The tactics and theatrics of GOP Representative Mark Meadows are being harshly criticized today, at the same time as videos surface showing the North Carolina Congressman saying Barack Obama should go back to Kenya.
Yesterday Meadows introduced Lynne Patton, an African-American woman who works for Donald Trump’s business to counter Michael Cohen’s allegation that Trump was a racist (watch above via CNN). In doing so many say the North Carolina Congressman himself exhibited racist behavior. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) made waves in the hearing yesterday when she pointed this out:
“Just because someone has a person of color, a black person working for them does not mean that they aren’t racist. … The fact that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber, in this committee, is alone racist in itself.”
Of every moment that happened in the Cohen hearings, it’s this one I can’t shake. Here, Trump supporter @MarkMeadows trotted out @LynnePatton – an event planner Trump appointed to HUD – who remained mute – as proof that Trump could not possibly be racist. It’s disgusting. pic.twitter.com/4VqnEpKfnv
— Shaun King (@shaunking) February 28, 2019
Karine Jean-Pierre, Chief Communications Officer for Moveon.org said:
Hilary Shelton, Director of NAACP’s Washington Bureau offered these thoughts on CNN:
“Lifting someone up to say that because you knew one black person that worked for the organization that somehow or another you’re not racist, even after looking at other evidence more specifically to the issue. Quite frankly, perhaps we need to begin a conversation of what is exactly the definition of racism.”
NAACP’s Washington bureau director calls the exchange between Reps. Meadows and Tlaib at Cohen’s hearing “a distraction.”
“The things he [Meadows] said both at the hearing and the things he said on the campaign trail were racist statements.” https://t.co/NhTbVJNVLD pic.twitter.com/2MWeqTGzVK
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) February 28, 2019
Now today at least two videos have surfaced of Meadows making other remarks that are being construed as racist.
When asked about those remarks Meadows again denied being a racist.
The New York Times Kashana Cauley writes:
It appears that to him (Meadows), accusations of racism are more dangerous than racist acts themselves.
Mr. Meadows’s hissy fit and Ms. Tlaib’s words feel like a microcosm of where we are right now in America on race. The tide may be turning. The increased visibility of people of color in all sectors, including Congress, and the fearlessness of people of color to speak out about racism are moving us forward.
It’s all too easy, given the past demographic and ideological makeup of Congress, to picture a version of yesterday’s hearing where there was no Rashida Tlaib there to remind us that racist acts outweigh accusations of racism.