caucus, told CNN in a statement Monday that Huffman is
"a medical doctor and highly qualified" to chair the committee.
"He
has a long record of providing healthcare to minority neighborhoods and
has joined multiple mission trips at his own expense to treat those
from disadvantaged countries," Fortney said. "He apologized months ago
for asking a clumsy and awkwardly worded question. Sincere apologies
deserve sincere forgiveness, and not the perpetual politically
weaponized judgement of the cancel culture."
Huffman, who is a medical doctor, said in a Facebook post
in the wake of his racist comments, "I had absolutely no malicious
intent, but I recognize that my choice of words was unacceptable and
hurtful."
"I
apologize, and I make no excuses. Those who know me will tell you that I
have nothing but love and respect for all people, and I would never
intentionally disrespect or denigrate anyone for any reason."
TeamHealth,
a hospital management firm that employed Huffman as a part-time
physician, confirmed in June that Huffman had been fired from that
position.
"Dr.
Huffman's comments are wholly inconsistent with our values and
commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace," a spokesman
for TeamHealth said in a statement.
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See, here's just some of the problems with all of this:
1) "Colored" - an antiquated term for sure, but nonetheless, incredibly offensive. African-American is the preferred term, and likewise Black as well. This isn't the 1950s or 1960s.
2) As a "medical doctor", he should know better and likely talks to his patients like this. (People don't tend to do these things in isolation.)
3) The remark about how the "colored population do not wash
their hands as well as other groups" further perpetuates that stereotype about Blacks being slow and unhygienic. Again, incredibly offensive.
4) That TeamHealth dismissed him in June 2020, that's a start, but as a State Senator in Ohio and that he was later appointed to a committee to review legislation about health care and
human services after making those remarks, makes things so much worse. It shows very blatant complicity, and perpetuates systemic racism.
Oh, for sure, in Ohio, they're okay with this. Otherwise, why would he be allowed to remain on that committee, or, remain in office as a State Senator?
And to be clear, YES, this IS who Ohioans are. Plain and simple.
