”Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne Tha God chopped it up with CNN’s Erin Burnett
”Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne Tha God chopped it up with CNN’s Erin Burnett Wednesday about why Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg, two white males with histories of racist legislation, are leading in polls among Black voters in South Carolina.
“Old black people in South Carolina do love Joe Biden,” he said. “But I mean, I would have to ask black voters the question, like, why do old white men who have the most racist legislation toward black people, why are they, you know, the top two front runners when it comes to black support, you know, Joe Biden and Bloomberg?”
Charlamagne believes Biden is popular because of the “Barack Obama effect,” but “a lot of younger voters have been — a lot of younger black voters have been doing their due diligence, doing their research and they are aware of the ’94 crime bill and they’re aware of the ’86 crack laws. And I think that is a big strike against him, and it’s a strike that he hasn’t really apologized for,” he said.
“We all know the best apology is changing behavior, but more importantly, best for Biden or Bloomberg is to me a black agenda. The same way that they sat around and they systemically created things to oppress and marginalize black people, they should sit around with some black folks and create a black agenda to uplift those same communities they once hurt.”
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Below is transcript from key points of the conversation (via realclearpolitics.com):
BURNETT: So Joe Biden is telling — gets on the phone today with donors and says, look, don’t worry, we’re in a good position, we’re going to turn things around once black voters have had their say in South Carolina, right?
He keeps talking about South Carolina.
Do you think he’s right?
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD: Possibly. I mean, old black people in South Carolina do love Joe Biden. But I mean, I would have to ask black voters the question, like, why do old white men who have the most racist legislation toward black people, why are they, you know, the top two front runners when it comes to black support, you know, Joe Biden and Bloomberg?
You know, I would ask that question especially now if I was a black voter, and nobody likes a loser, right? We saw what happened to him in Iowa, you know?
BURNETT: Well, that’s — people like — right.
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD: What happened to him in New Hampshire. I don’t know. Fourth and fifth place finishes? Eh.
BURNETT: So the question is how that will change the polls. I mean, obviously, the latest poll from Quinnipiac, he is leading overall with black voters by 27 percent.
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD: Yes.
BURNETT: Obviously, you’re making it clear you are not supporting Biden at this point.
But what do you think it is about him as to why he is maintaining that hold, Charlamagne?
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD: I think that it is the Barack Obama effect. I think it’s the fact that he was, you know, Barack Obama’s vice president. But I think that a lot of younger voters have been — a lot of younger black voters have been doing their due diligence, doing their research and they are aware of the ’94 crime bill and they’re aware of the ’86 crack laws.
And I think that is a big strike against him, and it’s a strike that he hasn’t really apologized for, you know? It’s more of, well, the national crime bill didn’t cause mass incarceration, you know? He still holds on to those things.
And we all know the best apology is changing behavior, but more importantly, best for Biden or Bloomberg is to me a black agenda. The same way that they sat around and they systemically created things to oppress and marginalize black people, they should sit around with some black folks and create a black agenda to uplift those same communities they once hurt.
Hear more from Charlamagne on the issue via the clip above.
