Senator's Fried Chicken Comment Criticized

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The chairman of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus accused Sen. Randy Brogdon on Wednesday of being insensitive when he made a remark about fried chicken during a debate on federal health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama.

Rep. Jabar Shumate and three other caucus members asked Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee to admonish Brogdon, a Republican candidate for governor. They said his comment is part of a pattern of disrespectful and inflammatory actions and statements by lawmakers that include the removal of a portrait of Obama from the state House chamber two weeks ago.

A message was left with Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, seeking comment.

Republican Rep. Lewis Moore of Arcadia took responsibility last week for swapping Obama's portrait with a portrait of Democratic Gov. Brad Henry that also hangs in the House chamber.

"There's no room for that in our Legislature," said Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, a caucus member. "These little incidents have turned into big incidents and are creating bad images of the state of Oklahoma."

Shumate, D-Tulsa, added: "We're trying to stand up and say this is really going too far."

Brogdon's fried chicken remark occurred Tuesday during a debate in the Senate on a resolution to ask Oklahoma voters whether the state should opt out of key provisions of the federal health care bill that Obama signed into law the same day.

"I said that Congress has no more constitutional authority to tell us where to buy health insurance than they do to tell us where to buy a fried chicken dinner," Brogdon said during debate.

The Owasso lawmaker said Wednesday that it was not a reference to Obama and that he mentioned fried chicken only because that is what he had for lunch. Brogdon said Shumate "is misinformed" about the remark and blamed the flap on "political gamesmanship."

"The last thing they want to see is Randy Brogdon in the governor's office," Brogdon said.

But Shumate said the Senate debate included repeated references to "ObamaCare," in reference to the health care overhaul, as lawmakers discussed the merits of the federal bill that Obama supported.

"It perplexes us as to why this one senator talks about eating fried chicken," Shumate said. "I believe it was innocent. It could be perhaps insensitive to some to make that statement."

Shelton was more direct: "He was being inappropriate, very inappropriate," Shelton said.

A statement released by the black caucus late Wednesday afternoon said its members were "shocked and disappointed" by Brogdon's remark. Aside from Shumate and Shelton, the statement said it was supported by caucus members Rep. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa.