VP: Tea Party ‘Not a Racist Organization’
Email“Do you think elements of the Tea Party are racist?” This Week anchor Jake Tapper asked Vice President Joe Biden in an EXCLUSIVE interview. Biden equivocated at first, but then settled on a pretty firm no.
“Well, the truth is that at least elements that were involved in some of the Tea Party folks expressed racist views,” he said.
“I wouldn’t characterize the Tea Party as racist. There are individuals who are either members of or on the periphery of some of their things, their — their protests — that have expressed really unfortunate comments. And, again, it was all over TV, all over your network, you know? A black Congressman walking up the stairs of the Capitol,” he said, referring to alleged racist epithets said to an African-American Congressmen by alleged Tea Party members during the apogee of the debate over health care reform.
“I don’t believe, the president doesn’t believe that the Tea Party is — is a racist organization. I don’t believe that,” Biden said. “Very conservative. Very different views on government and a whole lot of things. But it is not a racist organization.”
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Why isn’t this week talking about the racist views of the new black panther party instead of the tea party? I don’t recall any reported incidents of the tea party using voter intimidation tactics. Give credible evidence of tea party racism or move on. This is poor reporting.
Posted by: Becky | July 18, 2010, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Because the NBPP consists of three members. My daughter’s Hannah Montana Secret Club has more people.
Posted by: Becky 2 | July 18, 2010, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Thanks for the pretty firm no Joe.
Also edited from the interview was Joe Biden’s almost certain “Yes, I think the sun rises in the East” comment.
Posted by: Noz | July 18, 2010, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Why the pretense? Who are you going to believe, the media or your lying eyes?
The fact that the “tea party” doesn’t denounce racists in its ranks makes the claim that it isn’t racist itself a distinction without a difference.
Posted by: Flash Override | July 18, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Exactly – Becky. Why wasn’t the civil complaint accusing three members of the new Black Panther Party intimidation that was dropped by Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli not discussed?
Posted by: Kevin | July 18, 2010, 10:10 am 10:10 am
The fact that the “NAACP” doesn’t denounce racists in its ranks makes the claim that it isn’t racist itself a distinction without a difference.
Posted by: Noz | July 18, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Watch it Joe, most of those Tea Party members are declared Independents who put Obama over the top…but then again..Ya, you and the Reids and Pelozis keep ranting your false racism accusations and we’ll continue to vote out your divisive politicians…Hold on my fellow Independents, 2012 will be here before you know it and reverse these insane policies..
Posted by: Parallex View | July 18, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Exactly…
Posted by: Parallex View | July 18, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Most of the Tea Party may be declared Independents but you can be sure that very few voted for Obama. The Tea Party has been after Obama since BEFORE he took office Jan 20 2009
Posted by: Frank Mix | July 18, 2010, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Let me clear this up, there are racists in the tea party, the Dem party, the GOParty, the buy an overpriced candle party.. this is a racist society..
..and you can be a racist in the NAACP.. do we consider people who hate white people to be racist (yes, but we defend this as being justified racism)
No one in the U.S. ever got twenty acres and a mule.. we also had indentured servantry.. which was little more that disguised slavery.. one might argue that migrant workers are treated as little more than slaves, one might (and has) argued that super rich sports figures are treated as slaves..
Posted by: Dontget818 | July 18, 2010, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
we know that of at least one black man that the tea party doesn’t like..
Posted by: Dontget818 | July 18, 2010, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
Frank Mix: Quite the contrary. I was a rabid Obama supporter in time and money for two years, TWO YEARS! and so were most of my friends. Not only have we dispatched from the Democratic Party to Independent but go to Tea Parties as there is no registration to attend. You’d be surprised….
Posted by: Tina Ferrer | July 18, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Oh too, a non-partisan, independent, can and will contrast and compare. Baton wielding Black Panthers in front of a polling station, vs. Americans displaying the American flag and advocating less Government.
