Bettie Cook Scott

Bettie Cook Scott (born May 31, 1953) is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives from the 2nd district from 2017 to 2018. She previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from the 3rd district from 2007 to 2010.[1][2]

Bettie Cook Scott
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byAlberta Tinsley-Talabi
Succeeded byJoe Tate
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 3rd district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byLaMar Lemmons III
Succeeded byAlberta Tinsley-Talabi
Personal details
Born (1953-05-31) May 31, 1953
Alabama
Political partyDemocratic

Between 2007 and 2010 Representative Scott worked to amend the Driver Responsibility Act of 2003 while serving on the Michigan House's Labor committee and Regulatory Reform committee.[3] In her final year she proclaimed success at repealing the driver responsibility fees resulting from that act through legislation passed in 2018.[4]

Controversy

During the 2018 Democratic primary for the state Senate, Scott made racist remarks towards people of Asian heritage, including to her opponent, Michigan state representative Stephanie Chang.[5][6][7] Witnesses reported Scott calling Chang and her volunteers "ching chong" or "ching chang" and accusing one of Chang's campaign volunteers of being an "immigrant", saying "you don't belong here" and "I want you out of my country."[8][6][9] Chang's husband, an African-American man, reported hearing Scott saying that it "disgusts [Scott] seeing black people holding signs for these Asians and not supporting their own people," and that he was a "fool" for marrying Chang.[6]

Stephanie Chang commented on Scott's remarks, saying "These comments are offensive to all Asian-Americans. It isn't about me. It's about an elected official disrespecting entire populations, whether they be Asian-American, immigrant, or residents of Sen. District 1 or [Scott's] own current house district."[6]

Scott has since made an apology for her remarks, and did not deny the accusations.[9] Through a representative, she released a statement saying, "I deeply regret the comments I made that have proven hurtful to so many. Those are words I never should have said. I humbly apologize to Representative Chang, her husband, Mr. Gray, and to the broader Asian American community for those disparaging remarks. In the divisive age we find ourselves in, I should not contribute further to that divisiveness. I have reached out to Representative Chang to meet with her so that I may apologize to her in person. I pray she and the Asian American community can find it in their hearts to forgive me."[10]

Absence

After the loss of the state Senate primary election on August 7, 2018, Scott never returned to the state House in Lansing to pursue the business of her constituents, missing 197 votes for her entire term of office (2017–18).[11][12] This was despite her assertion on September 23 that she looked forward to serve her constituents.[12] By November 2018, the Michigan House's business office had effectively de facto taken over her office's duties until the end of her term, including addressing the needs of the residents of the 2nd House district in her stead.[11][12]

References
  1. "News From Rep. Cook Scott". housedems.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. "Meet Michigan's new state lawmakers". MLive.com. January 9, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  3. Michigan House Democrats (April 14, 2018). "Bettie Cook Scott". housedems.com. Michigan House Democrats. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  4. Michigan House Democrats (February 16, 2018). "Rep. Bettie Cook Scott Supports Repealing Driver Responsibility Fees". housedems.com. Michigan House Democrats. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  5. Chasmar, Jessica (August 16, 2018). "Bettie Cook Scott, Michigan Democrat, under fire for allegedly calling Asian opponent 'ching-chang'". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  6. Ikonomova, Violet (August 16, 2018). "Detroit Rep. Bettie Cook Scott on Asian opponent: 'Don't vote for the ching-chong!'". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  7. Lou, Michelle (August 16, 2018). "Michigan Lawmaker Under Fire For Alleged Racial Slurs Against Asian Opponent". HuffPost. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  8. Michigan Department of Civil Rights (August 17, 2018), MDCR to Rep. Scott: "An Apology is Not Enough", retrieved June 21, 2019
  9. Afana, Dana (August 17, 2018), "Apology 'not enough,' says state on lawmaker who uttered racial slurs", MLive, retrieved June 21, 2019
  10. Ikonomova, Violet (August 16, 2018). "Michigan representative apologizes for racial slurs against Asian opponent". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  11. Culham, Devin (26 November 2018). "Bettie Cook Scott absent from job since calling Asian Senate rival a 'ching-chong'". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019.
  12. LeBlanc, Beth (November 26, 2018). "House business office takes over offices for long-absent Detroit legislator". Detroit News.
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