President Joe Biden said in a speech this week that members of the Republican Party are worse than the segregationists he served with in the Senate. The comments sparked a significant backlash from conservatives, who disputed the president’s claims.
Biden cited his experience since his first election to the U.S. Senate in 1972. He said that he had served with “real racists.” He said that some of those he served with had “set terrible records on race.”
“But guess what?” Biden said of current Republicans. “These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles.”
“Time and again, Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division,” he said.
The current controversy follows years of Biden defending several former segregationists he worked with in the Senate. He has said positive things about former Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC), who defended segregation during his time as a Democratic governor of South Carolina and former Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV).
Byrd was a former leader of the KKK, gaining the rank of Exalted Cyclops.
Following Byrd’s death then-Vice President Biden made statements honoring the former senator, calling him a “mentor” and a “friend.”
Joe Biden is unhinged. Nearly 14 years ago, he delivered a eulogy for segregationist and former KKK "Exalted Cyclops" leader Robert Byrd.
Biden called Byrd a "mentor," a "guide," and a "friend." pic.twitter.com/ow5EqSuqyo https://t.co/kQ0eTAdCO1
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 22, 2024
Biden also gave a eulogy at Thurmond’s 2003 funeral. The president claimed that the former segregationist governor was easier to work with than current Republican members of the House.
“I told the truth. By the time Strom left, he did terrible things,” said Biden. “But by the time he left, he had more African Americans in his staff than any other member of Congress. He voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act.”
“I’m not making him more than he was, but my point is at least you could work with some of these guys,” Biden said.
“Throughout his 51 years, the longest tenure of any member in Congress in the history of the United States, Robert C. Byrd was a tough, compassionate and outspoken leader and dedicated above all else to making life better for the people of the mountain state — his state, the state of West Virginia,” Biden said of Byrd after his passing. “He never lost sight of home.”
