White Democratic Legislator Apologizes for Racial Slur

Maryland Democratic legislator Mary Ann Lisanti, who is white, reportedly called Prince George’s County–an overwhelmingly African American area– an “n-word district.” She is said to have made the comments at a bar in Annapolis after hours. Lisanti is apologizing to black Maryland lawmakers but is also claiming that “everyone” refers to it using that slur.

The Washington Post reports that Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland brought the alleged incident up to Lisanti. Delegate Darryl Barnes, Caucus Chair of Prince George’s County, told the Post that Lisanti was “contrite” and called her response “really disturbing.”

“She apologized several times,” Barnes said. “She recognizes how she has hurt so many within the caucus, and she hoped to repent from this. She said that she doesn’t remember fully what happened, but she recognizes what happened,” he added.

House Speaker Michael Busch demanded Lisanti “face the consequences of her behavior.”

“There is no place in the House of Delegates for any racial slurs — or slurs of any kind in society in general,” Busch added.

Lisanti told the Post that while she didn’t remember using the racist slur, she did claim she was “sure everyone has used it.” “I’ve used the f-word. I used the Lord’s name in vain,” Listanti said.

This controversy comes in the wake of Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam being embroiled in a controversy over three-decade-old yearbook photos featuring blackface and Ku Klux Klan costumes. Northam won’t step down from office, but the controversy still exists. Virginia’s Democrat Attorney General, Mark Herring, has also admitted to wearing blackface at a party in the 1980s.

There’s a HUGE Difference between Lisanti and Northam

But there is a significant difference between Lisanti’s controversy and what Northam and Herring are accused of. Northam and Herring might be guilty of some very poor judgment in their youth many years ago. Lisanti reportedly used the most offensive slur one can hurl at African Americans as an adult, and a lawmaker at that, this month.

Lisanti allegedly said the most hurtful thing imaginable to black Americans, and then dismissed it as if it’s something “everyone” does. What does that say about her judgment? Is this the kind of person who should be making important decisions within the government?

Lisanti’s fate remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: As these incidents of Democrats involved in racist activity begin to pile up, they probably should stop accusing Republicans of racism every time they breathe.