Biden says Trump is America's first 'racist' president

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, on Wednesday called President Trump the country’s first racist to be elected to the White House.

The former vice president’s blunt assessment came during a virtual town hall organized by the Service Employees International Union after a health-care worker expressed concern that Trump continues to blame Asians for the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden signaled that he shared the questioner’s concern that Trump frequently refers to the pandemic as the “China virus,” saying, “the way he deals with people based on the color of their skin, their national origin, where they’re from, is absolutely sickening.”

“No sitting president has ever done this,” Biden said. “Never, never, never. No Republican president has done this. No Democratic president. We’ve had racists, and they’ve existed, they’ve tried to get elected president. He’s the first one that has.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-says-trump-is-americas-first-racist-president/2020/07/22/867017e8-cc4b-11ea-bc6a-6841b28d9093_story.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_politics

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Andrew Jackson doesn't count? Woodrow Wilson doesn't count? About thirty others don't count? NT

[hlthe2b]

5. Those two for damn sure...

[dixiegrrrrl]

40. Also Teddy Roosevelt.

If you want the low down on out racist history, read the Imperial Cruise.
The background of the book is when Teddy took a Presidential cruise to Asia. His daughter Alice was the
Ivanka of the day, tho much more personable.

Lots of newspaper clippings, some of them most people have no idea about.

[lagomorph777]

52. I'd say Trump is the worst since Wilson.

[guillaumeb]

2. I disagree.

Reagan was equally racist, but he generally used coded language.

[berni_mccoy]

3. Thomas Jefferson was totally racist as were the other

Slave owner presidents.

[intrepidity]

4. I think he means "openly" racist nt

[Igel]

16. Arguing in favor of slavery doesn't count as "openly"? n/t

[Polybius]

17. Still wrong

The Founders were open white supremacists. Lincoln openly hated Native Americans.

[Dial H For Hero]

39. Owning slaves isn't being "openly" racist?

[texasleo]

6. The replies in the thread are a perfect example of why we lose

Just accept the message ffs

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. No. He's wrong. I get to say so.

Right -- I'm disloyal.

Trump might be the most openly racist president in one hundred years, but he is in no way the first racist president.

If Biden said that the Beach Boys recorded "Sgt. Pepper," would I have to agree?

Facts matter.

mahatmakanejeeves

[Soxfan58]

12. They did

Its called Pet Sounds!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. That's the biggest hole in my record collection. I never owned a copy of "Pet Sounds."

I can't disagree with your assertion.

Thanks for writing.

[Steelrolled]

13. You mean we are supposed to just go along with obvious untruths?

[llashram]

19. this

always parsing. Of course those other were racist. Yet trump is the one who said racists are "fine people". Openly. Well, Jefferson wasn't so racist when it came to Sally Heming but that's another story. All mentioned are hypocrites from Jackson's 'Trail of Tears' to this current one "fine people on both sides quote. And now taking people off American streets and disappearing them. First openly fascist-dictator wannabe.

[Eugene]

22. Joe misspoke. The truth that MF45 is America's most racist president in 100 years needs to be told.

Getting the message right, so that the right-wingers can't pick it apart, matters.

[thesquanderer]

31. "Joe misspoke" was the known price of nominating him.

We know Biden is a sloppy off-the-cuff speaker. And there's a reason he has the gaffe reputation he does. We know what we're getting. Obviously I'll vote for him happily... I believe he's a good man who will do good things (and I'd vote for a turnip over Trump). But I still wish we could have put up someone I'd have felt more enthusiastic about, whether Warren on the left, or Pete to stick with someone more moderate. It would have been wonderful to have had great communicator with a real mastery of the language (and, obviously, the policies). But Joe is good enough, and he'll have to be.

[NurseJackie]

46. Aw.

But I still wish we could have put up someone I'd have felt more enthusiastic about,

But Joe is good enough, and he'll have to be.

Oh brother.

[thesquanderer]

48. It's probably the same as you would have felt if some of the other candidates had won.

But if those were your feelings if, say, Sanders or Warren or Pete were the nominee, I would not be similarly dismissive of them. Anyone is entitled to wish we had a nominee s/he felt more enthusisastic about. As Aretha said, r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

But thanks for the unexpected pic of Tea Leoni, she always makes me smile.

[NurseJackie]

49. I think that now is the time for mature adults to set aside their hurt feelings.

It's probably the same as you would have felt if some of the other candidates had won.

I think that now is the time for mature adults to set aside their hurt feelings and move on.

