Maury County Republican House member Sheila Butt is defending new accusations as members of the Black Caucus are asking for her to “be removed from her position.”
This controversy emerged after a controversial Facebook post where she referenced the “NAAWP,” a group headed by David Duke, who once led the KKK.
The Facebook comment was responding to a post about an open letter from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The letter urged 2016 Republican Presidential candidates to “engage Muslim voters, reject Islamaphobia.”
Rep. Butt responded in the month-old post by commenting "… It is time Council on Christian Relations and an NAAWP in this country.”
Some questioned whether the NAAWP reference was a twist on the well-known African-American group NAACP. Did she mean NAAWP to mean National Association for the Advancement of White People, a group once led by former KKK leader David Duke?
“No” said Rep. Butts. She was referring to “Western people” or “Western culture” and was “totally unaware” of Duke’s group.
“There has been a pattern of racist comments and behavior that has been established by Representative Butt,” said Black Caucus Chair Representative Brenda Gilmore. She said that is the reason whymembers of the Black Caucus want Butt removed from her position as floor house leader.
“I think that is very interesting considering that most of my life I have spent with many, many black friends teaching Christian ladies in many, many black churches not only here in the United States but in other countries. So I think that’s interesting. Maybe they don’t really know my past,” explained Butt.
Members of the Black Caucus said they are offended by an excerpt in a book she wrote for teenage girls called “Everyday Princess: Daughter of the King.”
In the book, Butt stated, “I have seen instances when a young lady started dating someone of another race, and there were those of her own race who were not interested in dating her after that.”
Butt says her book is not offensive.
“The book is definitely not racist. As a matter of fact, throughout the book I ask young girls for any person you would want to marry ask yourself these questions,” Butt told News 2.
Members of the Black Caucus also point to what they call inappropriate comments Butt made in April of last year during discussion of a resolution “expressing profound regret for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans.”
“This esteemed body expressed regrets for slavery, Representative Butt stood up in the midst of that celebration and made an off the cuff remark as to demean that celebration,” said Gilmore.
In that remark Butt did not talk about slavery. News 2 found the comment:
“Every single day 2,500 babies are aborted and I hope that one day we will stand in this chamber and say that we have denied them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I think it is a time for us to not just look at the history but to look at the present and what’s happening today too.”
When asked if she would apologize to members of the Black Caucus Butt said no.
“I have spoken the truth and when you speak the truth there is no reason to apologize,” she said.
House Republican Caucus Chair Glen Casada told News 2 he fully supports Butt and will not ask the caucus to take any action against her.
He also said The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Black Caucus “need to stop this foolishness and quit acting like they do in Washington D.C.”