Councilman Pans Texas Pol for Asian Name Flap

City Councilman John C. Liu is demanding an apology from a Texas state lawmaker.

Republican Rep. Betty Brown suggested on Tuesday that voters of Asian descent should adopt names that are "easier for Americans to deal with."

The legislator's spokesman has said she wasn't making a racially motivated comment but was trying to resolve a voter identification problem. The Texas Democratic Party has said she should apologize.

In a letter to Brown, Liu said Thursday: "It's outrageous and insulting for you to suggest it would 'behoove' us to adopt another name, to give up our birthright and a part of our own identity, in order to exercise our right to vote."

Liu said Brown should either apologize or resign.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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