But if those were your feelings if, say, Sanders or Warren or Pete were the nominee,

I wouldn't be so self-indulgent or selfish. However, I can state that for the supporters of candidates other than Biden, their "disappointment" is certainly understandable... nevertheless, enough time has passed and it's time to get over it. Or at least fake the fuck out of it, and get on board (or just shut up about it until we're safely in the White House!)

All I'm trying to say is that the constant moaning... and groaning... and whining... and griping... and belly-aching serves no good purpose. That type of behavior is counterproductive and it deserves to be dismissed and ridiculed and discouraged.

How does it help our cause for anyone to continually be expressing sadness and regret that Biden is our party's nominee? How does it motivate people when they hear such overwrought distress such as "I'll vote for him, but..."; or "I guess we'll have to settle..."; or "he's the lesser of two evils..."; or "we're stuck with him..."; or "he's doesn't excite me", etc. etc.

All those things are just a few of the back-handed, passive-aggressive insults and smears that we keep hearing from people who demand that their feelings be respected.

I would not be similarly dismissive of them.

Really? Is that so? Then why all the pouting and why be so "dismissive" of our party's nominee? Why all the reluctant and begrudging "support"?

People need to ask themselves: What's more important? Being able to continually express disappointment and regret? Or getting people motivated to get out and vote for Biden?

This is all very Sarandonesque in my opinion. All these veiled insults and negative comments that are cloaked with "I'm just disappointed, you must respect my feelings" are toxic and harmful. The lessons of the past are already being forgotten (or willfully ignored).

Here's the thing: The overt expressions of "regret" and continued nitpicking and words of disappointment (and having to "settle'') only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity. That negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

[thesquanderer]

50. I didn't start the thread. Others complained about Biden's sloppy point here...

...which prompted me to join the discussion to say, we knew this is what we were getting. This is a discussion board, and I think this was a perfectly fair and reasonable point to make without being dismissed or disrespected.

There has been no "constant moaning... and groaning... and whining... and griping... and belly-aching..." from me -- I think this may even be the first thing I've posted about Biden since he clinched the nomination. Don't come after me because others have offended you. I make one post, and your tarring me with apparently a whole bunch of others.

When the campaign was essentially down to Biden and Sanders, I posted the following to explain why I thought Biden was the better choice, despite my harder left leanings. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287672216

So, no butt hurt here. That doesn't mean I can't wish things had worked out more to my liking.

I would not be similarly dismissive of them.

Really? Is that so? Then why all the pouting

Even if I accepted your characterization of that post as a pout, how on earth does such a pout in any way indicate that I would not be respectful if the shoe were on the other foot??

Here's the thing: The overt expressions of "regret" and continued nitpicking and words of disappointment (and having to "settle'') only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity. That negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

I am pretty sure that there is not one person reading my post here on Democratic Underground who is the slightest bit less likely to vote for Biden because of my post.

[NurseJackie]

51. It doesn't matter whether you started the OP or not...

I didn't start the thread.

I don't care. It doesn't matter whether you started the OP or not. I was obviously responding to your post and the grudging "support" being expressed for of our party's nominee.

There has been no "constant moaning... and groaning... and whining... and griping... and belly-aching..." from me

You know perfectly well that the grudging and resentful "support" in your post is part of the ongoing chorus of groaning, whining, griping. It's not ALL you or ONLY you... but someone's participation in that kind of negativity really serves no useful purpose, does it?

Don't come after me because others have offended you. I make one post, and your tarring me with apparently a whole bunch of others.

I'm doing no such thing. I think the best advice I could give to anyone who doesn't want to be treated like the "others," (and who doesn't want to be associated with the "others'') is that they should do their level best to not behave like the others. Easy.

So, no butt hurt here. That doesn't mean I can't wish things had worked out more to my liking.

LOL. Of course there is. Anyone who's not fully on-board with Biden still has some "butt hurt" (as you say) to deal with. For those people, it's way past time to get over it and move on. It's time to stop sniping and nit-picking and fault-finding and splitting hairs. That kind of behavior does not serve our greater purpose. It only serves to denigrate and for the selfish among us, I guess it's a way to self-soothe.

Even if I accepted your characterization of that post as a pout, how on earth does such a pout in any way indicate that I would not be respectful if the shoe were on the other foot??

The negativity and grudging support being given to our party's nominee is evidence enough. I'm no fool.

Also, if things had turned out differently, you actually wouldn't need to be "respectful" or "sympathetic" because I can assure you that the Biden supporters wouldn't be having public pity-parties or showering negativity and doubt on the Democratic nominee.

I am pretty sure that there is not one person reading my post here on Democratic Underground who is the slightest bit less likely to vote for Biden because of my post.

