President Joe Biden called out Republicans in Congress as “the party of chaos and division” and said they are “worse” than Strom Thurmond, a former South Carolina senator who ran for president as a segregationist in 1948.

“I’ve been a senator since ‘72. I’ve served with real racists. I’ve served with Strom Thurmond. I’ve served with all these guys that have set terrible records on race. But guess what? These guys are worse. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles,” Biden said at a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, according to the pool traveling with him. “Time and again Republicans show they are the party of chaos and division.”

Biden’s comments come as Republicans in Congress are holding still a foreign aid package that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which was passed by the Senate last week, still faces a showdown in the House as House Speaker Mike Johnson has told his House Republican Conference members that he is not rushing to respond to the bill.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Biden was against busing for school desegregation.

    Without that and with the existing racist housing policies, it would have effectively prevented school desegregation.

    Strum Thurmmond gave the longest fillibuster, and it was against civil rights.

    Biden and Strum were friends, to the point Biden even gave a eulogy at his funeral.

    You know that saying about how when you see four guys sitting at a table and one’s wearing a nazi uniform?

    Biden was super chummy with those old racists, so for him it was more like he was the only one out of uniform. Seriously, don’t you remember the last primary? He kept talking about how they’re all his friends and get along so well.

    He just didn’t know they didn’t give a fuck about him after Obama. They only liked him because sometimes he pulled a Manchin.

    • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      I cant imagine being judged for somethi g i did 50 years ago, as the basis for the person I am today.

      I really am not a fan of Biden, but come on, bringing up shit that happened half a century ago is really manipulative. It’s as if you’re saying that your actions as a 30 year old are representative of the person you are at 85, which simply isn’t true.

      • HACKthePRISONS@kolektiva.social
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        10 months ago

        >It’s as if you’re saying that your actions as a 30 year old are representative of the person you are at 85, which simply isn’t true.

        i’m all about second chances, but maybe we play it safe about letting racists have power

        • grue@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          i’m all about second chances, but maybe we play it safe about letting racists have power

          We don’t have a choice about that; every viable candidate is a racist.

          • Instigate@aussie.zone
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            10 months ago

            Racism is not an immutable concept. People are not either “racists” or “not racists”. Racism is a behaviour that people engage in.

            Calling people ‘a racist’ implies that that’s all they’ve ever been and that’s all they’ll ever be. It leaves no room for improvement. Don’t call people ‘a racist’, call their behaviour racist.

            People can grow and change. I’ve met a good handful of people who were raised in households that engender conservatism, racism and sexism who have been able to deprogram that bullshit and become well-rounded human beings who care about social justice. When they were young, you’d have incorrectly called them ‘a racist’ and may have driven them further down the conservative rabbit hole.

            The way we speak to and about one another needs to get better. We need to identify that people are flexible and have capacity for change if we ever want to see that change. People cannot be bullied away from these positions, they need to be guided.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Well, the eulogy was 2003…

        And the 2020 primary he wouldn’t shut up about how great friends he is with Republican senators.

        It only changed when they gave him the cold shoulder.

        I mean, really, do you think Thurmond was better?

        As bad as shit is now, it was much worse for minorities back in the 50s/60s. And while Biden didn’t get to the Senate till the 70s, he made quick friends with the older Republicans that had been in power then.

        You can’t play the “people change” card decades before they changed.

        • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I am friends with a bunch of people that I don’t share views with. I have some friends that support trump, does that suddenly mean I support trump? Absolutely no, it doesn’t. I’m just saying, his actions now are what we should judge him on.

          As for becoming friends with people in congress, that’s called politics dude. You become friends with the people around you to further your own career. That goes for any career… Am I talking to teenagers here? Sheesh.

        • grue@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I mean, really, do you think Thurmond was better?

          Better than people who are racist and fascist traitors? Yes, obviously.

          Your question is like asking if negative eleventy-billion is a bigger number than negative infinity.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            Jesus…

            People are really out there running around America thinking Strum Thurmond wouldn’t have overthrown the government if he thought he had half a chance?

            You wouldn’t be interested in buy a bridge in Brooklyn would you?