Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he “hopes” GOP obstructionism isn’t rooted in racism against President Obama on Friday and earned a lot of criticism, particularly from Tim Scott, the sole African-American member of the Senate.
Appearing on radio station KNPR, Reid continued his years-long criticism of Republican obstruction in Congress , and shared his opinion on whether conservatives have been hoping that President Obama will be a failure in his second term.
In response to a caller’s question, Reid pointed to Mitch McConnell’s pledge that Obama would be a one-term president, and said that Republicans oppose everything that the president does.
“I hope that it’s based on substance, not the fact that he’s an African-American,” Reid said.
Reid was quickly condemned for this sentiment, with a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee calling his comment “offensive and insane.”
But interestingly, the comment received the harshest criticism from Scott, who, in addition to being a Republican, is also the only African-American member of the Senate.
He said :
“I am sincerely disappointed by continued attempts to divide the American people by playing to the lowest common denominator. Instead of engaging in serious debate about the failed policies of this administration – from the ever-increasing burdens created by the national health care reform plan to the tax and spend approach to economic recovery, along with countless others – Democrats are once again trying to hide behind a smokescreen.
“Our country deserves more from those in Washington. I hope Senator Reid will realize the offensive nature of his remarks and apologize to those who disagree with the President’s policies because of one thing – they are hurting hardworking American families.”
You can listen to Harry Reid’s remarks below, via Mediaite . What do you think? Is GOP obstructionism a matter of policy, or racism?