Posted by: ZeroSum | July 18, 2010, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
How long are people like him going to get away with saying things like this:” A black Congressman walking up the stairs of the Capitol, he said, referring to alleged racist epithets said to an African-American Congressmen by alleged Tea Party members…”
I and many other people have seen videos of that “incident” from different angles from different cameras with different sound systems each one done by different people. People had cell phones, personal cameras and the newspeople were all over the place.
The “incident” is a Complete Lie! Breitbart has even put up $100,000 for anyone to prove that ANYONE said anything racist. There was no spitting!
So Biden repeats the lie……….
Posted by: DougS | July 18, 2010, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Semantics here? Of course the organization is not racist. Many of its members are.
Posted by: lede3957 | July 18, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
I love how people talk about the Panther incident when in fact the vote in that district was 98 percent Democrat..these two wanted publicity there was no vote swaying going on in that Public Housing venue…PLEASE
Posted by: Linda | July 18, 2010, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Doug..it was not a lie…I saw the guy wipe off something from his jacket. And,,,,I also saw the republicans encouraging the protesters to get closer and louder. That can be seen on any show if you want to check. What is more important is that this nonesense is still going on. Now, there is a list of so called immigrants to be deported when in fact that many are citizens with a Mexican name and how did they get the birth dates from someone? This should be thoroughly investigated and people fired. I think I heard today that two were already but more needs to be done. If they can get this info on them what else is possible. I was afraid of this happening. If we can single out one ethnic group where does it stop?
Posted by: talmag | July 18, 2010, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Isn’t it amazing that these liberals lie I do not believe they know what the truthis.. If racial slurs had been cast there would have been hundreds of photo’s etc. and of course there were none, because it did not happen. The only racists are Biden, BO. Pelosi, Reid, Black Panthers and the NAACP.THE last two organizations with to intimmidate..
Posted by: jollics2 | July 18, 2010, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
no one says any one organization is racist but their are members who are racist, who are birthers who are on the fringe. and you can’t truly expect me to have a civil discussion with you about issues and you’re holdin a sign with my president with a bone through his nose get outa here. fox news keeps bringing up the new black panthers i ain’t seen them runnin for no public office, and they are not part of the naacp. stop lumping any group that has the majority of black members into one catagory that is racist in itself. should i assume you are part of the kkk since you are white.
Posted by: pam | July 18, 2010, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Know them by the friends they keep.
Posted by: Whenwillthisnightmareend | July 18, 2010, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
Thanks, Biden, you half-wit. Couldn’t just keep your stupid mouth shut FOR ONCE, and let the rotten racists twist in the wind, could you? Oh no, YOU have to come out and exonerate them, and speak for the POTUS as well. This man is a walking, TALKING (always) disaster. When we lose the House and the Senate, it will be him and the ADMINISTRATION WHO COULDN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT that will be entirely to blame. I want these tools primaried out in 2012. I’m weary of their idiocy.
Posted by: Diana | July 18, 2010, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
I’m tired of that claim. Based on Mark Wms letter mocking black people via outrageous stereotypes, I would feel comfortable dissing the lot of them. I watched a lot of coverage of that group during the campaign and their behavior looked much like that of a duck to me.
Biden may be looking for votes.
Posted by: macktan | July 18, 2010, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
My family and friends are Tea Party Supporters living from California to NY to Florida. Every one of them told watermelon jokes when Obama got elected. They are Liars, Frauds and hypocrites but only every one that I know of personally. I can’t speak for the others only from what I hear from my friends and family. I understand it has been prejudice that has been passed on to get us here. The Tea Party will make America a Pure Corporate organization and the current Parties all support this movement no matter what they say in public. Remember Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Military Industrial Complex because Tea Parties , Republicans and Democrats-Independents all want in on it!
Posted by: Ekim | July 18, 2010, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
>>Doug..it was not a lie…I saw the guy wipe off something from his jacket. And,,,,I also saw the republicans encouraging the protesters to get closer and louder.<<
So a guy makes a motion of wiping something from his jacket and somebody you claim was "republican" encouraged the crowd to get closer? That's proof of racial slurs and spitting? Spitting reqires a spitter. Racial slurs require sayers.