That's weak sauce and completely irrelevant. Instead of people continually reminding everyone here how sad and disappointed they are, I wonder what they're doing in real life to get out the vote. Probably just more of the same.

I can definitely assure anyone that the sour attitude shown here isn't going to convince anyone to vote for Biden. (Can you imagine: "Vote for Biden. I have no idea why he was nominated. He wasn't as good as [Other Candidate], but we're stuck with him, so if you think about it, and if you're not busy on Election day, maybe consider voting for him."

Again, I'll repeat what I said earlier:

The overt expressions of "regret" and continued nitpicking and words of disappointment (and having to "settle'') only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity. That negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

What's more important? Having one's ego continually validated and stoked... and being soothed and pitied because of their hard feelings and disappointment? OR... Is WINNING more important?

[thesquanderer]

53. re: "You know perfectly well that...your post is part of the ongoing chorus"

You're awfully presumtuous to tell me what I "know perfectly well." Check my posts. (And recs, if there's a way to do that.) I'm not here as much as I used to be, and when I am, I'm following other stuff. I know of no such "ongoing chorus." I have not seen the other threads you are talking about. I was responding only to what was in this one, in the spirit of this being a discussion board and having what I thought to be a valid perspective.

[NurseJackie]

54. Why contribute to the negativity? Why keep expressing doubts and misgivings?

You're awfully presumtuous to tell me what I "know perfectly well."

Please don't call me names. I haven't called you names. Why do you feel entitled to do that to me?

All I can tell you is this: It's not a good idea to play games with me. I really have very little patience for the "who meee?" act with wide-eyes and raised-eyebrows.

I know of no such "ongoing chorus." I have not seen the other threads you are talking about.

So, if you haven't seen it, therefore it must not exist, eh? (Fortunately, a great many of those posts seldom last for very long.)

and having what I thought to be a valid perspective.

I fail to understand why anyone would think that their "valid perspective" and negativity is more important than defeating Trump. We saw what happened last time. Why continue to cling to such things?

We're all adults here, and it really shouldn't take THAT long to get over it. There's really no need for anyone to be so emotionally invested in any one candidate.

Why contribute to the negativity? Why keep expressing doubts and misgivings? Why keep seeking comfort and solace and validation? These are legitimate questions.

[thesquanderer]

55. I did not call you a name.

You're awfully presumtuous to tell me what I "know perfectly well."

Please don't call me names. I haven't called you names. Why do you feel entitled to do that to me?

Telling me "what I know perfectly well" when you can't possibly know whether or not I do, is presumtuous, by definition. Pointing that out is not name calling. (Though since you bring it up, you did call me self-indulgent and selfish, when you said you would not be so self-indulgent and selfish as to post something like I posted.)

I know of no such "ongoing chorus." I have not seen the other threads you are talking about.

So, if you haven't seen it, therefore it must not exist, eh?

I didn't say that if I didn't see something, it does not exist. But you were trying to make a point by saying I would "know perfectly well that...{my} post is part of the ongoing chorus"... you seemed to be seeing my post in a context of such other posts, assuming I was aware of them, so I was explaining that your premise was false, and that in fact I was not aware of any such chorus. (I did not deny it exists, but even now, I am only taking your word that it does, since, as I said, I have not seen it.)

I fail to understand why anyone would think that their "valid perspective" and negativity is more important than defeating Trump.

I do not think my post in any way made it harder to defeat Trump. You may disagree, that's your right.

There's really no need for anyone to be so emotionally invested in any one candidate.

I never was. I changed my "who would you vote for if the primary were held today" multiple times, and contributed to four candidates. I absolutely support Biden. But I'm not going to say I thought he was our best candidate. If all you want to read are the comments of cheerleaders, consider sticking with the Biden 2020 group, that's what it's for.

[NurseJackie]

56. Yes you did. Stop playing games.

I did not call you a name.

Yes you did. Stop playing games. You know perfectly well what you did. You called me "presumptuous". It's right there for anyone to see.

I do not think my post in any way made it harder to defeat Trump.

That individual post itself? No, of course not. I was, however very clear in what I said earlier. It's the negativity and the promotion of the negativity that's harmful.

Let me repeat again, for the third time: The constant negativity and expressions of regret and resentment and misgivings only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity. That negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

But I'm not going to say I thought he was our best candidate.

Nobody is asking you to do that. But I can tell you that the all the hand-wringing and open hostility toward Biden do not do anything to help our side to get ALL the votes that we need to defeat Trump.

If all you want to read are the comments of cheerleaders, consider sticking with the Biden 2020 group, that's what it's for.

