A Michigan State Rrepresentative, William Callahan, running for a new Congressional seat, has critiqued a US Congressman running for the same office as not being representative of the people there. The basis for that critique? The US Rep, Sander Levin, is too liberal for the conservative, working-class district. Oh, and he’s Jewish, too. As quoted by the AP:
“I mean, the man has never owned a Christmas tree. He’s not a Christian. And I’m thinking, ‘Jeez, how can he represent me then?’ “
Callahan later apologized, claiming the remarks were taken out of context. He then went on to add:
“I am a Catholic who is pro-life and of Irish, Polish and German descent. He is very much pro-choice and Hebrew. Enough said.”
Enough said, indeed.
Appalling, true, but Eugene Volokh points out that it’s not much different from claims that only Hispanics can represent Hispanics, or blacks blacks.
One could argue, of course, that ethnic minorities have been blocked from power in the past by legal (and illegal) shenanigans by the white majority, and so need districts drawn to enable them to get into the halls of power, at least for now.
But I’d still like to hope that we’re moving toward that “content of their character” thang that King talked about. Though Rep. Callahan might want to take a refresher course on that speech.