Mitt Romney accused Hillary Clinton of politicizing the unrest in Baltimore to curry favor with African-American voters.
“I was concerned that her comments really smacked of politicization of the terrible tragedies that are going on there,” Romney said during an interview that aired Monday on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends.”
Romney referred to Clinton’s recent speech at Columbia University, when she said the racial bias in the justice system and law is linked to economic inequality.
{mosads}“Without the mass incarceration that we currently practice, millions fewer people would be living in poverty,” Clinton had said.
Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, pushed back on that line.
“We don’t have mass incarceration in America,” he said. “Are we not going to lock people up who commit crimes? Is that what she is suggesting?
“I thought it was a very inappropriate thing for her to do, and I think it was political in nature for her to get more support in the African-American community, and I think it was a big mistake on her part and simply wrong,” he continued.
Adrienne Watson, communications director at the pro-Clinton rapid response group Correct the Record, swatted away Romney’s accusation in a statement to The Hill.
“This from the guy who believed 47 percent of his community was unworthy of engagement?” she said, recalling the infamous line that hurt Romney during his presidential bid.
“Mitt Romney is choosing to ignore the realities we face within our criminal justice system, while Hillary Clinton spoke boldly on criminal justice reform and is looking to work together to create greater opportunity and security for all Americans,” Watson added.