Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane steps in it with his 'colored people' gaffe

We shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane for having used the phrase “colored people” on the House floor on Thursday.

Not every verbal gaffe made during a heated conversation is a Freudian slip. You know, one of those unintentional bloopers thought to reveal a person’s unconscious mindset.

What Crane said needs to be put into context.

We need to look at the circumstances.

We need to consider the situation and get a clear picture of the person with whom he was arguing.

And when we do all that we see that it … does … not … look … good.

Crane was debating a Black colleague

It began when Crane, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that he said was meant to emphasize “the importance of the military remaining apolitical to maintain its readiness and effectiveness.”

Republicans are feeling their oats these days thanks to the arch-conservatives in control of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court’s recent ruling against affirmative action has emboldened those in government who want to pretend that race is no longer an issue in the United States.

Court fallout: How affirmative action ruling affects Arizona

Crane was in a rather spirited debate over his amendment with Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a Black woman, when he said, “My amendment has nothing to do with whether or not colored people, or Black people, or anyone can serve, OK. It has nothing to do with [the] color of your skin, any of that stuff. What we want to preserve and maintain is the fact that our military does not become a social experiment.”

Yeah, well.

How would you feel if you were Beatty?

Beatty got understandably upset by the “colored people” remark and said, “I’d like to be recognized to have the words ‘colored people’ stricken from the record. 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 wanted to amend his comments to “people of color” but Beatty was having none of it, saying, “I’m asking for unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, to have the words stricken. I didn’t ask for an amendment.”

Naturally, as happens with things like this, Crane’s comments, captured on video, were all over social media.

So, was it a Freudian slip? I don’t know.

What would you think, however, if you were Rep. Beatty, or any other Black person?

What we know for sure is that Crane cannot unscramble that particular rotten egg.

He cannot unring that bell. He cannot put that toothpaste back in the tube.

And, for now, he cannot take that foot … out of his mouth.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Eli Crane steps in it with 'colored people' gaffe