U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry Thursday after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween costume party where he dressed as Michael Jackson.
The images emerged as Lawler, a first-term Republican, is locked in a competitive reelection fight for his congressional seat in New York’s Hudson Valley.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Lawler described himself as a lifelong Jackson superfan who was attempting to pay homage to the pop star.
The Times reported that the photo was taken in 2006 when Lawler was 20. In an image posted by the newspaper, Lawler can be seen wearing a red jacket and posing with an outstretched arm in one of Jackson’s signature dance moves. He used bronzer to darken his face.
How was it that I was 29 in 2006 and yet I knew full well that blackface is fucking racist and don’t ever wear it even if you’re racist because there’s a thing called the internet while this dumbfuck didn’t?
GOP don’t come to their politics because they’re intelligent and thoughtful.
I realize I shouldn’t be, but I still get surprised at how fucking stupid these idiots are.
I was 23 at that time. Went to college and was in Lambda Chi fraternity at a pretty popular school. Went to tons of parties for about a decade. Never once even heard or saw black face ever in my life until recently hearing about all these politicians that did it. It’s so bizarre.
I don’t ever remember seeing any blackface in college. Did I see bigoted stereotypical bullshit regarding Mexicans and Indigenous Americans? Absolutely. But even in Indiana, I didn’t see blackface.
Also, I used to emcee comedy nights at a local club back then, so I saw a lot of college students in Halloween costumes. I don’t ever remember blackface. I do remember seeing a group of girls dressed as all the main characters from The Dukes of Hazzard get up and sing Jesse’s Girl at the karaoke night that came after the comedy night ended. That was fun.
Back in the 70s my mom went to a Halloween party as Aunt Jemima. It was in poor taste even back THEN.
College was awesome without widespread internet use or camera phones. Feel bad for the kids now.
Regarding Mexicans, my Mexican stepmother sent me this video lol
https://youtu.be/IT2UH74ksJ4?si=0AWfK11mfI1IPoKF
Your stepmother watches Prager U? I’m sorry.
Pretty sure she sent us a Facebook version so I just searched for it.
I was in high school in the 90’s and I knew it was wrong. Nobody gets a pass beyond the 60’s.
Oh, he knew.
Do you really give a fuck he painted his face 18 years ago?
Yes. Because unless he later came out and apologized and demonstrated that he’s changed then it speaks to his character.
The world has lost its fucking mind.
Because there’s accountability? Lmao.
No.
What you’re describing is mob outrage, not accountability. He will not suffer from your opinion, nor does he care.
It’s sad you’re wasting your life caring about this shit.
He’s an elected official, possibly losing his next election is literally the prescribed method of accountability.