Ohio Republican says GOP can do better after 'inartful' comment about his Hindu faith
Anna Staver
Ohio Sen. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, says comments made by a fellow Republican about his Hinduism were crass, offensive and a stark example of how his party needs to do better when speaking about race and religion.
"I think this is an example of where Republicans need to learn how to speak better about race and religion," Antani told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. "I know a racist when I see one, and that's not [Rep. Scott Wiggam], but oftentimes Republicans will speak about race and religion and are very inartful."
Wiggam's "inartful" comment was made earlier this month while speaking to students at the University of Akron about a variety of topics, including the death penalty. Wiggam, a Republican from Wayne County, supports the death penalty, while Antani does not.
“Niraj Antani, he doesn't like it either, but he's an Indian. He's Hindu, so, you know, they won't even kill cows. And I can say that because I've been over to India," Wiggam said, according to a video uploaded to YouTube by the university's chapter of Turning Point USA.
Wiggam told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau that he spoke with Antani after his comments were made public and apologized for bringing "his name into an argument he did not start."
"I consider him a friend," Wiggam said. "I should not assume what actually influences his viewpoint."
Antani accepted Wiggam's apology and said, "I give him the benefit of the doubt." That doesn't mean he thinks the words his friend chose were OK.
"A big reason I am pro-life is because of Hinduism and my vegetarianism. That is very different than saying people like me won’t even kill cows," Antani said. "It's how you speak about these things."
And that's where he thinks his party could do better.
"I've always said Republicans must learn how to speak about race and religion appropriately, or we will continue to fail to attract minority voters to our party," he said. "This is a stark example of that."
Anna Staver is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.