Indiana Sen. Mike Braun made news last week. As we’ve learned, that does not tend to bode well for the Hoosier State.
“U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, a Republican from Indiana, said Tuesday that he would be open to the Supreme Court overturning its 1967 ruling that legalized interracial marriage nationwide to allow states to independently decide the issue,” the Washington Post and about every other major news outlet reported.
Braun’s open mouth gathered his foot while he was talking with a reporter. This was during confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s nominee, federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who would be the first Black woman to become a Supreme Court justice.
Braun had been talking about how the U.S. Supreme Court was no place to be deciding cases such as those involving abortion rights — Braun thinks all 50 states should have the final say and the U.S. Supreme Court should just butt out. Then he made the remark that launched a thousand headlines.
When a reporter asked Braun if he’d apply that same logic to the landmark 1967 case of Loving v. Virginia, which allowed interracial marriage nationwide, Braun said “yes,” then issued gibberish worthy of Gabby Johnson in “Blazing Saddles.”
Soon, Braun was trying to explain. And as President Ronald Regan so eloquently said, “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”
“I misunderstood a line of questioning that ended up being about interracial marriage,” Braun clarified. “Let me be clear on that issue — there is no question the Constitution prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race … and I condemn racism in any form, at all levels and by any states, entities or individuals.”
Fair enough.
But Braun’s remarks prove even in his sort-of apology that he is out of his depth. Even his statement walking back his comments fails to acknowledge that the only reason “there is no question the Constitution prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race” is because the United States Supreme Court decided that question. The high court struck down states’ laws that did discriminate. In Loving v. Virginia, among others.
Last time Braun made national news, it was because the Federal Election Commission said in November it had questions about millions of dollars in his apparently prohibited campaign donations and fishy expenditures. We haven’t heard the last from the FEC yet about that. Back when that news broke, Braun explained that a former campaign staff member who had “vanished” was to blame.
Also last week, Braun attacked the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. That bipartisan bill would significantly boost America’s capacity to produce microchips and semiconductors amid a global shortage. As a businessman, you’d think Braun would see an opportunity. As a senator representing Hoosiers, you’d think he’d support it and the thousands of high-paying jobs it would generate.
After all, Braun’s fellow Republican home-state Senator, Todd Young, is for the bill. In fact, Young is among its top Senate Republican backers. Why is Young’s junior, home-state Senate colleague crossing him?
Seems like Braun may have more explaining to do. What else is new?
Send comments to [email protected].
