Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is admitting that he should not have told Black voters, who are not sure if they were going to vote for him or President Donald Trump, that they “ain’t black.”
In his first interview with his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), since the Democratic National Convention, Biden was asked about the controversial remark by ABC News’ Robin Roberts.
“I shouldn’t have said it,” Biden said, adding, “But, the truth is, there’s a fundamental difference between Donald Trump and me on the issue of race across the board.”
“I was trying to make the point that this is a man who spent his entire career denigrating African Americans. Denigrating them, continuing to denigrate them. To do nothing but go after race and inflame it. Pour, you know, gasoline on the fire,” he added.
Finally, Biden said, “I wouldn’t be here without the African American community.”
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Harris said that she has had conversations with Biden about race-relations, and she believes he would say “Black Lives Matter” as president.
“Joe speaks the words and actually knows how to say the words’ Black Lives Matter.’ Contrary to what … the current president of the United States does, which is to sow hate and division full time, [he] has never spoken those words and will never speak the words’ Black Lives Matter.”
“He has been outspoken on those issues and, and continues to talk about disparities, and I know where his heart is. I know where his heart is,” she added.
Biden drew criticism in May over remarks he made during an appearance on the New York City radio show “The Breakfast Club.”
As the interview was ending, Biden said, “If you have a problem figuring out whether me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
“Take a look at my record, man. I extended the Voting Rights Act 25 years. I have a record that is second-to-none. The NAACP’s endorsed me every time I’ve run. I mean, come on. Take a look at the record,” he added.
Somebody needs to tell Joe Biden that this comment to Charlamagne was a mistake.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 22, 2020
Yes, Biden is a much better choice for black people than racist Trump.
But white people don’t get to tell black people what is black.
Biden still has to EARN our vote.https://t.co/TPEV5ZpEYi
Biden later said, “I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy. I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”
“I don’t think so, and I’m prepared to put my record against his, that was the bottom line, and it was really unfortunate, I shouldn’t have been so cavalier,” he added.