Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh is facing criticism after implying President Obama was elected because of his race.
“Why was he elected? Again, it comes back to who he was. He was black, he was historic. And there’s nothing racist about this. It is what it is. If he had been a dynamic, white, state senator elected to Congress he wouldn’t have gotten in the game this fast,” Mr. Walsh said in an interview with Slate.
“They were in love with him because he pushed that magical button: a black man who was articulate, liberal, the whole white guilt, all of that,” Mr. Walsh added.
The Illinois Republican, known for his controversial comments, seems to have crossed the line with his most recent assertion.
The comment follows in the wake of Mr. Walsh slamming Republicans opposing Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal aimed at replacing Medicare with a private voucher program. Mr. Walsh said Republicans opposing the plan should “be ashamed.”
“Any Republican that doesn’t vote for this or doesn’t support this is purely being guided by political reasons,” Mr. Walsh said.
David Weigel posted full transcript of the interview here.
