Sparks Commentary: Some interesting Joe Biden quotes about race

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Some interesting Joe Biden quotes about race

These quotations show Joe Biden saying some very awkward things about race. You might respond that none of them are bad enough to convict Joe Biden of racism. With that, I would actually agree. However, in my opinion, they are much worse than any of the purportedly “racist” comments made by Donald Trump. Yet Trump is always portrayed as a “racist,” while Biden is not.

Again, I don't think there's enough here to convict anybody of racism. My point is not that Joe Biden is a “racist.” My point is that he is judged by very different standards than those that are applied to Trump.

*****

Joe Biden: “In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a Seven-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.” (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden: “We have this notion that somehow, if you’re poor, you cannot do it. Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.” (see this video for source)

*****

A Fox News commentator once asked Joe Biden: “What kind of a chance would a Northeastern liberal like Joe Biden stand in the South, if he were running in Democratic primaries against Southerners like Mark Warner and John Edwards?”

Biden answered: “Better than anyone else. You don’t know my state. My state was a slave state. My state is a border state. My state is the eighth-largest black population in the country. My state is anything from a Northeast liberal state.” (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden: “Romney wants to let the – he said in the first 100 days, he’s gonna let the big banks once again write their own rules. Unchain Wall Street. They’re gonna put y’all back in chains.” (spoken to a group of African Americans) (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden, to an African American guy: “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.” (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden: “Unlike the African American community (with notable exceptions), the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community, with incredibly different attitudes about different things.” (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden, speaking about Obama: “I mean, you got the first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” (see this video for source)

*****

Joe Biden: “You know, I’ve adopted the attitude of the great Negro at the time, pitcher of the Negro Leagues, who went on to become a great pitcher in the pros – in Major League Baseball – after Jackie Robinson. His name was Satchel Paige.” (see this video for source)

A picture of the man that Biden was referring to:

Satchel Paige

*****

Joe Biden referred to Democrat Wes Moore, Maryland’s first black governor, as “boy.” Here’s his exact words:

“And you got a [heck] of a new governor in Wes Moore, I tell you. He’s the real deal, and the boy looks that he can still play. He got some guns on him.” (see this video for source)

A picture of the man that Biden was referring to:

Wes Moore, Maryland's first black governor

*****

Joe Biden: “We’ve seen record lows in unemployment, particularly, and I’ve focused on this my whole career, particularly for African-Americans and Hispanic workers and veterans – you know, the workers without high school diplomas – and the lowest unemployment rate in 70 years for women now.”

*****

Kamala Harris also made some interesting comments about Biden’s racial record. Here is the most prominent of them: “And I’m gonna now direct this at Vice President Biden: Um, I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground. But I also believe, and it is personal, and it – I was actually very, it was hurtful – to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States Senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. And it was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose busing. And, you know, there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day, and that little girl was me.” (see this video for source)