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Biden defends remarks about segregationist senators: 'Apologize for what?'
The Hill ^ | 06/19/19 | Justin Wise

Posted on 06/19/2019 7:51:36 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday dismissed calls to apologize for invoking his working relationships with two segregationist senators as an example of "civility," saying that his Democratic colleagues knew better.

Asked by a reporter outside a fundraiser in Maryland whether he'd apologize for his Tuesday remarks, the Democratic presidential candidate responded, "Apologize for what?"

"He knows better," Biden added, referencing Sen. Cory Booker's (D-N.J.) call to apologize for the remarks. "There’s not a racist bone in my body. I’ve been involved in civil rights my whole career. Period. Period. Period."

Biden has faced mounting backlash in the past 24 hours after invoking former Sens. James Eastland (D-Miss.) and Herman Talmadge (D-Ga.) during a speech at a fundraiser Tuesday night.

Among other things, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate cited his ability to work with the segregationist senators as an example of "civility" that no longer exists in Congress.

Biden also reminisced about working with Eastland and Talmadge in the Senate, saying Eastland never called him “boy.”

“At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didn't agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished,” Biden said.

2020 Democratic candidates such as Booker, who is black, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded Biden apologize for the comment.

“You don’t joke about calling black men ‘boys,’” Booker said in a statement. “Men like James O. Eastland used words like that, and the racist policies that accompanied them, to perpetuate white supremacy and strip black Americans of our very humanity.

“I have to tell Vice President Biden, as someone I respect, that he is wrong for using his relationships with Eastland and Talmadge as examples of how to bring our country together. And frankly, I’m disappointed that he hasn’t issued an immediate apology for the pain his words are dredging up for many Americans. He should.”

Sanders added that Biden's comments were particularly damaging "at a time when the Trump administration is trying to divide us up with its racist appeals.” Other 2020 candidates, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who is black, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) condemned Biden's position.

Biden stressed that he intended to make the point that "you don't have to agree" in order to pass major legislation.

"Here’s the deal. I could not have disagreed with them more. I ran for the United States Senate because I disagreed with the views of the segregationists," Biden said, adding that many of them were in the Senate when he first joined the body.

He went on to say that, despite those major differences, the Senate was able to pass an extension to the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

"You don’t have to like the people in terms of their views," Biden said. "But you just simply make the case and you beat them. You beat them, without changing the system."

Biden's campaign has pushed back fiercely against the criticism he's received from 2020 presidential candidates.

"[Biden] did not praise a segregationist. That is a disingenuous take. He basically said sometimes in Congress, one has to work with terrible or down right racist folks to get things done. And then went on to say when you can't work with them, work around them," Symone Sanders, a senior advisor for the Biden campaign, tweeted.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: biden; racism; segregation
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To Biden you can praise racist Democrats as long as you're civil.
1 posted on 06/19/2019 7:51:36 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

Another example of his dementia.


2 posted on 06/19/2019 7:53:13 PM PDT by HighSierra5
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To: yesthatjallen

Left means never having to say you’re sorry.


3 posted on 06/19/2019 7:57:52 PM PDT by rightwingcrazy (;-)
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To: yesthatjallen
An aneurysm, dementia, Alzheimer's. insanity, stupidity, plagiarism-- hey, plugs has it all covered.
4 posted on 06/19/2019 7:58:05 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: yesthatjallen

This is the old Biden coming out. If you think Biden is a buffoon, you’re crazy. Back in his Senate days, he’ll cut your heart out while smiling. I think this is his Sista Soulja moment.


5 posted on 06/19/2019 8:02:12 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Isn't it funny that the very people who scream "My body, my choice" wants a say in your healthcare?)
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To: yesthatjallen

The thing is, he was actually making the point that he fought AGAINST them in the Senate .... but then they could sit down afterward and enjoy a meal together.

Somehow in his feeble mind, as long as you don’t agree with them in congress it’s okay to socialize with them afterward.

Another example of the disgustingly incestuous relationships in congress ... particularly the Senate.


6 posted on 06/19/2019 8:09:11 PM PDT by Optimist
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

He looks strong by not apologizing...


7 posted on 06/19/2019 8:09:23 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
I think this is his Sista Soulja moment.

Was thinking the same. Is this a calculated, cynical strategy to peel off some white working-class swing voters by presenting himself as politically incorrect and unwilling to be be bullied by race baiters? Is he Machiavellian enough to play that game? Perhaps.
8 posted on 06/19/2019 8:12:46 PM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: Fungi

.....plus Plugs is always carrying around a huge sack of his own sh*t to step in every day.

LMAO LMAO!!!!!


9 posted on 06/19/2019 8:14:49 PM PDT by RooRoobird20 ( "Democrats haven't been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves”)
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To: yesthatjallen
Biden was happier when he was dragging black folks behind his pick up in Scranton.

Hey, that’s what I was told

10 posted on 06/19/2019 8:15:20 PM PDT by atc23
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To: yesthatjallen

Why don’t they ever say “Sen. Harris who is black and Sen. Warren who is white”...?


11 posted on 06/19/2019 8:17:10 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: yesthatjallen
BTW Sleepy Joe, racist Democrats didn't call other white Democrats "boy".


12 posted on 06/19/2019 8:18:42 PM PDT by Optimist
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To: yesthatjallen

The Left has slipped so far into its “woke” insestuous paranoia about anything but absolute submission to their party line, is “racist”. Racist has come to mean anybody who opposes the current in vogue party line of the most extreme Leftists on social media.

Biden should be congratulated for opposing this extreme.

I detest Biden generally. But the insane extremes of the “woke” Leftists have to be opposed.


13 posted on 06/19/2019 8:19:05 PM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: All
Biden invokes Ted Kennedy in defending remarks about working with segregationists

Former Vice President Joe Biden invoked his former colleague late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in defending his remarks about working with segregationist senators during his tenure in the upper chamber.

“He’s the guy who got me on the Judiciary committee, we served from years and years," Biden said Wednesday during a fundraiser at the home of Kennedy's nephew Tim Shriver, according to the pool report.

"And we had to put up with the likes of like Jim Eastland and Hermy Talmadge and all those segregationists and all of that," he continued, adding that he and Kennedy were able "to beat them on everything they stood for.”

The former vice president went on to say that he and Kennedy "detested" Eastland and Talmadge's stances on segregation.

14 posted on 06/19/2019 8:20:34 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

It was a huge mistake for him to bring up people like Eastland, but I think what he intended to say that to get things done, you sometimes have to work with people you don’t agree with or even like. (I would point out that he didn’t even have to “reach across the aisle” to do this.) While I’m willing to give him a little wiggle room here because I hate when people intentionally misrepresent what someone says, I will still say screw Biden and let him stew in his own juices. Screw his attackers too. They’re the enemy. I expect this to be just one example of more fun to come.


15 posted on 06/19/2019 8:22:12 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: yesthatjallen

In addition to his pedophilia.

What a disgusting bastard. He should be in prison.


16 posted on 06/19/2019 8:33:17 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: yesthatjallen

What a useless pack of selective outrage frauds. REMEMBER ROBERT BYRD????


17 posted on 06/19/2019 8:39:34 PM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: yesthatjallen

Hehehe.....I’m sure there were good folks on both sides of the segregation debate, eh, Joe?


18 posted on 06/19/2019 8:40:25 PM PDT by gundog ( Hail to the Chief, bitches!)
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To: bigbob

Three Nationality Harris isn’t really even black.


19 posted on 06/19/2019 8:53:05 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: yesthatjallen

I guess they were clean and articulate


20 posted on 06/19/2019 9:27:58 PM PDT by RainMan (rainman)
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