BET Wire: Let's Talk About Race

Lawmakers and leaders talk civil rights and racism.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - Lawmakers honored President Lyndon B. Johnson's landmark civil rights achievements; baseball great Hank Aaron likens anti-Obama Republicans to the KKK; Attorney General Eric Holder questions how he and the president are treated; a Louisiana congressman is the center of a new smoochgate – and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: BET)

He'll Show You Change - "Without the leadership of President Lyndon Johnson and involvement of hundreds and thousands and millions of people in the civil rights movement, there would be no President Jimmy Carter, no President Bill Clinton, no President Barack Obama," said civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, introducing Obama at the LBJ summit. "When people say nothing has changed, I say, 'Come and walk in my shoes and I will show you change.' "  (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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He'll Show You Change - "Without the leadership of President Lyndon Johnson and involvement of hundreds and thousands and millions of people in the civil rights movement, there would be no President Jimmy Carter, no President Bill Clinton, no President Barack Obama," said civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, introducing Obama at the LBJ summit. "When people say nothing has changed, I say, 'Come and walk in my shoes and I will show you change.' " (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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It Takes Courage - "If there's one lesson I hope that Malia and Sasha and young people everywhere learn from this day, it's that with enough effort, and enough empathy, and enough perseverance and enough courage, people who love their country can change it," said the president in remarks delivered at the civil rights summit. (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Moving Backward - Former President Bill Clinton slammed efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson at a summit honoring the late president's landmark civil rights achievements. "We all know what this is about. This is a way of restricting a franchise after 50 years of expanding it," Clinton said, referring to the spread of new photo ID laws. "Is this what Martin Luther King gave his life for?"  (Photo: Deborah Cannon-Pool/Getty Images)

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Moving Backward - Former President Bill Clinton slammed efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson at a summit honoring the late president's landmark civil rights achievements. "We all know what this is about. This is a way of restricting a franchise after 50 years of expanding it," Clinton said, referring to the spread of new photo ID laws. "Is this what Martin Luther King gave his life for?" (Photo: Deborah Cannon-Pool/Getty Images)

Is It a Black Thing? - Attorney General Eric Holder lashed out against the “unprecedented, unwarranted, ugly and divisive” treatment he and the Obama administration have received during remarks delivered at the National Action Network's annual confernce. “What attorney general has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment? What president has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment?” Holder said after lawmakers threatened a contempt citation and accused him of violating federal law.(Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images)

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Is It a Black Thing? - Attorney General Eric Holder lashed out against the “unprecedented, unwarranted, ugly and divisive” treatment he and the Obama administration have received during remarks delivered at the National Action Network's annual confernce. “What attorney general has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment? What president has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment?” Holder said after lawmakers threatened a contempt citation and accused him of violating federal law.(Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images)

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They May Not Wear Hoods - Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who knows a thing or two about racism, has likened anti-Obama Republicans to the KKK. “Sure, this country has a Black president, but when you look at a Black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated,” Aaron told USA Today Sports. “The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”  (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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They May Not Wear Hoods - Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, who knows a thing or two about racism, has likened anti-Obama Republicans to the KKK. “Sure, this country has a Black president, but when you look at a Black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated,” Aaron told USA Today Sports. “The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.” (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Don't Know Much About History - Heritage Foundation president and former South Carolina senator Jim DeMint in an interview on a Christian radio program had a surprising take on history and slavery. According to him, the Constitution ended the abhorrent practice and the federal government played no role. "Well the reason that the slaves were eventually freed was the Constitution, it was like the conscience of the American people," he said.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Don't Know Much About History - Heritage Foundation president and former South Carolina senator Jim DeMint in an interview on a Christian radio program had a surprising take on history and slavery. According to him, the Constitution ended the abhorrent practice and the federal government played no role. "Well the reason that the slaves were eventually freed was the Constitution, it was like the conscience of the American people," he said.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

An Act of Love - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, rankled fellow Republicans when he called for a more sympathetic look at illegal immigration. "Speaking at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, he said, "Yes, they broke the law, but it’s not a felony; it’s an act of love and an act of commitment to your family. It’s a different kind of crime. It shouldn’t rile people up that people are coming to provide for their family.” (Photo: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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An Act of Love - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, rankled fellow Republicans when he called for a more sympathetic look at illegal immigration. "Speaking at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, he said, "Yes, they broke the law, but it’s not a felony; it’s an act of love and an act of commitment to your family. It’s a different kind of crime. It shouldn’t rile people up that people are coming to provide for their family.” (Photo: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Not a Hater - Former Arkansas governor and serial GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event that he's not homophobic but his traditional view of marriage is "on the right side of the Bible." Huckabee, who is also a pastor, said, "I'm not against anybody. I'm really not. I'm not a hater. I'm not homophobic."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Not a Hater - Former Arkansas governor and serial GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event that he's not homophobic but his traditional view of marriage is "on the right side of the Bible." Huckabee, who is also a pastor, said, "I'm not against anybody. I'm really not. I'm not a hater. I'm not homophobic."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Take That! - The latest cover of the New Yorker magazine celebrates the Affordable Care Act enrollment victory. It depicts a gleeful Obama spooning out some bitter medicine to a petulant looking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell flanked by other Republican leaders who helped lead the charge against his most important domestic achievement.   (Photo: The New Yorker, April 14, 2014)

