MACON - A Republican state lawmaker has criticized a Democratic colleague for suggesting that an unnamed Democrat who recently switched sides to the GOP is sympathetic to the Ku Klux Klan.
Sen. Robert Brown, D-Macon, made the Klan comment Tuesday while taping a program at WMAZ-TV alongside Republican state Rep. Allen Peake.
It was not immediately clear to whom Brown was referring. Twiggs County state Rep. James ``Bubber'' Epps of nearby Dry Branch became the eighth Democrat this month to defect to the Republicans after that party made big gains in the November election.
Brown said Republicans were sharply attacking Democratic candidates over abortion even calling the unnamed candidate a ``baby killer'' just weeks before the election.
``And then in less than three weeks after the election, this guy goes over to the Republican Party the folks who had called him a baby killer,'' Brown said.
``Now, I mean, what does the wife do then? Put on some red sheets on the bed and say, 'Now we can get rid of the blue sheets. But keep the white one over there, because I might need that for the midnight meeting.'''
Members of the Klan, a racist hate group, historically wore white robes and were known for night rallies and attacks. Peake, the Republican, laughed at the remark, but later said he was offended.
``If Sen. Brown was referring to me, or any of my Republican colleagues, or any party switchers, such as my good friend Bubber Epps, as having any association with the Ku Klux Klan, I find that very, very offensive and hope that he would apologize for such a vicious statement,'' Peake said.
Epps told The Associated Press that he could not comment in detail because he had not seen Brown's statement. However, he did not believe Brown was referring to him.
Brown refused to further explain his comments Wednesday or react to Peake's call for an apology.
Friday
April 26th, 2024
7:19PM
