House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) expressed his disappointment during his interview on "The View' Tuesday in presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for stating that if black Americans don't vote for him, then they "ain't black."
"You heard this exchange that was played. I always think it’s a mistake when folks go onto shows and think they’re home, they’re talking to friends and stuff, because they just go out on an edge. So when you heard this, what was your response to the comments?" host Whoopi Goldberg asked.
"I cringed, no question about that," Clyburn replied.
"It’s kind of — you know, Charlamagne tha God is from South Carolina as well," he continued. "In fact, he and my wife, my late wife, share the same hometown, Moncks Corner. We hung out together last homecoming at South Carolina State. So I know him very well. I know what his job is. His job is to push the buttons, and he does that very well. In this instance, Joe did not do as well as I had hoped in responding, but I will say this. I go about my business every day comparing Joe Biden to the alternative, not the Almighty. He is not a perfect person. None of us are."
Clyburn was an early supporter of Biden and his work was critical in helping Biden's campaign win South Carolina during the primary, giving it a much-needed revive as losing Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden has since apologized for the comment.
"Look, he’s not a perfect person. All of us have misspoken. I’m a great admirer of Whoopi Goldberg. I’ve loved her for a long, long time. I can remember a few times when she was a little bit skittish and apologized in her own way for saying things. I do it all the time. So we sometimes say things we do not really mean. They come out a little bit wrong, and that’s what happened here," Clyburn added.