On Thursday, Arizona Congressman Eli Crane, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, faced widespread criticism after using derogatory and insensitive language in reference to black people during a debate over an amendment dealing with diversity and inclusiveness in the US military.
Crane put forward an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday that would ban consideration of “race, gender, religion, or political affiliations, or any other ideological concepts” in recruitment or promotion decisions as well as other aspects of military retention.
During a heated discussion about the measure, which aimed to prevent discrimination based on race, ethnic background, or gender within the armed forces, Crane described back service members as “colored people,” prompting immediate pushback from his colleagues.
Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, of Ohio, who chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2021 to 2023, took to the floor to argue the proposal would set back rights gained by people of color and women. Crane then went on to reject her arguments:
“Though that was unbelievably inspiring, my amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or Black people or anybody can serve, OK?” he said. “What we want to preserve and maintain is the fact that our military does not become a social experiment. We want the best of the best; we want to have standards that guide who’s in what unit, what they do.”
“I hope my colleagues on the other side can understand what we’re doing,” he said in closing.
Another person in the chamber can be heard questioning the term “colored people” before Beatty interjects.
“I’d like to be recognized to have the words ‘colored people’ stricken from the record,” she said. “I find it offensive and very inappropriate. … I am asking for unanimous consent to take down the words of referring to me or any of my colleagues as ‘colored people.’”
Crane, who has embraced conspiracy theories espoused online by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, later asked to have his comments amended to “people of color.” That request was rejected but the words “colored people” were removed from the record without objection.
Watch the video below:
Crane: My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people or black people or anybody can serve.
Beatty: I would like those words stricken from the record pic.twitter.com/K83Q2ls7aS
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 13, 2023
