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GOP leaders apologize for 'not enough Indians' line |
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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 22 April 2011 |
GOP leaders apologize for 'not enough Indians' line
April 20, 2011
The leaders of the Connecticut Republican Party had to figure there would be some people upset with the alternate budget proposal the party unveiled on Tuesday. But they probably didn't expect it to be for a turn of phrase instead of a proposed cut.
The state's GOP leaders released a statement Wednesday apologizing for phrasing in the proposal that drew complaints from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council.
In discussing its proposal to cut more than 1,300 state managerial jobs, the GOP said, "organizations that are `top heavy' or have `too many chiefs and not enough Indians' are rarely successful and almost never efficient"
That provoked the Mashantucket Pequot council to issue the following statement, which was posted online by NBC Connecticut:
"The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council was dismayed to learn that the Republican's proposed budget was published without any regard for the inappropriate reference contained therein. Though perhaps an oversight, the Council sincerely hopes that this matter will be swiftly eradicated, accompanied by appropriate amends to all those who may have been equally affronted."
House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafaro Jr., R-Norwalk, and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, promptly issued an apologetic statement.
"It was brought to our attention that a phrase included in the budget materials we presented today were offensive to Native Americans and should not have been used," they said. "In describing the need for reducing the number of managers in the state system `too many chiefs and not enough Indians' was used and should not have been. It was an unintentional mistake, but insensitive nonetheless and will not be repeated. We apologize to Native Americans and anyone else who rightly takes offense."
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/GOP-leaders-apologize-for-not-enough-Indians-1345365.php |
