Two Democratic congressman who recently charged Republicans with racism were forced to answer for their claims when confronted by Fox News’s Jesse Watters.
First, Watters took on Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Steve Israel (D., N.Y.) for telling CNN last month that Republican opposition to immigration reform is “animated by racism.”
“You are picking up on something that was out of context, and happened three weeks ago, so I question why you would even ask that,” Israel said to Watters as he tried to get into an elevator. “We need to get away from prescribing motives, and just pass a comprehensive immigration bill.”
Watters, who is one of Israel’s constituents, reminded the congressman that “I pay your salary” as he tried to leave, but Israel fired back that he had to get to a vote. “You are literally stopping me from voting, and that’s what my constituents pay me to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, Watters also caught up with Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.), who called Supreme Court Justice an “Uncle Tom” and wondered if “this man doesn’t like black people.”
“All I’m saying is I disagree with [Thomas’s] opinion as it comes to people of color,” a much more restrained Thompson told Watters when confronted, adding that he has “a real problem with his lack of sensitivity.” He said he was unaware of that Thomas was a Republican.
Thompson, who had said opposition to President Obama is racially motivated, also denied that blacks are faring worse under the current administration, although Watters pointed out black unemployment is notably higher than it was during the Bush presidency.
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