Rep. Dennis Johnson's apologizes for 'Jew down’ remark

An Oklahoma lawmaker apologized Wednesday for using the term to "Jew down."

Rep. Dennis Johnson, co-leader of the Republican majority in the state's House of Representatives, apologized after other lawmakers brought to his attention the offensiveness of the term.

Johnson used the term during a debate on whether to end the state's longtime ban on the "loss-leader" practice, in which a retailer sells an item at a loss as a means of stimulating sales of other items.

Himself a small business owner, Johnson said, according to the Tulsa World, that there are times when customers "try to Jew me down".

After being made aware of the term's offensiveness, Johnson apologized, saying "Jews run good small businesses, too."

Johnson said the term "was just something that came out from the wrinkles of my brain," the Associated Press reported.