Kamala Harris on Biden: "To coddle the reputations of segregationists...is misinformed and wrong."

[melman]

Link to tweet

[Peacetrain]

1. Not going to work!

But got to give you credit you keep trying

[Wellstone ruled]

2. BAM!!!!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Well said.

[gtar100]

4. It's probably not what Biden meant.

It just sounded that way.

[marylandblue]

10. There's a reason Obama was the President and Biden wasn't

[LanternWaste]

15. It can be difficult to entertain the specific difference between 'coddle' and 'observe'

Despite being basic English, they just sound alike.

[Hoyt]

5. Another year of this, Hyde, etc., and some folks are going to start questioning

Biden’s electability. Maybe I should say “More folks.”

Hope he hits a different note soon.

[Demsrule86]

28. This go no traction so it won't happen...he is way more electable than any of the others...this is

just a ploy that helps Trump...sad day if Trump wins again.

[emulatorloo]

6. We would still love to hear some positivity from you. Can you tell us more about Senator Harris?

Harris is terrific. Can you tell us about any of our candidates that you like?

I am also sure there are several GREAT candidates you are looking at supporting. Please tell us about them!

[melman]

12. Why do you object to this story being discussed?

Sen. Harris made a statement. ABC News reported on it. So why do you object to this being posted?

[4139]

7. Biden was/is not "misinformed", he knew them, he was fully informed

[emmaverybo]

8. You are one busy anti-Biden bee. NT

[Butterflylady]

9. There's nothing like

Jumping on the bandwagon when you think it might help!

[loyalsister]

11. What if Trent Lott had been a Democrat?

I think we're finding out.
Dismissing the casual racism expressed in defending elders who tell the jokes and looked past their friends virulent attitudes based on a few good acts protects the white supremacy that is so solidly supported by all of our government institutions.

[Demsrule86]

29. Elizabeth Warren was a Republican and probably voted for some, we would view as unacceptable.

Perhaps we should examine this.

[Demit]

13. Thoughtful and measured comments by Kamala Harris.

What she said about the segregationists, in what the ellipses are standing in for: "...people who, if they had their way, I would literally not be standing here as a member of the United States Senate" is very powerful, even more so in the matter-of-fact way she says it.

She's so right in calling Biden's remarks wrong.

[TomSlick]

14. Please, God.

How are so many intelligent people saying profoundly stupid stuff?

[Voltaire2]

18. Maybe, just maybe, it is Mr Biden who

once again has said things profoundly tone deaf.

[TomSlick]

19. Anytime when Democrats are sniping at each other is good for Trump.

Trump is an existential threat to the Republic. We cannot afford to be taking shots at each other.

If any Democratic candidate thought Biden was tone deaf, s/he should have picked up the telephone and suggested that he "clarify" his statement. Instead, candidates are forming a circular firing squad trying to gain points in the polls.

Democrats seem intent on accepting long term damage to the Republic in exchange of sort term political gain.

[oasis]

20. +1 and then some.

[Politicub]

24. I guess it is everyone but Biden's fault that this is an issue, right?

He made the remark. It grew legs for legitimate reasons. And now we find ourselves here. He is culpable for saying it.

It was a stupid thing to say. Of all of the people he has worked with, he had to choose those two to highlight -- segregationist democrats. From that perspective it doesn't make any sense. He's basically saying he got along with the worst elements of his party. Yes, I know the parties have changed since then. But it's a stupid example of bipartisanship since it was, well, partisanship.

When I reread the remarks before and after Eastland's name was mentioned, it seems even worse. I fucking hate that he did this. In a single swipe he reminded people of when segregationists referred to black men as "boy" to demean them. But, they called Biden "son", you see. They did that because Biden. is. White.; they weren't being civil.

Ugh. I want to bang my head against the wall.

[ooky]

16. I didn't see it as coddling.

I heard him making a point that he could work across the aisle with anybody whether he liked them or not, and that he was speaking to potential cross over voters in the general election and those democrats who think that is important, particularly in Michigan, Wisconsin, PA and other battleground states.

He could have left out the part about "boy". That was where he fucked up his statement. If he leaves that out then there isn't anything to call him out for.

[Voltaire2]

17. It is more fucked up than that.

He was working with Eastland on banning in-district desegregation busing, the single most effective tool we had for urban school desegregation.

[loyalsister]

25. Whether someone thought bussing was a bad idea or not

The white hysteria that came with it was born out of hate. I remember a family that moved their teen aged daughter into the KC suburb where I lived to avoid bussing. She spent her teen years with an elderly aunt and uncle.

I remember the conversation her parents had with mine during a cookout. It made me want to run away because even as a child it nagged my sense of justice.

When the topic of busing comes up, I always remember that disgusting couple and can't help but feel a little nauseated by a candidate who took their side.

[Sugarcoated]

21. Willfully ignorant and disingenuous

Lost some respect for her

[JGug1]

22. Coddling The Reputation of Segregationists

You just dropped a couple of points for me, Kamala. I read what Biden said and he did nothing of the kind. You are twisting what he said and it wears poorly on you. Anyone elected who would NOT work for a common goal with another elected official is a fool and a danger to the nation.

[Politicub]

23. She nails it -- part of what makes people so wound up about the latest

gaffe is how it puts dems in a tough position to talk about the reputations of segregationists. While Biden's position is nuanced, and I don't believe he's a racist, it doesn't sound good on the surface, and it gets worse when you learn about the two segregationists' histories.

Biden started this mess with his ill-advised remarks, and now we're all living through it.

I like how Harris brings it back around to how bipartisanship is something important to her, but Biden's example is a bridge too far.

[Demsrule86]

31. Nope...those who support other candidates and the candidates are trying and failing to get traction

on this. It is not working according to television reports...backfired as I expected.

[stonecutter357]

26. African American South Carolinians weigh in on Biden's comments

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287159368

[Gothmog]

27. According to Symone Sanders, Biden did not praise a segregationist

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Demsrule86]

30. Well, it is a good thing you don't want the VP slot because you won't get it now...too bad. I had

hoped you might and if you did well Ms. Harris would be a viable candidate in 2024 or 2028.