South Dakota Representative Betty Olson Faces Social Media Backlash Over Muslim Jokes

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota lawmaker says she was trying to be funny when she ended two newspaper columns with jokes about Muslim terrorists, convenience store clerks, motel managers and President Barack Obama.

The Rapid City Journal reports the comments by state Rep. Betty Olson, of Prairie City, led to a backlash on social media, with comments calling her racist, ignorant and an embarrassment.

She concluded her Sept. 10 column with a made-up warning from ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood that claimed if the U.S. continued meddling in Middle Eastern hot spots, they would end up cutting off America’s supply of 7-11 and Motel 6 managers, cab drivers, customer service reps for Dell, AT&T and AOL, as well as U.S. presidents.

Olson says she also received nasty anonymous phone messages. She says she's surprised by the reaction to her commentary. She says she feels bad "that so many people don't have a sense of humor."

Belle Fourche resident Bill O'Dea says he hopes Olson's comments hurt her chances of getting elected to a state Senate seat in November. He says Olson "singled out minority groups and perpetuated stereotypes."

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