AVERAGE, JOE
JOE Biden issued a grovelling apology on Friday after saying "you ain't black" if you vote for Donald Trump over him in the 2020 presidential race.
Biden made the comments during an interview with The Breakfast Club host Charlamagne tha God that aired on Friday morning.
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Biden apologized after receiving swift backlash for the quip.
“Perhaps I was much too cavalier,” Biden told the US Black Chamber of Commerce during a call hours after the interview aired. “I know the comments have come off like I was taking the African vote for granted."
"But nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy."
During the interview, Charlamagne tha God talked to Biden about his record on racial issues and the possibility of him choosing a black, female running mate heading into November.
“I’m not acknowledging anybody who is being considered, but I guarantee you: There are multiple black women being considered," Biden told the host of a vice presidential pick. "Multiple."
An aide of Biden's is heard chiming in, trying to cut the interview short, to which Charlamagne tha God said: “You can't do that to black media!”
“I do that to white media and black media because my wife has to go on at 6 o’clock,” Biden said, and added: “Uh oh. I’m in trouble.”
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“Listen, you’ve got to come see us when you come to New York, VP Biden,” Charlamagne said. “It’s a long way until November. We've got more questions.”
Biden then quipped: “You’ve got more questions? Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser to Trump's 2020 campaign and leader of Black Voices for Trump, said in a statement Biden's comments were “racist and dehumanizing.”
“White liberal elitists have continuously dictated which black Americans are allowed to come to the table and have a voice,” she said.
“It is clear now more than ever, following these racist and dehumanizing remarks, that Joe Biden believes black men and women are incapable of being independent or free thinking."
Pierson added: "He truly believes that he, a 77-year-old white man, should dictate how black people should behave. Biden has a history of racial condescension and today he once again proved what a growing number of black Americans and I have always known — Joe Biden does not deserve our votes.”
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The former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee has a strong history with black voters.
In February, Biden won South Carolina's Democratic primary vote after he was backed up Rep Jim Clyburn, of South Carolina — a move that was a major "factor" for local voters.
His endorsement in South Carolina was widely credited with helping widen Biden’s winning margin and start his avalanche of March primary victories.
An exit poll by Edison Research found the backing from Clyburn was important for six out of 10 primary voters, and there was also evidence that Biden’s status as
Obama’s two-term vice president helped him win over African Americans.
Biden prides himself on strong relationships in the black community was in an unfamiliar place, playing defense on race.
A supporter of his, Bebe Coker, told The Associated Press: “I know Joe’s heart. I guess that’s why I’m rather defensive of him. Joe has always been straight-up Joe."
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"But when things come back at people that don’t look like us, they will say it’s racist because it doesn’t sound right when it’s coming out of somebody else’s mouth.”
His support from the black community has sustained him through a slew of controversies that would most likely sink any other Democratic politician, including a series of awkward comments about race and persistent attacks from Trump on son Hunter Biden’s business ties in Ukraine.
Many African Americans, especially older ones, believe Biden will appeal to white voters and can defeat Trump this fall.
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Last year, Biden said: “I’ve always been comfortable with the community, and I think the community’s always been comfortable with me."
Biden has already committed to picking a female running mate, and recently launched a committee to begin vetting possible candidates for the vice presidency, which he said will probably last through July.
But black voters and leaders have said Biden needs to go further and pick a black woman, arguing that Biden’s success in November depends on black people turning out to vote in November.
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