"I should not have been so cavalier," he said. "I've never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted." He added: "I shouldn't have been such a wise guy." He continued: "No-one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background."

I don't see the word sorry in that apology. Only recognition that he said the wrong thing.

@RoboGraham poor thing

There is the sound bite and there is the interview. I shared my opinion. .

@gigihein I hope your opinion keeps you on the straight & not-too narrow ~

@Varn I am not saying don't vote out Trump, just don't pretend he is going to change much.

@gigihein Allowing two Supreme Court Justices to be replaced by equivalents will be as serious as it gets.. And the only way to ‘vote out trump’ is a vote for Joe Biden; not voting for trump didn’t do it last time, and will do the same this time.

Right, let's just get over the fact that he arrogantly told an entire segment of society that if they don't vote for him, they lose their racial identity.

I almost can't believe that it's the democratic nominee who said these things. Almost.

@gigihein

You got that right. His entire message revolves around the conservative concept of returning to normalcy. He has made it abundantly clear that under his watch, no progress will be made.

..I think the gray dog needs let out to both pee & poop … it keeps nipping at my heels

I do recall you saying this.

@gigihein Can't wait to find out in August if I am right about this..

@TomMcGiverin either can I

The argument that Biden is better than Trump is, by itself, not enough of a reason to me for voting Biden, but it's about all he's got with white voters.

@TomMcGiverin Believe me when I say I am not saying that voting for Biden because he’s not Trump is a good reason to vote for him. All I’m saying is that would have aligned with his campaign message without being an overt racist d&@k.

@TomMcGiverin I agree with you. Anyone besides Trump

I would rank him worst among the many we started with, but it continues the greedy polititikns who vote for their contributors interest, not the American people, the rich.

They don't want to lose, they just don't seem to have the desire to transform all that is fracked up. Green deal that is bold will lose oil money, higher minimum wage big corp money. lower interest rules on credit cards, financial institution money. They are addicted to their bribes and hence don't promise or don't keep their promises to the American people.

I don't think they want to lose but winning isn't all that important to them. They are satisfied enough with Trump. Biden's nomination had much more to do with keeping Sanders away from power than it does with a serious attempt to remove Trump from power.

@RoboGraham Inagree, him a.c nd those who follow him take in the c ok contributions. It's why I think NJ it's about keeping thing the status quo.

@RoboGraham Exactly. All the DNC cares about is keeping Bernie out of the White House.

@TomMcGiverin Seems like a sad reality

Do you realize that statements such as this make you sound exactly like the crazy MAGA people?

@RoboGraham I realize. I said it metaphorically and jokingly but the most part it's true. I will vote for Joe Biden because he's running against Donald Trump. As for those of African descent who support Trump, Biden is right, they ain't black, they're Republican assholes, that's all..

@RoboGraham robo, yuou cannot recognize Excellent snarkism?

@AnneWimsey

I suspected some sarcasm but still, this sentiment of bullheaded loyalty to a certain candidate in a certain party regardless what the candidate says and does is very reminiscent of the MAGA crowd.

@RoboGraham Go ahead vote for Trump or whoever you want to. I want to vote for Biden. Bullheaded? Whatever. I would love to see Trump leave office. He'll go kicking and screaming like a whining bitch. I'm loyal to anyone who can facilitate that.

@barjoe

I'd like to see the same thing but that doesn't mean that Trump's challenger gets a pass when he does and says ridiculous things just because he is opposing Trump.

In fact, doing things like arrogantly telling black people they ain't black if they don't vote for your way makes it less likely that Trump will be leaving office anytime soon.

@RoboGraham I don't claim to speak for other people. My black friends who I've spoken to about it are not appalled at all. Only white people are taken aback.

@barjoe

Many people are outraged about this. If it's mainly white people who are taken aback, that's even worse for his chances because there are a lot more white voters than there are black voters.

And by the way, there are many black people who are less than pleased about it as well.
[washingtonpost.com]

I don't think he can win and he is not that similar to Trump
I want Trump out of office. but this might be the worst candidate I have seen to go against Trump. Charlamagne was respectful and stayed on topic, you are here because of the black vote, What are you going to do. He deflected. dff eff ended crime bill, and didnt take responsibility for it. Charlamagne was able to stay on point and not be distracted about a dismissive comment like your not black.....

@barjoe well if compared to all the egregious violence and inequalities in our country, they don't sweat the small stuff. To me white voters not appalled by the dismissive entitled attitude, are also.perpetuating racism.
I never said don't vote for him. I said he doesnt inspire in that interview that he cares to have dialogue with them about change.

You got my vote

Well said, Anne! I agree, Biden simply laid it out there, as to what in the hell is going on in this country and he's the type guy who does not "beat around the bush" on issues, but tells straight out the way he thinks/feels about issues! As Dems, we have to get over being butthurt about every gaf JB may make and come to realize that HE is the only sane choice we have if this democracy is to survive. If there is such a thing, we are headed toward a theocratic/dictatorship! Larry in western Kentucky

Biden treated him like crap. He did not say anything that would inspire Charlamagne to vote for him, he did not address the crime bill and its effect on the black and brown community. He was dismissive and argumentative. If you want black peoples vote and you are white, you need to ask and relate and open real tough dialogue and allow them to point out your and your peers failings. Biden and trump both can't seem to do that.