Wouldn't you rather do your part to build Biden up instead of tearing him down? The primary is over. It's done. It's finished. Move on. Get over it. Stop fighting. Stop smearing. Stop nit-picking. Stop denigrating. Stop attacking. Stop regretting. Stop grieving.

What I'm saying is this: The time for wound-licking, and tail-tucking, and pouting and cave-dwelling is over. It's time to fight the GOP.

I absolutely support Biden.

Yes. Of course you do. I'm sure of it.

[still_one]

25. Exactly. I am sure he is referring to recent presidents, but regardless, the point is he is calling

trump a racist, and some want to dilute THAT message because it isn’t all inclusive

Just maddening because he didn’t include others

We are currently dealing with trump, not Wilson, Jackson, etc

[totodeinhere]

32. I don't think so. The truth should never be a losing strategy. n/t

[AllTooEasy]

37. This is why Joe needs a Minority, female VP

To prevent him from saying ignorant SHIT like this. He was my candidate during the primaries, and he's still my choice now.

[rpannier]

43. How does a minority female candidate prevent this from happening?

A white female candidate or a minority male, or even hell, a white male is unable to prevent this

[caraher]

8. Biden is just wrong

Trump wins some kind of prize for openly embracing a certain style of racism but he is far from the first racist president.

[Bleacher Creature]

10. Woodrow Wilson hosted a screening of Birth of the Nation in the WH.

Trump is the first openly racist President of the post-Civil War era, which is notable, but he's not the first ever.

That said, I'd very much welcome a protracted national discussion on where he falls on the pantheon of racists.

[totodeinhere]

30. No, I don't think he's even the first since the Civil War.

Wilson, Nixon and Reagan were documented racists. among others.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/31/ronald-reagan-racist-conversation-richard-nixon/1876134001/

[Bleacher Creature]

33. Good point.

I remember listening to that conversation when it was first released and it was nauseating.

And who can forget that Reagan's first public speech after becoming the nominee in 1980 was in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

11. Welp, you're wrong this time, Joe.

I forgive you, though.

[Polybius]

14. He's far, far from the first

Unfortunately he won’t be the last either.

[yaesu]

18. tRumps mentor, mr $20 bill Andrew Jackson, was a big time racist thug. nt

[regnaD kciN]

20. Maybe the first this past decade...

...but that's because he's the first Republican president this past decade.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

21. I think he is meaning openly racist in a closed racist society.

Society was different for the other racist presidents. Even LBJ, who did great things to shut down codified racism had a trouble racial history.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/lyndon-johnson-civil-rights-racism

[totodeinhere]

29. If he meant that he should have said that. But that's not what he said.

I think he will have to walk that comment back. And that's fine. Anyone can stick their foot in their mouth from time to time.

[rpannier]

44. Agreed

It would be best to walk it back
Normally I'd say to ignore it and let it die
But, in this day-and-age letting it drop can be worse because there are hundreds of people that will keep it alive

[cstanleytech]

23. Actually there have been plenty of racist presidents in office.

[Politicub]

24. Trump will say he's the greatest racist out of all of the racist presidents.

But, Trump will probably say he’s the first president who isn’t a racist. He always trades in superlatives.

[LiberalArkie]

26. Bull

[totodeinhere]

27. I think Joe will take a lot of heat for that comment.

We have had plenty of racist presidents, both Democrat and Republican. That doesn't excuse Trump's racism, but Trump certainly is not our first racist president.

[Skittles]

28. LOL

he is either very naive, or pandering, and they both suck

[uncle ray]

34. i'll let the racist POS defend himself.

let trump point out how racist his party has historically been as his defense. let the republicans be the ones who say "nuh uh, we've been racists all along!"

[Buckeye_Democrat]

38. No telling what Trump might say, since he's so stupid.

He's even dumber than the Republicans who think they're "educating" everyone about how Democrats were more racist long ago.

[Sloumeau]

35. Nixon and Reagan were both racists.

There are audio recordings to prove it.

[truthisfreedom]

36. Let 45 try to correct him.

45 will end up naming repuke after repuke.

[Gore1FL]

41. I guess if you judge on a curve and to match the overall state of society at the time, hes up there.

But raping slaves, condoning slavery, etc. isn't "curved" away so easily.

[Raine]

45. TOTALLY Wrong! nt

[earthside]

47. I love it!

Let's have this public discussion about who was the 'first racist' president.

Is it Trump? Or were there others?

This may be a calculated 'gaff' ... because it starts with the premise that Trump is a racist (which he is).

I'll love to hear Trumpicans dispute this saying, "No! Trump is not the first racist president!"