RNC battle brews between Clay Aiken and John Rich

John Rich, Clay Aiken

/ CBS/Getty

(CBS News) Things got a little heated between Clay Aiken and John Rich inside the Twitter-verse on Tuesday night.

The two singers apparently have different tastes in politics, and it played out online Tuesday night.

Read more: Convention star power: Blurring the line between celebrity and politics

Aiken commented about this week's Republican National Convention in a tweet:

Playing drinking game with my brother now. We drink every time we see a black person on screen at the RNC convention. #soberasamormon

— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 29, 2012

That prompted Rich to call Aiken's comments "racist" in a tweet:

"@clayaiken:@cowboytroy We drink every time we see a black person at the RNC//CLAY! You should be ashamed for racist comments like THAT!WOW.

— John Rich (@johnrich) August 29, 2012

I wonder how long it will be till @clayaiken takes that idiotic post down. Clay, you're better than that...I hope. Sincerely, JR.

— John Rich (@johnrich) August 29, 2012

Between the hashtag "negrospotting" and what I've read ever since, I've just had enough of this racist nonsense. It's sick. PLS STOP.

— John Rich (@johnrich) August 29, 2012

Aiken then replied to Rich:

My charity is. Why isn't your party? ;-) @johnrich: @clayaikenI thought your charity was for inclusion, not EXCLUSION. What happened?

— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 29, 2012

Interestingly enough, both Aiken and Rich have appeared on "The Celebrity Apprentice." Aiken finished second on the most recent season, and Rich won in 2011.

[Tobi86]

Dear RightWingNJ I and everyone in our living room made the same comment about no blacks in the crowd and we were not trying to be funny. However I am Mexican American and I said "there are a couple of Latinos there" and my teenage son (half Mexican and his father my loving husband is anglo) said as a matter of fact, "they are just probably there because they had to clean up, watch their kids, or cook the food". He wasn't trying to be funny. Sad isn't it that even the young kids know what is subtly going on. It is what it is.

[phyllisg49]

CBS News and several other news outlets reported just yesterday that 0% of blacks support Romney. So Clay's little joke was not out of line. Clay is all about inclusion and is in no way a racist. Plus, he does not drink, so that was part of the joke as well. John Rich has received his own measure of criticism for remarks in the past and, as such, should be more sensitive and should be sure he knows what he is responding to. This time he spoke before he knew what he was talking about. Clay's tweet was the truth. John's was not. If you're going to report on this topic, be sure to read ALL of the conversation. Clay did respond to John's tweet about clarifying. That should be included here as well.

[RightWingNJ]

Zero percent???? That is a flat out LIE!!!!

Here in NC, 20% of blacks polled stated that they are NOT voting for Obama.

Your Zero Percent Poll reminds me of Saddam Hussein winning 100% of the vote during his "elections"

You represent a corrupt party and a disgusting ideology of lies.

You may now go back to your Rachel Maddow.

[Wragged]

Clay's tweet is criticizing the TV coverage for not including blacks in their reporting. He is anything BUT racist. John Rich went on the attack because as a Republican his feelers were hurt by the awful truth.

[Tobi86]

The fact is there was a young black cnn news reporter/photographer at hte RNC convention until someone or persons started throwing peanuts at her while telling her,"this is how we feed our animals". Look into fact check and you will see that CNN documentized the incident from of the floor of the convention.

[piatims]

Clay Aiken did replay to the above tweets.

Go to his twitter page and read. You have to click ALL to see the replies.

His tweets were regarding how few blacks were at the RNC. He is all about inclusion and is far from being a racist..
BTW - He dosesn't drink and neither do Mormons. LOL