Rep. Jackson Jr. introduces resolution slamming Perry over offensive ranch sign

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) on Thursday introduced a House resolution that calls on GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry to apologize for his family's decision to continue to lease a hunting ranch that once featured a stone at the entrance painted with the racially-offensive name "N-----head."

Jackson's resolution, which he read in its entirety on the House floor, also called on Perry's Republican rivals to condemn his use of the ranch's name, and asks Perry to condemn the use of the word as "totally offensive and inappropriate." It also asks him to supply a list of lawmakers who visited with Perry at the ranch over the years he used it.

Jackson's resolution was based on news reports that said Perry's family continued to use the West Texas hunting ranch for several years when "N-----head" could still be seen on the painted rock. Perry's campaign has said the word was painted over in 1983, but news reports note that others disagree with that account.

The ranch is still referred to by that name by some in Texas.

The resolution adds that when presented with this complaint last week, Perry responded by saying the word on the rock is an "offensive name that has no place in the modern world." Jackson said this implies that "it may have been OK and had an appropriate place in that community when he was growing up."

The presiding officer of the House said Jackson's resolution would be printed in the Congressional Record, but that House leaders would decide the question of whether it can be treated as a privileged resolution later.