I was too ‘cavalier’ about black voters, says Joe Biden

Joe Biden says it was ‘cavalier’ of him to tell a black radio host that African-Americans who back Donald Trump ‘ain’t black’.

‘I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy’: Joe Biden. Picture: AP

Joe Biden says he “should not have been so cavalier” after he told a black radio host that African-Americans who back President Donald Trump “ain’t black”.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee quickly moved to address the fallout from his Friday remark.

In a call with the US Black Chamber of Commerce that was added to his schedule, the former vice-president said he would never “take the African-American community for granted”.

“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy,” he said. “No one should have to vote for any party based on their race or religion or background.”

That was an acknowledgment of the stinging criticism he received in response to his comments, which he had made to announcer Charlamagne tha God.

“None of us can afford for the party or for this campaign to mess this election up, and comments like these are the kinds that frankly either make black voters feel like we’re not really valued and people don’t care if we show up or not,” said Alicia Garza, a Black Lives Matter co-founder.

Charlamagne tha God

Near the end of Mr Biden’s appearance on the radio program, Charlamagne Tha God pressed him on reports that he is considering Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, who is white, to be his vice-presidential running mate.

The host told Mr Biden that black voters “saved your political life in the primaries” and “have things they want from you”. Mr Biden said that “I guarantee you there are multiple black women being considered. Multiple.”

A Biden aide then sought to end the interview, prompting the host to say, “You can’t do that to black media”. Mr Biden responded, “I do that to black media and white media,” and said his wife needed to use the studio.

“If you’ve got a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or for Trump, then you ain’t black.”

Charlamagne Tha God later said on CNN, “A black woman running mate is necessary, especially after today”.

Several black women are among those under consideration, including California senator Kamala Harris, Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, congresswomen Val Demings and Marcia Fudge, and Susan Rice, Barack Obama’s ambassador to the UN.

AP