Democrat asked to leave Missouri legislature for backing radio host known for racist rants

A Democrat faces mounting calls to resign from the Missouri General Assembly after leaders in his party learned that he called into a St. Louis-area radio program whose host has a reputation for racist and obscene remarks.

Rep. Bob Burns, D-Affton, was called upon to step down by House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty on Friday, after House Democrats learned Wednesday and investigated Thursday Burns' appearances on the radio of show of Bob Romanik. Other Democratic leaders in the Missouri House joined Beatty on Saturday morning, according to a news release.

"In recent days, House Democratic leadership learned of disturbing recordings of calls by Rep. Bob Burns to a St. Louis-area radio show whose host is notorious for making racist on-air statements," said Beatty, D-Kansas City. "While we acknowledge some of the recordings have been edited, the fact that Rep. Burns repeatedly called into this show is reprehensible given the host’s well-known racist views. As a result, House Democratic leadership has asked Rep. Burns to immediately tender his resignation as state representative. We will not tolerate this conduct from any member of the Democratic Caucus."

Romanik styles himself as "the Grim Reaper of Radio. His brashness and preponderance for crude slurs drew the attention of the Washington Post in 2017, when the newspaper reported that Romanik "bludgeons and berates his targets on air, takes pride in being hated and punctuates his rants with racial and homophobic slurs that some have labeled hate speech."

Burns did not immediately return a phone message left on his cell phone.

His official Missouri House biography notes that he previously worked for U.S. Rep. Richard "Dick" Gephardt and for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. Burns was suspended by McCaskill in 2010 after he compared conservative activists to "brownshirts," a reference to a Nazi paramilitary group.

McCaskill also released a statement in which she called for Burns to resign.

"It’s come to my attention that in multiple call-in interviews with KQQZ-AM Radio, Representative Burns expressed public support for — and agreement with — an individual who has delivered a constant toxic stream of racist, sexist attacks on his radio show," said McCaskill, D-Missouri. "Rhetoric like this is not only offensive — it stokes fear and division, and gives license to those who would perpetuate further toxic rhetoric and behavior.

"Rep. Burns’ public statements of support for this individual do not reflect the values of the state of Missouri. And his failure to challenge such hateful rhetoric is a disservice to the Missourians he represents. I urge him to resign his seat in the Missouri General Assembly immediately."

At least three St. Louis-area state lawmakers who are black spoke up about Burns via Twitter on Saturday morning.

"It breaks my heart to post this, but now is not the time for complacency," said Sen. Maria-Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, while sharing a link to a YouTube video that purports to feature Burns calling into Romanik's show to offer support for "saying the correct things."

"We need Missouri Democrats to stand up for #BlackLivesMatter & reparations. The use or acceptance of the use of the N-word is outright unacceptable," Chappelle-Nadal continued.

"Sickening that one of my colleagues would call into a certified racist's talk show, & after hearing him use the n-word repeatedly, say 'you're saying the correct things... You tell it like it is,'" said Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin. "At the very least, Bob Burns should be censured."

"We have people boycotting shows for what was said once and was so inflammatory advertisers left, but for a sitting state rep and democrat on top of that to call in multiple times to a show that’s openly racist is beyond belief," said Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Ferguson.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway, a Democrat, also said Burns should leave office.

"Hate speech should never be accepted or tolerated. We are obligated to challenge racism and those who espouse it," Galloway said on Twitter. "Representative Burns should resign his seat in the Missouri House."

Calls for Burns' resignation are yet another mark on Missouri at a tumultuous time in the Show-Me State's political arena.

Republican Gov. Eric Greitens has been charged with two felonies in separate cases and has faces calls left and right for his resignation or impeachment. He has given no sign he would resign and may soon face impeachment proceedings in the GOP-controlled legislature.

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Chappelle-Nadal herself was disciplined after she posted last year on Facebook: that she hoped President Donald Trump would be assassinated. She apologized, but resisted calls for her resignation and was sanctioned by the state Senate.

Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, faced criticism and calls for his resignation after he wrote on Facebook that he thought whoever vandalized a Confederate monument in a Springfield cemetery should be "hung from a tall tree with a long rope." Love escaped punishment even though the House Ethics Committee at one point voted to formally reprimand him.

A spokesman for Greitens did not immediately respond when asked whether the governor would comment on Burns. Greitens publicly expressed his disapproval with Love and Chappelle-Nadal last year and said that neither was fit to represent Missourians.

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