Oh, well…….
I all for the Southern Border being clamped down on then illegals being deported OR required to pass courses on US history, our constitution, our laws and English while they apply for citizenship to become what we call "Americans". They need to become Americanized rather than importing the Mexican Nation. La Raza anyone?
I do agree that whoever abused their position(s)to publish sensitive, unverified information about people should be fired. And go to the slammer.
Cheers!
Posted by: DougS | July 18, 2010, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
“Isn’t it amazing that these liberals lie I do not believe they know what the truthis.. If racial slurs had been cast there would have been hundreds of photo’s etc. and of course there were none, because it did not happen.”
It did happen there was video footage. Plus the person who said it happen and that was backed by witnesses was a civil rights hero who lived through that crap when the KKK was considered a valid political party.
“I don’t recall any reported incidents of the tea party using voter intimidation tactics.”
You mean the nonintimidation by two members of the New Black Panther Party right? The Bush admin was the one that investigated that and dropped it since there was no evidence that intimidation had happened except two black people were there hence scared old white people.
” Give credible evidence of tea party racism or move on.”
How about the dozens of signs dating over a year ago? How about the recent expelling of a tea party leader for his mock letter to Abraham Lincoln?
Posted by: damon | July 18, 2010, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
ABC has moved so far to the right as to lock the Liberals and true Independents out! It’s hard to Tell Faux and Abc apart anymore.
Posted by: Ekim | July 18, 2010, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
All a person wanting $100,000 has to do is show or post the evidence to Breitbart of congressmen or their aides being spit upon and hearing racial slurs that day.
The money was offered to all the congress critters who were present that day. No takers on that. None. Not one. Zero. I assume his offer is open to all. It would be quite the scoop.
$100,000. That is One Hundred Thousand dollars.
$100,000 talks.
Posted by: DougS | July 18, 2010, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
I live in the South and latent racism came out of the wood work in full force with the election of Barack Obama. I am white, born in the South, and over 60 and the only thing that puts me in an Obama demographic is a post-graduate education, but it is sad to see this blight on our society spewed all over the media.
I have to wonder if we elected a woman to the presidency would we then be faced with rampant sexism. The media made it politically acceptable to voice racist views and to behave in uncivilized ways. Will they do the same if a female is elected?
Posted by: xlntcat | July 18, 2010, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
First of all I am a Registered Republican. I have watched coverage of the Tea Party since groups have started. Honestly must say I have witnessed apparent/possible racially biased participants evident, and saw was present at most rallies until complaints began to be lodged.
I do not believe philosophy of Tea Party Movement is racially prejudiced though. This is 2010 and none of us should portray/support any racial bigotry against any race. Just saying how it was before the complaints started.
Posted by: Sharon | July 18, 2010, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
can’t we all just get along lol. serously certain elements are racists never thought ill see that in 2010.
Posted by: rian | July 18, 2010, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
Who, where, and what racist views? Biden is a plagiarist and a liar, it is on the record.
Posted by: nat turner | July 18, 2010, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
There’s a name for the racists on the edge of tea party rallies: Democrats.
Posted by: JAY | July 18, 2010, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
It might be true that the presidents loyalty is first to his personal needs and second to the American people, but he is a politician not a saint. What makes him great is that he makes sure that everybody gets a paycheck. Some get a bigger share but nobody is left behind. He will win in 2012 as long as that check is in everybody’s mailbox and it doesn’t matter if the mailman is black Kenyan or Ugandan.
Posted by: morris wise | July 18, 2010, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
The tea party has racist elements, and it would be a good idea for those tea partiers who aren’t racist to denounce racist signage and remarks. The tea party also has insane and highly ignorant and misinformed elements. For instance, in Iowa there is a billboard sponsored by the tea party that depicts three leaders: Adolf Hitler , Vladimir Lenin and Barack Obama. Over Hitler and swastika were the words ‘National Socialism,’ over Lenin were the words ‘Marxist Socialism’ and over Obama and his 2008 campaign slogan were the words ‘Democrat Socialism.’ The billboard warns that “radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive.” True enough to the latter, but the leaders who are clearly preying on the fearful and naive are the tea party leaders and the Republican party. The billboard contains a message supported and propagated by high-level Republican politicians, and repeated by rightwingers across the blogosphere.
