NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Tennessee Democrats believe it's time for lawmakers to re-take diversity and sensitivity training. The push comes after recent comments made by two Republican lawmakers. The first - Senator Jim Summerville sent an email using crude language saying he didn't care what the black caucus thought about an issue.
The email read, "I don't give a rat's (expletive) what the Black Caucus thinks."
It was sent to state Representative Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis, and was then forwarded to members of the Black Caucus. It was referring to a report from black lawmakers on the recent grading controversy at Tennessee State University.
"It was unprofessional, completely unnecessary, and it shows disregard for the Tennessee Black Caucus and the work we do," said state Representative Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville.
State Senator Jim Summerville resigned from the Senate Education Committee after being stripped of his subcommittee chairmanship. Earlier Summerville told reporters in a brief interview that perhaps he should have said he didn't give a "rat's posterior" about the black caucus concerns, rather than the cruder word he used in his one-line email.
His colleague, Stacey Campfield, has supported the comment and even called the Black Caucus a "segregationist organization" that should be ignored.
Three years ago - Democrat John Deberry held diversity training after a staffer sent a racist e-mail about President Obama. He says it's time for lawmakers to go through additional training.
Click for Full Text!
