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Sen. Mike Shirkey on Jackson TV: "His name was Rona." (Photo: JTV)
State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, speaking about his 2020 battle with Covid, joked Monday: "The Chinese flu army sent in one of their best soldiers. His name was Rona. ... He and I wrestled for nine days, but I finally pinned him."
The remark on "The Bart Hawley Show” on Jackson Television, triggered rebukes from Lansing Democats and Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group.
“So apparently in addition to long-term heart and lung issues, Covid causes racist outbursts?" said Scott in a statement. "Never mind, with Shirkey that was a pre-existing condition. In a more decent world, Shirkey would be held accountable for making a racist comment like this—but we all know that because of his position in the Senate, and because he’s a white male Republican, it’s unlikely that he’ll face any consequences."
The Senate Democratic leader, who's from Flint, lashed out on Twitter.
I’m tired of waiting for Republicans to learn that their racist jokes about the pandemic (or anything at all) aren’t cute or funny. Nearly 15k Michiganders are dead from it. I’m not laughing. https://t.co/ltps4AYRFO
— Senator Jim Ananich (@jimananich) January 19, 2021
Sen. Stephanie Chang of Detroit also is disturbed. "Saying Chinese flu or China virus is xenophobic and completely inappropriate," she tweeted. "There have been over 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents since last March, and this language perpetuates it. WHO [World Health Organization] stopped calling viruses by ethnicities or countries for a reason -- it causes harm."
A follow-up tweet says she "reached out [to Shirkey] in hopes we can have a conversation about it."
These are among other tweets Tuesday :
► "This is not funny. People are dying." -- U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit
► "Outright racist commentary, especially coming from anyone in a leadership position, is so disgusting it's almost hard to even find the proper words to comment on it. It's holding back progress in our state, and it's got to stop." -- State Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham
► "Unbelievable. Despite contracting the virus himself, then — hiding the diagnosis from his colleagues for weeks — Sen. Mike Shirkey not only has the audacity to continue to downplay it, but spread a xenophobic attack." -- Michigan Democratic Party
► "Let's just call this what it is: Xenophobic language about a highly contagious virus that's been here for a year now from a Michigan legislative leader who continues to downplay the seriousness of the public health threat." -- Chad Livengood, Detroit journalist