They are mad. Totally mad.
Posted by: Alyson | July 18, 2010, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
The fear of a having a female world leader is the reason that he was elected in the first place.. so, one might say he benefited from discrimination.. one could argue that the theme of ageism entered into the general election. For me, I don’t really perceive Obama to be an African-American.. he’s more of a second generation immigrant.. only in my view.
Posted by: Dontget818 | July 19, 2010, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
LMAO!!!
1. ABC now bad like FRAUD news?
2. Biden’s tells lies?
3. Youtube videos show the different colors attending the rallies.
4. African American beat up in St. Louis
at the town hall meeting by the Union Mmembers
So what do people call the African Americans, and Hispanic Americans the speak or support the tea party?
C. Mason Weaver said it best judging by some of the comments. The truth to a Liberal is like getting hit in the face by a brick. Must be painful.
Posted by: LMAO | July 19, 2010, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Let’s see… how did he describe the Great One before the election? Something about clean and articulate? I wonder how he feels now… maybe and mean and profligate?
Posted by: Quo Warranto? | July 19, 2010, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
I wonder where RyanC. is at. Usually he always a comment to say.
Posted by: I wonder | July 20, 2010, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
* always “has” a comment to say
Posted by: I wonder | July 20, 2010, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
They are a bunch of racist and they know it. You have to be completely blind not to see it. And they do not have any respect for the american people, who has spoken and voted for the president. They call the president a nazi, but they are the ones not respecting democracy and the american people. They go as far as threatening people lives just because people exercice their rigth to vote. Also we need to unite and take America back, we need to vote all republicans out of office, they need to learn a lesson.
Posted by: Ray | July 21, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
He should be talking about the Racist views of the New Black Panther Party! This is poor reporting . Also there is no evidence of tea party racism . The only true racism comes from New Black Panther Party!
Posted by: Handofdoom | July 21, 2010, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
The Tea Party Racist Ray? I wonder why there’s a lot of Hispanics that support it here in San Diego. Maybe you should read Jessie Lee Petersons book called “Scam” and look at his picture also. One of many African Americans supporting the tea party.
Also the Republicans don’t have groups, like the “Black Caucas” of “Hispanic Caucas”. We’re all Americans no matter what color we are.
Posted by: LOL | July 26, 2010, 10:15 am 10:15 am
Oh, LOL, I beg to differ — ever heard of the Frederick Douglas Tea Party, ran by a Black man? You know, this country MUST be divided into segregated compartments. The Republicans are no different.
Posted by: MsT-mac | October 15, 2010, 10:03 am 10:03 am
Listen, Handofdoom, there is NO NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY. That was two black men, mean mugging and carrying sticks, while standing on the corner. The original founders of the Black Panther Party laugh at these two guys. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Thanks.
Posted by: MsT-mac | October 15, 2010, 10:05 am 10:05 am
The media made it politically acceptable to voice racist views and to behave in uncivilized ways. Will they do the same if a female is elected? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You know, Xintcat, I don’t think so, if a Caucasian, married woman was elected President, the racists would still feel as if the Caucasian male is running the country and he will keep the little woman in check and all racists will sleep a little sounder — after all ANYONE is better than a Black man, in their opinion.
Posted by: MsT-mac | October 15, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Anyone want to explain to me why a sign showing Obama as Hitler is racist when a sign showing Bush as Hitler was perfectly fine?
Posted by: TLS | October 15, 2010, 10:29 am 10:29 am
This from the party who had a former KKK (Senator Byrd) sitting in the Senate for decades. Of course the Tea Party isnt racist neither are Republicans.
Posted by: Paulie | October 15, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am