My problem is Bidens racism, or lack of understanding what racism is, and ability to relate or even feign to care about answering his question is not how we will get Trump.out. Trumps loud brazen nonrepentant racism, has really brought out how Racist our country is, but Biden is an example of how politicians have politely perpetuated racism with their actions and inactions. How do we not have a better candidate? And why does this keep happening. Because we will vote the lesser of two evils and still have the evils that exist.

C’mon, @AnneWimsey. For Biden to tell a black man pleading for something for the community to be told by a white man that he ain’t black if he doesn’t support Biden is dismissive and racist. Biden could’ve said anything else—“you’ll guarantee a second Trump term” for example. But “You ain’t black” illustrates Biden’s career record of ignoring the devastating impacts of policies Biden has supported that have made black lives worse—the crime bill, welfare reform, and bankruptcy bills to name three.

@Bobbyzen He has apologized.

@gigihein He has apologized.

@FearlessFly

Did he apologize for saying his crime bill had nothing to do with mass incarceration? No. Did he apologize for being dismissive of the concerns of black people with that comment? Well, sort of. But only because it got him in hot water. There was nothing heartfelt in his apology. He won’t change one policy idea to support the black community. Here’s the apology he was pressured into making:

”Mr Biden scrambled to make amends on a call later to black business leaders. "I should not have been so cavalier," he said. "I've never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted." He added: "I shouldn't have been such a wise guy." He continued: "No-one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background."

@FearlessFly When someone fucks up they need to do a better job. His I was being a wiseguy was like Trumps locker room talk. Its excuses. Not sure he could put his ego aside to clean it up. He was bullyish on ca.paign trail when constituants asked hard questions, calling one guy a liar and challenging him to.do.push ups with him. Just saying.

Solid. I’ve often wondered if there’s actually a faction of ‘outraged PC Whites’ … or a shitload of covert social media trolls being paid by the post. Of course you’d be a dipshit if you were Black - and didn’t vote Biden -- just as if you were an Atheist and didn’t vote for him. Good call ~

@Bobbyzen so let the guy go plead to drump........Really?

@Varn

I'd say it's pretty reasonable for blacks to have reservations about voting for the guy who wrote the crime bill which caused mass incarceration and tore their communities apart.

There is much for African Americans to be suspicious about in relation to Biden. His cooperation with segregationists int he 70's, his lying about his participation in the civil rights protests, his lying about being arrested while visiting Madela, His continued support of the drug war, his weird comments about poor kids being as smart as white kids...

I know, I know, Trump is worse. That's always the go to argument when someone points out Biden's compromising flaws but still, how can we expect them to vote for such a leader? How can anybody vote for a guy like that?

@RoboGraham ummmm, since a vote for anybody but Biden is actually a vote for drump, ...........

@AnneWimsey

I'm sorry Anne, that is some very flawed logic you are using.

@RoboGraham no, and history is full of examples, like, Ralph Nader, for example.

@AnneWimsey

Is a vote vote for anybody but Trump actually a vote for Biden? Because that is the conclusion that people on the right are coming to by using that same flawed logic.

@AnneWimsey

Are the 40% of potential voters who don't vote also voting for Trump?

Trump must have superpowers to be getting votes that aren't even votes for him.

@RoboGraham actually, yes! You are smart enough to see why he won in '16........

@AnneWimsey

He won because the electoral college is weighted in favor of his party and because he used a populist message that was very appealing to members of the working class who felt left behind by the policies of the neoliberals.

It's not Jill Steins fault that Clinton lost. She failed to earn those votes. For most people who voted for Stein, they wouldn't have voted for Clinton even if Stein was not an option. If a politician fails to win trust and earn votes, that on the politician, not on the people who have standards for their leaders.

That's some splendid whataboutism.

@RoboGraham so, you think Biden is wrong with this statement? And that black people will not nod their heads in agreement?

@AnneWimsey

Of course he's wrong, you can't change your race by voting a certain way.

I don't know what black people will do. Being a non-black myself, I can't speak for them but I can imagine that if I were one of them and someone told me I'm not what I am because they don't like the way I vote, I wouldn't take kindly to that attitude.

@RoboGraham ummm, what? "You cannot change your race by voting a certain way" ......is someone suggesting that? Or simply that for people of color, drump is NOT a good choice?

@AnneWimsey

He said they aren't black if they choose Trump over him so yes he is suggesting that their race is changed if they vote a certain way.

Trump isn't good for any people of any color. Why didn't he say that white people aren't white if they vote for Trump over him?

Exactly.. The thing is, this PC lynch mob only goes after easy targets; they haven’t the guts, intelligence or integrity to take on the Big Boys. So it’s up to the rest of us, the Adults in the room ..to hold their hands.. even do their chores for them

@FearlessFly

Yes, we have to critique each other.

If we recover at all

How about if you actually read this statement of Fact?

Are you going to vacuum while under your bed..