Vice President Mike Pence on Friday called comments about black voters by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden “offensive and racist.” The remarks, about black voters undecided between Biden and President Donald Trump, were made out of “desperation,” Trump's vice president declared.
“It was offensive and racist and he should apologize to the more than 1.3 million Americans that supported President (Donald) Trump in 2016 just for starters,” Pence said to Breitbart News as he visited corporate headquarters of the Waffle House diner chain in Norcross, Georgia. (Pence was there for a roundtable discussion on the reopening of America following the pandemic shutdown.
“I can’t say any more about it," Pence said. "I just was—I was taken aback.”
Pence referred to remarks made by Biden Friday morning near the end of the syndicated radio show “The Breakfast Club” – a program popular with black millennials – with co-host Charlamagne tha God, aka Lenard Larry McKelvey.
Biden tried to conclude the interview by promoting himself and his record with African Americans.
“I tell you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” he said.
Later in the day, President Barack Obama's vice president, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for the 2020 presidential campaign, offered an apology for the comment.
“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy,” he said on a call with the U.S. Black Chamber on Friday afternoon. “I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.”
Biden, who has touted his achievements on behalf of black Americans throughout the primaries, added, ”No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background.”
Pence’s comments echoed similar sentiments expressed by black Georgia Democratic House member Vernon Jones, who called the remarks “bigotry at its best” in an interview with Newsmax TV.
For Pence, the comments were inexcusable.
“But it also, really, it literally demeans African Americans all across the country, whatever their politics,” he said.
“I can’t help but feel there was some desperation in the vice president’s comments, because I expect Democrats are starting to sense that because of the president’s leadership and because of the way he’s been a champion for all Americans, including African Americans, that we’re drawing more and more people to our side.”
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