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Take That! - The latest cover of the New Yorker magazine celebrates the Affordable Care Act enrollment victory. It depicts a gleeful Obama spooning out some bitter medicine to a petulant looking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell flanked by other Republican leaders who helped lead the charge against his most important domestic achievement. (Photo: The New Yorker, April 14, 2014)

Photo By Photo: The New Yorker

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Equal Pay Day - The president signed two executive actions in support of closing the gender pay gap on April 8. "Restoring opportunity for all has to be our priority, making sure the economy rewards hard work for every single American," he said. "Because when women succeed, America succeeds.”  (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Equal Pay Day - The president signed two executive actions in support of closing the gender pay gap on April 8. "Restoring opportunity for all has to be our priority, making sure the economy rewards hard work for every single American," he said. "Because when women succeed, America succeeds.” (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

A "Volcanic" Reaction - In an angry response to the Senate's failure to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, Sen. Barbara Milkulski (D-Maryland) delivered a fiery floor speech. "No wonder people are fed up with us. They wonder about us why, when all is said and done, why more gets said than gets done," she said. “It brings tears to my eyes to know how women every single day are working so hard and are getting paid less. It makes me emotional to hear that. I get angry, I get outraged, I get volcanic.”   (Photo: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS /LANDOV)

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A "Volcanic" Reaction - In an angry response to the Senate's failure to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, Sen. Barbara Milkulski (D-Maryland) delivered a fiery floor speech. "No wonder people are fed up with us. They wonder about us why, when all is said and done, why more gets said than gets done," she said. “It brings tears to my eyes to know how women every single day are working so hard and are getting paid less. It makes me emotional to hear that. I get angry, I get outraged, I get volcanic.” (Photo: EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS /LANDOV)

R.I.P. - Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango, whose status as an undocumented immigrant was revealed days before Obama was elected in 2008, died on Tuesday, April 8.  (Photo: AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)

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R.I.P. - Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango, whose status as an undocumented immigrant was revealed days before Obama was elected in 2008, died on Tuesday, April 8. (Photo: AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)

Leading by Example - Sens. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) have joined forces to unveil a bill that would encourage businesses to take on apprentices and help boost job opportunities. Though often divided by policy and politics, they've pledged to work together whenever possible. “We’ve found common ground,” said Scott. “I think we’ll find more common ground as we move forward.”  (Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

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Leading by Example - Sens. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) have joined forces to unveil a bill that would encourage businesses to take on apprentices and help boost job opportunities. Though often divided by policy and politics, they've pledged to work together whenever possible. “We’ve found common ground,” said Scott. “I think we’ll find more common ground as we move forward.” (Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

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A Wound Still Raw - Obama was once again called upon to offer solace to the nation after a second tragic shooting incident at Fort Hood military base. "Part of what makes this so painful is that we've been here before. This tragedy tears a wound still raw from five years ago. Once more soldiers who survived foreign war zones were struck down here at home where they're supposed to be safe," said a deeply saddened Obama. "We still do not yet know exactly why, but we do know this: we must honor their lives, not in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Photo By AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

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Maybe, Baby - Rumors of a possible ban on Obama selfies after Samsung retweeted the one the president took with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz are greatly exaggerated. "There's been no discussion of a ban," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. Senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer's hint of the possibility was meant "humorously," he added.(Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Caught in the Act - Video footage showing Louisiana Congressman Vance McAllister kissing a woman not his wife, who worked on his staff and is married to one of his friends, has put his job on the line. McAllister, who was elected just last November, has said he will not resign, but the Louisiana Republican Party is calling for him to step down in light of his "extreme hypocrisy" and "conduct unbecoming a member of Congress." (Photo: Courtesy of The Ouachita Citizen)

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Caught in the Act - Video footage showing Louisiana Congressman Vance McAllister kissing a woman not his wife, who worked on his staff and is married to one of his friends, has put his job on the line. McAllister, who was elected just last November, has said he will not resign, but the Louisiana Republican Party is calling for him to step down in light of his "extreme hypocrisy" and "conduct unbecoming a member of Congress." (Photo: Courtesy of The Ouachita Citizen)

She'll See - Hillary Clinton may have given her supporters a glimmer of hope in her latest response to the never-ending question of whether she will run in 2016. "I am obviously flattered and deeply honored to have people ask me and people encourage me," she said at a marketing conference in San Francisco. "And I am thinking about it, but I am going to continue to think about it for a while."  (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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She'll See - Hillary Clinton may have given her supporters a glimmer of hope in her latest response to the never-ending question of whether she will run in 2016. "I am obviously flattered and deeply honored to have people ask me and people encourage me," she said at a marketing conference in San Francisco. "And I am thinking about it, but I am going to continue to think about it for a while." (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)