Republican Minnesota Lawmaker Not Apologizing For Seemingly Racist Tweet
Let’s be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime
— Rep. Pat Garofalo (@PatGarofalo) March 9, 2014
A Minnesota Republican lawmaker who used to work for and is supported by former governor Tim Pawlenty last night posted what many are calling a racist tweet. And he’s not apologizing. Pat Garofalo, who is 42 and serving his fifth term as a state representative, tweeted, “Let’s be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in street crime.”
Responses were swift.
Ken Martin, the Chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) posted a screenshot of the tweet and replied, “The remarks tonight by @PatGarofalo are incredibly racist though not surprising coming from the @mngop.”
Other people on Twitter were outraged.
@PatGarofalo the racial and racist undertones in this comment is beyond alarming.
— Ryan Vernosh (@RyanVernosh) March 9, 2014
I don’t know if you’re as equally racist as you are in lacking self-awareness. either way, it’s astonishing to watch @PatGarofalo
— DarkSkintDostoyevsky (@daniecal) March 9, 2014
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.@PatGarofalo So, how long have you been a racist?
— recognize. (@jenihead) March 9, 2014
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The Minnesota Star-Tribune reports “Garofalo said he was, ‘talking about NBA’s high arrest rate and that they are the only major pro league that testing positive for marijuana is not a substance abuse violation.'”
American Live Wire reports that Garofalo last year “objected to a provision being included in the lease for the new Vikings stadium that banned gun sales in the new stadium,” and writes that Garofalo “called a teacher’s union a hate group and told a blogger named Eric Pusey in a tweet that ‘Your last name tells me all I need to know about you.'”
According to his campaign website, Garofalo’s wife is a kindergarten teacher, and he “is serving as the Chairman of the powerful House K-12 finance committee. Pat has been recognized as a leading education reformer who is focused on student achievement and teacher quality.” His “family are members of All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville.”

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