BET Experience

Commentary: Just Say No to Joe

Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh continues to make racially insensitive statements.

By Charlie Braxton

Posted: 06/06/2012 09:05 AM EDT

Filed Under Politics News, 2012 Election

The Illinois lawmaker who infamously told constituents that President Obama was elected because he's Black is back with yet another racially insensitive statement. Hopefully this latest comment will cause voters to stand up for his opponent in November.

During a recent town hall meeting, Rep. Joe Walsh told supporters that the Democratic Party will do just about anything to get the Latino vote. “The Democratic Party promises groups of people everything,” Walsh said. “They want the Hispanic vote. They want Hispanics to be dependent upon government, just like they got African-Americans dependent upon government.”

He went on to take a swipe at Rev. Jesse Jackson, saying the civil rights leader “would be out of work if [Blacks] weren’t dependent on government. There would be no work for him.”

Well, Joe, don’t let a good stereotype get in the way of the truth. Statistics show that whites receive more public assistance than Blacks. I’ll say it again: Whites receive more public assistance than Blacks.

Was the statement an honest mistake on the Tea Party-affiliated politician’s part or an outright deliberate distortion designed to pander to the GOP's largely white voting base?

He later explained that his remarks were misunderstood and weren’t meant to be critical of African-Americans. According to a spokesman, Walsh simply believes “there’s a certain amount of people in this country, because of Democratic policies, that have become dependent on government.”

Walsh’s ignorant comments have no place in the political process, and so I strongly suggest that come election time the good people of Illinois should say no to Joe.

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.

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