GOP rep regrets using term ‘Orientals’ regarding town halls

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) says he regrets using the term “Orientals” while defending his reluctance conducting town halls with constituents.

“I used a poor choice of words in describing the coordinated disruptions taking place across the country,” Bost told CNN in a statement Thursday. “While there was no malicious intent, I regret that my words may have distracted from an important point.”

“When the booing and the shouting drowns out the conversation we’re trying to have with constituents, it becomes that much harder to govern,” Bost added.

{mosads}“It’s time for Republicans and Democrats to get back to the point where we can disagree on the issues but give everyone a chance to have their voice heard.”

Bost alluded to “struggle sessions” in China last week while explaining his lack of town halls with concerned voters.

“The amount of time that I have at home is minimal, I need to make sure it’s productive,” he told the editorial board of the Southern Illinoisan.

“You know the cleansing that the Orientals used to do where you’d put one person out in front and 900 people yell at them? That’s not what we need. We need to have meetings with people that are productive.”

“Struggle sessions” are a now-prohibited practice that began under Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong in which people were scorned by the public, sometimes until their death.

Republicans nationwide are facing increasing frustration from voters at their town halls on issues ranging from ObamaCare to President Trump’s agenda.