Van Jones: Biden’s debate defense of busing policies, working with segregationists ‘a heartbreaking moment’
CNN commentator Van Jones said Thursday night that former Vice President Joe Biden “took the heart out of the civil rights movement” by refusing to apologize at that evening’s Democratic debate for working with segregationist senators and for defending busing policies from early in his Senate career.
{mosads}“So he just took the heart out of the civil rights movement with that argument,” Jones added. “Our plea was that we are one, the Constitution applies to all of us, and we want the federal government to stand with us and against the local racists.”
“My heart breaks about it at a personal level because all he had to do was say, ‘You know what? I think I was wrong there,’ ” Jones said. “If he had just said, ‘You know what, Kamala? I think I was wrong then, and I’ve learned something, and I’ve learned something from talking to people like you.’ “
“I supported busing to eliminate de jure segregation,” Biden said. “But what we’re talking about is whether or not the Department of Education, as opposed to the courts, could order de jure segregation, meaning segregation imposed by law.”
“I supported the court’s ability to strike down any, to order busing, in fact I voted against an amendment that came up in the Senate … that wanted to take away the power of the court to stop busing.”
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