GA Lawmaker Shouts Slur, Bares Buttocks On TV Show

ATLANTA, GA — Republican lawmakers in Georgia are calling on one of their own to resign after footage aired of him shouting a racial slur and baring his buttocks on a Showtime comedy show.

State Rep. Jason Spencer, a Republican from Woodbine in south Georgia, appeared Sunday on "Who Is America?" a new show from "Borat" creator Sacha Baron Cohen. On the show, Cohen disguises himself as different characters, often duping guests into behaving outrageously.

Spencer, who was defeated for re-election in a GOP primary in May, has courted controversy by sponsoring what critics call an anti-Islam "burqua ban" and telling a former colleague — a black, female Democrat from Atlanta — she would "go missing in the Okefenokee (Swamp)" over her criticism of Confederate memorials in the state.

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On the show, Cohen, disguised as an Israeli terrorism expert, coaxes Spencer into repeatedly shouting "n-----" as a way of attracting attention during a staged kidnapping attack and baring his bottom in an attack that would supposedly repel Islamic extremists. (Watch video of Spencer's appearance below.)

Spencer also uses a stereotypical mock accent while pretending to be an Asian tourist using a selfie stick to photograph underneath the traditional Muslim dress of a woman.

That was too much for some of the state's highest ranking politicians.

"The actions and language used by Jason Spencer are appalling and offensive," Gov. Nathan Deal, also a Republican, said on Twitter. "There is no excuse for this type of behavior, ever, and I am saddened and disgusted by it."

House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the state senate and is locked in a GOP primary runoff election for governor, both called on Spencer to resign.

Spencer "has disgraced himself and should resign immediately," Ralston said in a written statement. "Georgia is better than this."

On Twitter, Cagle made a point of saying that Spencer has not supported his campaign for governor.

"Jason Spencer is a disgrace to Georgia and should resign his elected office immediately ... ," Cagle wrote. "I think it speaks to the judgment of our voters that he was overwhelmingly defeated earlier this year."

Spencer had endorsed Cagle's runoff opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Late Sunday, after the episode aired, Kemp's campaign announced that it was removing Spencer's name from its endorsement list and would no longer include the representative in any campaign events or literature.

But Kemp stopped short of calling on Spencer to resign.

"Rep. Spencer's words and behavior are hurtful, insensitive, and completely unacceptable," Kemp said in a statement. "At the very least, he should issue a public apology for this shameful incident."

Democrats, meanwhile, sought to tie Spencer's actions to President Trump and the Republican Party as a whole.

"Spencer is an example of the toxic brand of politics that hurts Georgia businesses and damages our national reputation ...," Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman DuBose Porter said in written statement Monday.

"To the children and families who have been subjected to this horrendous video clip, please know that hatred has no place in our state and the Democratic Party of Georgia is hard at work to elect leaders with the vision, humanity, and compassion to serve us all. We recognize that the diversity of our state is one of its strengths."

Last week, Spencer said in a statement to the New York Times, that he was tricked into participating in "bogus self-defense and anti-terrorism training" by the show's producers. He was told the video would be used to train elected officials who may be targeted by terrorists, he said.

"They exploited my state of mind for profit and notoriety," Spencer said in the statement. "This media company's deceptive and fraudulent behavior is exactly why President Trump was elected."

While Spencer was defeated for re-election, he remains in office until new lawmakers are sworn in in January.

Watch video of the scene below (NOTE: Contains offensive language, content.)

Photo via YouTube