GOP Consultant Rollins Uses Anti-Jewish Slur at Roast

Republican campaign consultant Ed Rollins referred to two Jewish congressmen with an anti-Jewish slur during a roast for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, the San Francisco Chronicle reports in today’s editions.

Rollins, who created a furor two years ago when he said he paid off black ministers to keep down the Democratic vote in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, was one of the roasters for the Monday night event.

During his remarks, Rollins joked that Brown, a potential candidate for mayor of San Francisco, really wanted to be mayor of Los Angeles, the Chronicle said.

“If elected mayor of L.A., he could show those Hymie boys Berman and Waxman, who were always trying to make Willie feel inferior for not being Jewish,” Rollins was quoted as saying.

He was referring to Democratic Reps. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles and Howard L. Berman of Panorama City.

Hymie is usually considered to be a derogatory term for a Jew.

Waxman said he “wouldn’t dignify such a crude and tasteless remark that crosses the line with a comment.”

A Berman aide who requested anonymity said: “It seems to be all too typical of Rollins. He has . . . an obnoxious style of politics that catches up to him. This is not the first time he’s made remarks that are offensive to a certain group.”

Brown also said he was offended. “Rollins’ whole presentation was in bad taste,” Brown said. “It was laced with racist overtones. Not only should I be offended but all 450 or 500 people who were there should be offended.”

State Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward), who attended the roast, said Rollins’ use of a Jewish slur struck him as “inappropriate and dated.”

“My general reaction was, this is almost [from] a different era, when that kind of humor was common,” he said.

Rollins, a senior adviser to GOP presidential contender Bob Dole, said his comment “was not intended to be offensive and was intended to be a humorous comment. If anyone was offended I absolutely apologize,” he added.

“In hindsight, I would not use the term, absolutely,” he said. “This is the problem when something is taken out of context and repeated when it is meant in a humorous way. The whole night was a spoof on Willie Brown and I’m sure he wasn’t offended.”

Times staff writer Jack Cheevers in Los Angeles contributed to this story.