Billionaire businessman Vivek Ramaswamy defends his comparison of racially-tinged comments by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and others to those of “great KKK wizards.”
In Iowa on Friday, Ramaswamy claimed there is a “new neo-racism on the left,” citing as an example a “Squad” member’s comment in 2019 that “we don’t need more brown faces who don’t want to be brown.” voice.”
“I think it’s in the same spirit to say that I can look at you and based on the color of your skin alone, I know something about the content of your character, that I know something about the content of the points of view that you can express. Ramaswamy told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“That Ayanna Presley tells me that, that because of my skin color I can express my points of view, is wrong.”
Vivek Ramaswamy argued that most of the racism he has found comes from the left. REUTERS
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy laughs at a joke during the Polk County Summer Sizzle fundraiser in Clive, Iowa, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. AP
Pressley’s team highlighted Ramasamy’s comments in a fundraising speech.
“We don’t normally engage in these bad faith attacks, but a line was crossed yesterday. A Republican candidate referred to Ayanna as ‘a modern KKK grand wizard’ because she speaks out against racial injustice,” his team on the field said, according to Politico. “This is backwards and damaging, but that’s the point.”
Ramaswamy made the comparison Friday when asked about his experience as a person of color with racism in America.
Kara Swisher is a journalist registered as a Democrat and has been outspoken against conservatives. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
He pointed to both Pressley’s comment from 2019 and that of journalist Kara Swisher recently. calling him “RamaSMARMY” on social networks.
“I think it’s offensive. And I think the fact that we are taught to see each other based on our genetic attributes is something that would make the old wizards of the great KKK proud,” Ramaswamy said in Iowa, The Messenger reported.
CNN anchor Dana Bash questioned Ramaswamy about the comparison, juxtaposing Pressley’s nonviolent comment with the violence of the KKK, famous for horrendous crimes such as rape and lynching.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley clarified her comments from 2019, saying she was “talking about the collective impact of improving the lived experience.” AFP via Getty Images
The 38-year-old biotech businessman stood by his comments, responding that there is a mentality among some politicians “that if you’re black or brown, you have to have a particular point of view.”
“We all agree that the KKK was a terrible organization that has a toxic stain on our national history. So, since we can start from that point of agreement, that allows us to say: who is more like that organization today? he continued. “People who ask for more racial discrimination because of the color of their skin.”
Early in the interview, Bash asked Ramaswamy about Saturday’s shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, where a white gunman shot and killed three black people at a Dollar General store before killing himself.
Pressley is a member of the so-called progressive ‘Squad’ in the House. Getty Images
Authorities described the deadly attack as racially motivated.
“It is a great tragedy and my heart goes out to those families. This should not be happening in the United States of America and it is wrong,” Ramaswamy said.
“We need to have the courage in this country to bring back the practice of returning people with psychiatric illnesses who pose a risk to their communities to psychiatric institutions.”
Vivek Ramaswamy has enjoyed a rise in recent 2024 GOP primary polls. AP
During a discussion with Bash about the role of race in the shooting, Ramaswamy lamented the “racialized culture in this country.” which he attributed to the media and politicians.
“I’ve never come across that yet,” he said when asked about his experience with white supremacy. “I’m sure the white supremacist bogeyman exists somewhere in America, but I’ve never met him.”
Ramaswamy further argued that “most of that modern racism comes from the modern left.”
His performance at the Wednesday night debate, in which several candidates onstage pounced on him, created quite a stir.
Ramasamy currently sits in third place with 7% support in RealClearPolitics’ latest aggregate poll of the 2024 Republican race.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn