Opinion

KERNS: The Real Reason Biden Called Trump Racist

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Jen Kerns Contributor
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In recent days, former Vice President Joe Biden launched his campaign on the backs of a murdered girl and two dead state troopers in Charlottesville, and summarily dog-whistled that the president of the United States is racist.

In today’s divided political culture, it is no surprise to see Democrats stooping low and fanning the flames of racial discord. However it’s particularly ironic when the candidate’s track record isn’t exactly a shining example on the subject.

First, it’s ironic that race-based attacks are coming from Biden, given that during his eight years in the White House, race relations fell to its worst rating in 25 years — the lowest since the Rodney King case in Los Angeles in 1992.

Second, Biden has little room to talk about treatment of African Americans as he was the co-author and chief promoter of the 1994 crime bill responsible for putting more African Americans behind bars than were enslaved in 1850.

Third, Biden is disingenuous as he continues to mischaracterize President Trump’s reaction to Charlottesville.

Anyone who has read the official White House statement on Charlottesville — which was published in its entirety in USA Today — knows that Trump made numerous, detailed statements about the horrific events. The president clearly stated that racism is “evil” and that the events in Charlottesville were “horrendous.” Trump added, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence. It has no place in America.”

And those “good people” Democrats claim Trump lauded in Charlottesville? Trump actually called them out, too, by name: “Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans. We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law. And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.”

Upon reading the president’s statement in its entirety, one can see that Biden is wholly disingenuous to talk about Charlottesville and not include Trump’s full statement.

However, Biden’s attacks aren’t about Biden thinking that Trump is racist.

What this is really about is the Democratic Party losing their grip on African American voters.

The poll numbers tell a story that Biden won’t.

Trump got elected with eight percent of the African American vote.

That figure quickly grew to 19 percent support, as Trump set about improving the economy and trimming jobless numbers across every sector. Under Trump, African Americans have experienced their lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, since the number began being recorded.

Now? Trump has phenomenal support from African Americans, at 36 percent.

If the poll is accurate — and it likely is, as Rasmussen was one of only three pollsters to get the 2016 presidential election right — Democrats must be reeling.

Political analysts have long predicted that if Democrats lose just a few percentage points of support among African Americans, it would be the end of Democratic Party chances in presidential elections. Given that Trump has stolen a stunning nearly 30 points? Devastating for Democrats.

It makes sense that Biden chose the issue of race to launch his campaign. As a loyal soldier for the Democratic Party, he is not only jumping on the grenade in terms of an election he will likely lose, he is carrying the water for a party that has no other choice but to make a race-baiting, Hail Mary pass before they lose the African American voting bloc they’ve kept on the political plantation for decades.

Jen Kerns (@JenKernsUSA) served as spokeswoman for the California Republican Party; spokeswoman for California’s Proposition 8, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court; and as a Fox News writer for the 2016 U.S. presidential debates.


 The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.