Indiana state lawmaker accuses GOP member’s 18-month old son of racism

An Indiana lawmaker drew gasps during a debate on the state’s religious freedom bill when she accused a colleague’s 18-month old son of being racist.

Democratic Rep. Vanessa Summers made the comment during a debate on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the House, referencing Republican Rep. Jud McMillin’s child.

“I told Jud McMillin I love his son, but he’s scare of me because of my color,” Ms. Summers said to Mr. McMmillin, who is white, during last week’s debate, the Indy Star reported March 24.

Ms. Summers later defended her comment, recalling the meeting with Mr. McMillin’s son earlier in the session.

“He looked at me like I was a monster and turned around and cried,” Ms. Summer said, the newspaper reported. “And I told him you need to introduce your child to some people that are dark-skinned so he will not be scared.”

Mr. McMillin said Ms. Summers’ comment was “unfortunate.”

“It’s just incredibly unfortunate. You’d like to think that we would have professional discussion on the House floor and certainly be able to avoid having 18-month-olds in the discussion,” he said, Indy Star reported.

“I can tell you that if he reacted the same way he reacts with anybody brand new, he buries his head in his dad’s shoulder,” Mr. McMillin said. “Whoever it is, it’s what he does. He’s an 18-month-old kid; he’s in a new environment up here in a place like the Statehouse but doesn’t know anybody. I honestly don’t remember anything out of the ordinary.”

Ms. Summers later apologized for the comment but blasted critics on her Facebook page for their continued backlash.

“To all of you on my page going off. I did apologize but the news doesn’t report that. I apologized to Jud McMillian and the other members of the House. I done with it. You need to see me I’ll be at the State House on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Come see me I’m not scared of any of you,” Ms. Summers wrote.

This is not the first incident where Ms. Summers has jumped to bash conservatives over racism.

Following President Obama’s press conference on the White House’s plan for air strikes against the Islamic State, during which he wore a tan suit sparking viral media criticism, Ms. Summers posted a photo of the president with the caption “Be Honest, Conservatives – It’s Not The Tan Suit That Bothers You … It’s the Tan President.”