Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
http://www.politico.com/states/flor...off-calls-for-resignation-condemnation-111347
TALLAHASSEE — A Miami state senator is fending off calls for his resignation, a possible Florida Senate complaint and the condemnation of fellow Republicans after he oddly referred to six white colleagues as the N-word during a heated discussion with a black lawmaker, one of whom who he called a “bitch.”
As pressure mounts, state Sen. Frank Artiles plans to formally apologize to the entire Florida Senate on Wednesday and ask for forgiveness. He apologized Tuesday evening — after his alcohol-fueled racist language the night before was reported to Republican leadership, and the Miami Herald and Florida Times-Union began asking questions.
Artiles insists he is not a bigot and noted that he used the phrase to refer to white GOP senators, not blacks.
“It was a slang term, and I am not a racist,” Artiles, who is Cuban-American, told POLITICO Florida via text message. “I am not a racist.”
TALLAHASSEE — A Miami state senator is fending off calls for his resignation, a possible Florida Senate complaint and the condemnation of fellow Republicans after he oddly referred to six white colleagues as the N-word during a heated discussion with a black lawmaker, one of whom who he called a “bitch.”
As pressure mounts, state Sen. Frank Artiles plans to formally apologize to the entire Florida Senate on Wednesday and ask for forgiveness. He apologized Tuesday evening — after his alcohol-fueled racist language the night before was reported to Republican leadership, and the Miami Herald and Florida Times-Union began asking questions.
Artiles insists he is not a bigot and noted that he used the phrase to refer to white GOP senators, not blacks.
“It was a slang term, and I am not a racist,” Artiles, who is Cuban-American, told POLITICO Florida via text message. “I am not a racist.”