LOS ANGELES.–CNN host Jake Tapper, 54, picked a bone with 51-year-old former Amb. Nikki Haley over the issue of racism in America with Tapper telling Haley as a history major that racism was built into the U.S. constitution. Haley told Fox News Brian Kilmeade that America is not and never has been a racist country. Haley and Tapper disagreed Jan. 16 while talking about Haley’s comments denying racism in America. “I understand you don’t think America is a racist country now,” Tapper told Haley. “But we’re here at a college. Do you really think, as a historical matter, American has never been a racist country?” Tapper asked Haley. Haley had been caught in a earlier gaffe when asked at a New Hampshire town hall the leading cause of the Civil War. Haley told the one asking the question that freedom and states’ rights were the major cause of the Civil War, not slavery.
Tapper tried to expose for all to see that Haley seems out-of-touch with reality, saying that America is not and never has been a racist country. “It was that men are created equal with unalienable rights, right?” Haley told Tapper. Haley told Tapper she grew up in an East Indian family who didn’t see or focus on racism in America. Haley tried to explain why she didn’t see the country as racist back then and now. “But what I look at it as I was a brown girl that grew up in a small, rural town. We had plenty of racism that we had to deal with, but my parents never said we lived in a racist country . . “ Haley told Tapper, getting closer to understand where she’s coming from. “And I’m thankful they didn’t because for every brown and Black child out there, if you tell them they live or are born in a racist country, you’re immediately telling them they don’t have a chance,” Haley explained.
Haley expressed the newcomer minority position that differs dramatically from American Blacks that have lived generations in poverty and adverse circumstances. Newcomers are driven to make it in America, capitalizing on all the educational and work opportunities capable of advancing themselves in the American success story. Haley tired to explain to Tapper why she doesn’t view America as a racist country, then and now. “America is not perfect and “we have to our stains” but that “our goal should always be to make today better that yesterday,” Haley said, reflecting her optimism about American dream. Tapper also believes Haley’s vision but disagrees that the framers didn’t pander to colonies seeking to continue using slaves to run plantations and other businesses. “National self-loathing” is “killing our country,” Haley said disagreeing with the current anti-racist movement.
Tapper pushed back with Haley wanting her to acknowledge that the framers still “founded institutionally on many racist precepts, including slavery,” but Haley resisted walking back her comments. Only a few weeks before Haley was caught in another gaffe refusing to say slavery was the major cause of the Civil War. Haley lives in newcomer’s dream for America, that anything is possible if you work hard and play by the rules. Most U.S. Blacks don’t feel like the system works for them due to bias in the criminal justice system. When Blacks call for slavery reparations, they base it on discrepancies in a lack of education and housing, leaving Blacks living in poverty at higher rates than Whites. Haley reflects her newcomers’ status not accepting racism or poverty as a way of life. Haley thinks that all American have the same opportunities to succeed in America.
Tapper didn’t challenge Haley too much because CNN promotes her over former President Donald Trump. Haley said “the intent” of America’s founding was “to do the right thing,” refusing “to believe that the premise of when they former our country was based on the fact that it was a racial country to start with,” Haley told Tapper. If more American Blacks followed Haley’s logic, they’d be a lot further on the road to success. Haley’s statement about the U.S. not being racist now or in the past irked a lot of people who have been victims of institutional racism, certainly in the criminal justice system. Haley incendiary statements show that she’s not really ready for primetime, making statements that hurt her campaign, especially over the cause of the Civil War. New Hampshire voters focus on Haley’s gaffes, realizing that she’s not ready for the White House.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
