Biden Blames 'You Ain't Black' Remark on Host: 'He Was Being a Wise Guy' - WATCH
Former vice president attempts to shift blame for racist comments
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Former Vice President Joe Biden has attempted to shift the blame for his "you ain't black" remark last week, claiming he made the racist comment because host Charlamagne Tha God was "being a wise guy."
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said during a Tuesday interview with CNN that he made the much-criticized remark on “The Breakfast Club” because he was responding "in-kind" to the show's host.
"Well, first of all, um, you know, I, uh, it was a mistake, number one,” Biden said.
"And I was smiling when he asked me the question."
However, Biden wasn't responding to a question when he declared, "If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
His remarks appeared to come from nowhere and followed the host’s statement: “It’s a long way until November, we’ve got more questions.”
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“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy with him,” Biden told CNN host Dana Bash.
“He was being a wise guy and I responded in kind, I shouldn’t have done that.”
WATCH:
Joe Biden blames Charlamagne tha God for his racist "you ain't black" remarks.
— Francis Brennan (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@FrancisBrennan) May 26, 2020
"He was being a wise guy, and I responded in kind." pic.twitter.com/2kte4YwnOy
Biden was widely slammed for his remarks.
His comments were condemned by prominent members of the black community, including politicians, athletes, business owners, and celebrities.
During an interview on Fox News, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said:
”Well, I’m not going to whitewash his arrogant, insensitive, painful comment that he made.
"It tells me that he has taken the black vote for granted and he will continue to do so,” Scott continued.
"This is not the first time we have had rhetoric from the vice president that has been offensive.”
"It was Senator Kamala Harris that called attention to vice president Biden’s ignorance on the issue of school busing,” Scott added.
"It was Senator Cory Booker who called him onto the carpet for the crime bill.
"So, his record has been called into question by his own party.
"The thing I hear right now from his party, however, crickets.
"It is quiet as a church mouse right now on the left.
"I’m tired of hearing people put democrats on a perch when it comes to offensive, racially offensive comments and they hold Republicans to a very different standard.”
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America’s first black billionaire, BET founder Robert Johnson, responded saying:
"Vice President Biden’s statement today represents the arrogant and out-of-touch attitude of a paternalistic white candidate who has the audacity to tell Black people, the descendants of slaves, that they are not Black unless they vote for him.
"This proves unequivocally that the Democratic nominee believes that Black people owe him their vote without question; even though, we as Black people know it is exactly the opposite.
"He should spend the rest of his campaign apologizing to every Black person he meets.”
Famed running back Herschel Walker also slammed Biden, writing on Twitter:
"Wow. I just watched former Vice President @JoeBiden…
"Does he not understand that black and brown skinned people can think for themselves.
"You don’t determine who we vote for."
