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State Sen. Parker Yells, Accuses Colleague Of Racism

2009_05_kpraker.jpg State Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) is known for his outbursts—for instance, he was arrested last year for allegedly assaulting a NY Post photographer staked outside Parker's house (the Post was doing a story about Parker's house being close to repossession)—but yesterday was a new chapter, when he, as Daily Politics put it, "went aggro after getting the sense that [Republican] colleague John DeFrancisco was 'berating' Power Authority nominee Mark O'Luck" during a State Senate Finance Committee meeting. In fact, Parker yelled "How dare you? You racist people in here!" and "I've never seen a white appointee be treated like this, in such rude fashion!"

O'Luck is black and DeFrancisco is white; DeFrancisco was apparently questioning O'Luck about a comment he made on CityRoom a year ago, about how if not for programs for minorities and the poor, whites and rich people would have 100% access to government funding. According to a transcript from Capitol Tonight:

Parker, who is speaking off camera, starts yelling at DeFrancisco roughly one minute later, saying: “You are totally out of order! You are out of order!…How dare you!”

Sen. Carl Kruger, the committee chairman, tries in vain to get Parker to calm down and then shouts: “You’re out of order…Why don’t you step outside?”

Parker retorts: “Why doesn’t everybody step outside?..You’re allowing somebody to treat an appointee of the governor in a very disrespectful way.”

Kruger shoots back: “You’re disrespecting me as the chairman. I ruled you out of order. One more outburst like that, and I’ll ask you to be removed.”

Parker: “OK, then get somebody to remove me. Bring people though.

Kruger: “And I’ll ignore that remark.”

Parker (leaving): “Good.”

Parker later told the Daily Politics, "We’re all prone to hyperbole," but on his Facebook status now reads, "In Albany fighting the evil of White Supremacy! In the NYS Senate an beyond! Dr. Height! Dr. Hooks! We remember you ad honor your legacy!" Here's video; Parker's outburst begins around the 20 minute mark (and it's loud):

Senate Democratic conference spokesman Austin Shafran said of the incident, "Senator Parker is a passionate and engaged advocate, especially when it comes to defending underprivileged communities. During the course of public debate, discussions became somewhat heated. End of story."

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Comments [rss]

  • dadoc

    Would it be racist of me, based upon his past history of violence, the linked video, and his responses on the news tonight ("fighting the forces of evil") t consider him "uppity"?

  • wingedearth

    What a pussy, whining about racism.

  • Mr. Shankly

    That transcript reads like the interchange between Principal Vernon and John Bender in 'Breakfast Club'.

  • theboneranger



    This guy should've kept his cool and just said whatever he wanted to say. I feel bad for the other black people in the room.

  • theboneranger

    i can't believe douchey mcdoucheman actually ran home to facebook about it :P seriously, pottery barn for state senate!

  • Tower18

    Ladies and Gentlemen of Kensington, Flatbush, and East Flatbush: your elected representative.

  • Bernie Madoff-Goetz

    Flatbush and East Flatbush will love it. Folks up in the 'hood love it when their elected officials act like children. As a matter of fact, I can still hear the clapping all the way out here in Manhattan.

  • Jamie McDonald

    One gets the sense that Kensington *might* not go for this guy as much as the other two do.

  • Jamie McDonald

    So you know how the Supreme Court decided that corporations are individuals for political donation purposes? Now, does that also mean that corporations can run for public office? Because I'm pretty sure that, say, Williams-Sonoma could do a better job than the buffoons that comprise NYS government are doing.

  • longacre

    The staff of my local Kinko's would be a step up.

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