Chuck Schumer apologizes after using outdated term for disabled children during housing interview

OK so this idiot Chuck Schumer the so called Senate Majority Leader was forced to apologize Monday for using an outmoded word to refer to developmentally disabled children during a recent podcast appearance. Appearing on the One NYCHA podcast, Schumer used the word “retarded” in making a point about the challenge of overcoming community resistance to housing initiatives meant to serve vulnerable populations.

Appearing on the ⁦⁦@OneNYCHA podcast, @SenSchumer⁩ refers to mentally disabled children as “retarded” pic.twitter.com/l9HppDj0Bv

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 14, 2021

“When I first was an assemblyman, they wanted to build a congregate living place for retarded children the whole neighborhood was against it,” Schumer said, referring to the time he spent representing parts of Brooklyn in the New York legislature from 1975 to 1980 prior to serving in Congress.

“These are harmless kids. They just needed some help,” he said, adding that the effort was ultimately successful. “We got it done. Took a while.” He got it done for those “retards” that’s what he was thinking…. But the term is considered outdated and offensive by many, and advocates for people with mental and intellectual disabilities discourage its use.

So Monday afternoon, a Schumer spokesperson said the majority leader erred in using such an “inappropriate and outdated word” during the interview. “For decades, Sen. Schumer has been an ardent champion for enlightened policy and full funding of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “He is sincerely sorry for his use of the outdated and hurtful language.” But why didn’t the scumbag come out infront the media, and expressed this himself? Why send a public spokesperson? This is as bad as Kamala Harris not wanting to go to the border. See folks these Liberals in congress, and the senate don’t care they just want you to think they do so they could keep their jobs.

The project Schumer was referring to was connected to an organization then known as the Association for the Help of Retarded Children. (AHRC has since dropped that name and now simply goes by the initials.)

In 2010 President Barack Obama signed a law striking the term “mentally retarded” from the bulk of federal statutes and replaced it with other terms, and New York enacted a similar law in 2011. Guess nobody gave Chucky the memo?

Schumer’s offensive comment came about midway through the more than hour long appearance on the podcast, video of which was posted Sunday on the group’s Facebook page, which covers issues related to public housing in New York City and the lives of its residents.

“People are afraid, you know, I understand that,” Schumer said, continuing his original point. “When there’s change and they’re not given the things they need safety and security they get afraid. But you’ve got to address the real issues, not the fake issues.”