'What a uniter': Biden slammed after he says GOP is worse than 'real racists' he served with in the past

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in California on February 21, 2024, President Joe Biden stirred controversy by asserting that the current Republican members of Congress are "worse" than the racists he served alongside during his lengthy tenure in the Senate.

Referencing his time in the Senate since 1972, Biden recalled serving alongside individuals with troubling records on race, including the late Strom Thurmond, a segregationist senator from South Carolina.

President Joe Biden's controversial remarks

Despite acknowledging the problematic histories of some of his former colleagues, Biden insisted that the current crop of Republicans in Congress is even more concerning, alleging their disregard for "basic democratic principles."

“I’ve been a senator since ‘72. I’ve served with real racists. I’ve served with Strom Thurmond,” Biden said, before adding, “I’ve served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys [serving Republicans] are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles.”

In response to Biden's remarks, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, condemned the President's comments as "outrageous." He wrote on X, “The least popular President to seek re-election is now so desperate and so underwater in the polls he’s playing the race card from the bottom of the deck.”

The fundraiser, hosted at the residence of billionaire Gordon Getty and attended by prominent figures like real estate mogul George Marcus and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, served as a backdrop for Biden's remarks.

As the President prepares for his upcoming State of the Union address on March 7 and navigates negotiations with Congress over a supplemental military aid bill, tensions between the parties are palpable.

The proposed military aid bill, earmarked for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, has faced obstacles in the House, primarily due to disagreements over border enforcement provisions. Moderate Republicans and Democrats have introduced a pared-down version of the bill in an attempt to break the deadlock.

Amid these challenges, Biden is also considering executive action to address the influx of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border—a pressing issue that has significant implications for public opinion heading into the 2024 election.

With immigration and the economy topping the list of voter concerns and Biden grappling with record-low approval ratings, the stage is set for a contentious political battle in the upcoming election cycle, potentially featuring a rematch with former president Donald Trump, the New York Post reported.

During his remarks, Biden reflected on his relationship with Thurmond, highlighting his efforts to find common ground despite ideological differences.

“I told the truth. By the time Strom left — he did terrible things — but by the time he left, he had more African American[s] in his staff than any other member in Congress. He voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act,” Biden said.

“I’m not making him more than he was. But my point is, at least you could work with some of these guys,” he said, before adding, “Time and again, Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division.”

However, Biden's comparison drew criticism, especially due to his past associations with individuals like former Senator Robert C Byrd, who had ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Byrd, whom Biden eulogized in 2010, had a controversial history that included membership as an "exalted cyclops" in the Klan during the 1940s.

Following his death, Biden said that "Robert C Byrd elevated the Senate" and was "the embodiment of his state," according to Newsweek.

Joe Biden faces social media backlash over his remarks

Critics on social media seized on this contradiction, accusing President Joe Biden of hypocrisy and questioning his ability to unify a divided nation.

"What a uniter," one posted on X.

"Whatever happened to this guy 'bringing the country together'? There's never been a worse finger-pointer in the presidency. That's Leadership 101 stuff and he's failing miserably. He's gotta go," another wrote.

"Biden didn't mention his friend and mentor Robert Byrd?" someone else chimed in.

"He eulogized a KKK member so he knows plenty about racists," a comment read.

"Lol… does he realize that the internet is forever? He’s said the MOST racist things I have ever heard come from a political figurehead," another offered.

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