by Sheri Urban
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) slammed Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) on Wednesday for suggesting that he was a racist during the House Oversight Committee hearing of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.
Tlaib’s accusation came after Meadows invited Lynne Patton, a top Trump housing official who is black, to attend the hearing in order to push back on any accusations that Trump was racist.
When her time came to speak, Tlaib shockingly called Ms. Patton a black “prop” and ripped Meadows as a “racist”, leading to an incendiary exchange.
“Just because someone has a person of color, a black person, working for them does not mean they aren’t racist and … the fact someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber, in this committee is alone racist in itself,” Tlaib said as she took aim at Meadows.
“Meadows, a Trump ally and head of the conservative Freedom Caucus, immediately demanded a retraction,” The New York Post reported. “Getting emotional, Meadows said his nieces and nephews are people of color and he rejected any notion he’s a racist.”
WATCH:
The fact that Tlaib would accuse anyone else of bigotry is astonishing given the fact that she is a documented anti-Semite. Here are just some of Tlaib’s actions:
- Promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories
- Embraced anti-Semites and alleged Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers
- Supports anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns against Israel
- Does not support a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel
- Been photographed with Islamic terrorist sympathizers
- Belonged to a Holocaust denier group
Partial transcript:
Tlaib: Just to make a note Mr. chairman, just because someone has a person of color, a black person working for them, does not mean they aren’t racist and it is insensitive that some would even say it’s the fact that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber in this committee is alone racist in itself. Donald Trump is setting–
Meadows: Mr. Chairman I ask that her words be taken down
Tlaib: I reclaim my time. Donald Trump is setting a precedent that the highest office can be—
Meadows: Mr. chairman. Mr. chairman. Mr. Chairman the rules are clear.
Tlaib: …cover up and hold on to business assets to break campaign finance laws and constitutional clauses what we have here, Mr. chairman is criminal conduct and the pursuit of the highest public office by Mr. Cohen and individual one. I hope that the gravity of this situation hits everyone in this body, in Congress and across this country. Thank You mr. chairman I yield the rest of my time
Mea dows: Mr. chairman I asked that her words, when she’s referring to an individual member of this body, be taken down and stricken from the record. I’m sure she didn’t intend to do this, but if anyone knows my record as it relates, it should be you Mr. chairman.
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Cummings: Excuse me would you like to rephrase that statement Mrs. Tlaib.
Tlaib: Thank You Mr. chairman I can actually read it from here. Just to make a note Mr. chairman that just because someone has a person of color, a black person working for them, does not mean they aren’t racist and it is insensitive that someone would even say racist they say it is racist in itself and to use a black woman as a prop to move to prove it otherwise and I can submit this for the record. If a colleague is thinking that that’s what I’m saying, I’m just saying that’s what I believed to have happened and if as a person of color in this committee that’s how I felt at that moment and I wanted to express that. But I am not calling the gentleman, Mr. Meadows a racist…so I’m saying that in itself it is a racist act.
Meadows: Well I hope not Mr. chairman because I need to be clear on this particular… Mr. chairman.
Cummings: Mr. Mr. Mr. Meadows wait a minute.
Meadows: I’ve defended you and false—
Cummings: Mr. Meadows, I’m the chair!
Meadows: Yes sir, you are.
Cummings: I will clear this up. Now Mrs. Tlaib, I want to make sure I understand, you did not, you were not intending to call Mr. meadows or racist, is that right?
Tlaib: No, Mr. chairman I do not call Mr. Meadows a racist. I am trying as a person of color Mr. chairman just to express myself and how I felt at that moment and so just for the record that’s what was my intention.
Meadows: Mr. Chairman, there’s nothing more personal to me than my relationship, my nieces and nephews, are people of color, not many people know that. You know that Mr. chairman and
to indicate that I asked someone who is a personal friend of the Trump family, who has worked for him, who knows this particular individual, that she’s coming in to be a prop it’s racist to suggest that I asked her to come in here for that reason.Mr. president the president’s own person, she’s a family member and she loves this family, she came in because she felt like the President of the United States was getting falsely accused. And mr. chairman you are, you and I have a personal relationship that’s not based on color and to even go down this direction is wrong Mr. chairman.
