INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana’s Republican secretary of state asked forgiveness Monday for using a slavery reference to describe black voting trends, a remark that drew criticism from several black lawmakers.

During a speech Thursday at a Republican event, Todd Rokita said 90 percent of blacks vote for Democrats.

“How can that be?” Rokita said. “Ninety to 10. Who’s the master and who’s the slave in that relationship? How can that be healthy?”

State Rep. William Crawford, who is black, said Rokita’s statement suggested blacks are ignorant and uninformed.

“We don’t intimidate. We don’t buy votes. He needs to apologize to the people he offended,” Crawford said, adding that the comment insulted “90 percent of those African-Americans who choose to vote their level of interest as they define it for Democrats.”