CNN commentator to Democratic congresswoman: Stop blaming Trump for racism

CNN political commentator Nina Turner on Sunday asserted that President Trump “is a racist,” but implored politicians to stop blaming him for the country’s race issues.

Turner, also a former state senator and activist, was part of a panel discussion on CNN’s “State of the Union” focused on the fallout from a tumultuous week in Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and Attorney General Mark Herring (D) each admitted they wore blackface decades ago as part of costumes.

Turner pushed back after Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) invoked Trump and blamed him for growing divisiveness and increasing race issues.

{mosads}”Congresswoman, I hear you, but on this, we’re not blaming President Trump,” she said.

“I am not going to continue to let politicians use this man as the excuse to deal with racism in this country,” Turner continued. “It’s been going on for far too long in the United States of America. We need some real truth and reconciliation.

“Yes, President Donald Trump is a racist. There is no doubt about it. But as we have seen, Democrats delve in racism as well. We’ve got to stop making this about who is a Republican, who is a Democrat. I want to know who’s a humanitarian.”

Turner noted that Northam’s and Herring’s transgressions are unrelated to Trump, but rather are about “racism in the DNA of this country.”

Northam said on Sunday in his first televised interview since admitting he wore blackface that he’s “not going anywhere” despite overwhelming calls for his resignation. The governor has insisted he is not either of the individuals that appear in a photo on his medical school yearbook page, but acknowledged that he once wore blackface as part of a Michael Jackson costume.

Herring last week admitted that he, too, wore blackface in college as part of a costume.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) has been the subject of calls to resign after two women alleged he sexually assaulted them years ago. He has denied both claims and called for an investigation into the accusations.

Trump on Sunday morning tweeted that “African Americans are very angry at the double standard on full display in Virginia!”

A Washington Post poll released Saturday showed that 58 percent of black respondents think Northam should remain in office, compared to 38 percent who say he should step down.