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Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke: America Was Founded On White Supremacy

Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke: America Was Founded On White Supremacy

Beto O'Rourke
Democratic presidential candidate, former U.S. Rep Beto O’Rourke, speaks at the 25th Essence Festival in New Orleans, Saturday, July 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke told a group of immigrants and refugees how he really felt about America’s legacy of white supremacy and conservative pundits are not happy.

During a roundtable event in Nashville, Tenn., the former Texas Rep. didn’t mince words when answering how he’d handle white supremacy as president, reported The Hill.

According to the Tennessean O’Rourke said, “I know this from my home state, Texas, places that formed the Confederacy, that this country was founded on white supremacy … And every single institution and structure that we have in this country still reflects the legacy of slavery and segregation and Jim Crow and suppression, even in our democracy.”

Republicans, conservatives and many right-wing bloggers and publications, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz – whom O’Rourke robustly challenged in the 2018 midterm elections – criticized his words.

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“Why does the hard left traffic in anti-American hate?” Cruz asked in response to O’Rourke’s statements, then cited some of the Declaration of Independence.

This isn’t the first time O’Rourke has been vocal about issues other white candidates shy away from. In June, he said white Americans didn’t know the full story of slavery. He’s also said he would support forming the HR 40 Commission to study reparations for slavery if elected president.

Despite these positions, O’Rourke is polling poorly in the presidential race. Critics call his latest remarks a “desperate” attempt to improve his position.

Most Black Americans, however, are probably thinking “The truth hurts.” Instead of criticizing O’Rourke, conservatives should just say “ouch,” because when the Declaration of Independence was written, there were clearly some groups that were excluded.