Suggestion to Segregate Black Republicans Draws Controversy

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By Jake Miller / CBS News

Story Created: Mar 17, 2013 at 8:35 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 17, 2013 at 8:35 AM AKDT

A Towson University student's suggestion that black Republicans segregate themselves from the rest of the party generated waves of controversy at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.

During a panel that focused on attracting more minority support to the GOP, two black conservatives identified themselves "Frederick Douglass Republicans."

That label prompted Towson student Scott Terry to reply that a more appropriate moniker might be the "Booker T. Washington Republicans," who would be "united like the hand, but separate like the fingers," according to a video of the exchange posted by liberal blog ThinkProgress.

He also said slave-owners centuries ago should have been commended for "feeding and housing" their slaves.

After the panel, the blog reported that Terry asked, "Why can't we just have segregation?"
Terry, who was sporting a Rick Santorum sticker and claimed to be a direct descendant of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, told ThinkProgress he'd "be fine with" a society in which African-Americans were permanently subservient to white people. He also said African-Americans "should be allowed to vote in Africa."

At one point, when challenged on the heritage of the GOP by a female onlooker, Terry responded, "I didn't know the legacy of the Republican Party included women correcting men in public."

One of the black Republicans approached by Terry said in a statement that, despite Terry's "racially insensitive remarks... I further explained to him the Frederick Douglass Republican message, which he embraced, bought a book, and we left as friends."

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