Cubin racism controversy — Day 2

Just as the Rod Paige flap continues, so too does the controversy surrounding Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.). To review, Cubin was opposing a measure to prohibit drug addicts or people undergoing treatment for drug addiction from purchasing guns. She asked, “So does that mean that if you go into a black community, you can’t sell any guns to any black person?”

The Congressional Black Caucus condemned Cubin’s remark, calling her comment “inappropriate” and “offensive.”

“We must change the tone in Washington,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), a CBC leader, said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that in a country that recognizes diversity as a compelling government interest, elected Members of the United States Congress would make offensive racial comments from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

In addition, the Washington Post ran an excellent editorial today comparing Cubin’s offensive remarks with those of Trent Lott in December, and concludes that Cubin’s controversy is actually worse.

“Mrs. Cubin’s remarks came not in a birthday tribute to a centenarian but on the floor of the House of Representatives, in the midst of a serious debate on a gun measure,” the Post said. “No historical memory is needed to adequately appreciate their bald racism.”

But the Post’s more important observation was about the stunning silence for Cubin’s GOP colleagues.

“Not a single Republican lawmaker voted against the remarks [during a vote on whether to strike the remark from the record],” the Post noted. “Afterward, not a word of criticism from House Republican leaders. Upon being asked for comment, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) yesterday ventured (through a spokesman) to say that the remarks ‘clearly left the wrong impression.'”

The GOP’s silence speaks volumes. During the Lott scandal, it seemed Republican senators couldn’t denounce Lott’s remarks quickly enough. Everyone apparently wanted the world to know that they didn’t like and didn’t agree with Lott’s belief that America would have been better off with a segregationist president in 1948.

But in the wake of Cubin controversy, no GOP lawmakers are rushing forward to help distance their party from the remarks. Why? Unlike the Rod Paige controversy, where there may be complications regarding context, Cubin’s remarks, on their face, are offensive and disturbing. Conservative lawmakers’ reticence only adds insult to injury.

As the Post put it, “Where’s the outrage?”