Joy Behar, co-host of ABC’s “The View,” said that Black Republicans don’t know what it means to be Black in America because they haven’t acknowledged the “systemic racism” oppressing their community.
Behar’s remarks came while she and her colleagues discussed the entry of Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) into the 2024 presidential primary race.
“He’s one of these guys, who, you know, he’s like [Supreme Court Justice] Clarence Thomas, black Republican, believes in pulling yourself by your bootstraps rather than, to me, understanding the systemic racism that African-Americans face in this country, and other minorities,” Behar said.
“He doesn’t get it; neither does Clarence, and that’s why they’re Republicans!” she added.
Noted expert on black men, Joy Behar, says Tim Scott and Clarence Thomas, two actual black men, don’t know what it’s like to be black in America. pic.twitter.com/ElmFLu3TnY
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2023
Behar’s remarks received a round of applause and laughter from the audience at “The View.” She later accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of not being conservative and referred to him as “Ron DeFascist.”
Behar also described Scott more positively, comparing him to President Ronald Reagan rather than the “doom and gloom” of former President Donald Trump.
While recently appearing on Fox News, Scott responded to similar criticism from “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin.
“We have to ignore the far left by disproving their lies by our actions,” Scott said.
“Here’s the funny thing: The host, Sunny, she wants to be judged by the content of her character, not the color of her skin,” he added. “The fact of the matter is America is a story of evolution — a never-told story of evolution in too many of our schools that are indoctrinating our kids instead of educating our kids.”
Scott also said his life disproves the liberal claim that Black Americans should have a victim mentality. He cited how his grandfather was illiterate and worked in cotton fields but was wise enough to teach his grandson the slogan “You can be bitter or better, but you can’t be both,” saying that too many people buy into a victimized mindset.
“I say, not on my watch. Let’s tell the whole story of America rising,” Scott concluded.
Scott launched his presidential campaign on May 23, 2023. He now joins six Republicans, including Trump, who seek their party’s presidential nomination in 2024.
