Artur Davis: Biden "in chains" comment "insulting to African-Americans"

Former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis.

/ AP Photo

(CBS News) Artur Davis, a Democrat-turned-Republican former congressman from Alabama, on Wednesday accused Vice President Joe Biden of using racially divisive rhetoric that is "insulting" to African-Americans.

"I know what Joe Biden was doing yesterday," Davis said in an appearance on CNN. "Every black person in that room knew who the 'y'all' was. They knew what the chains were. They knew what the metaphor was about."

In remarks at a campaign event in Virginia Tuesday with a number of African-American audience members, the vice president lambasted Romney for allegedly wanting to repeal financial regulations enacted after the Wall Street crash of 2008.

"He's going to let the big banks once again write their own rules - unchain Wall Street!" Biden said. He added: "They're going to put you all back in chains."

Republicans pounced on the remarks. Biden later clarified his comment, stating that he had meant to say "unshackle" in reference to Republican claims that regulations "shackle" the economy.

Davis, who is black, said he was disappointed to hear Biden, "someone I grew up admiring," talk about "one party putting people in chains."

argued that the people in the audience responded negatively to the vice president's "divisive" rhetoric.

"It's a divisive tactic that's insulting to African-Americans. It's insulting to the American people," he said. "President Obama has talked so movingly about our country moving beyond race, and his own vice president makes this kind of comment yesterday? It was wrong. And the president ought to be embarrassed by it."

[ugacrew]

Please give this man a fire hose, send him to Seattle, and let him go help bring the fires under control. At least he will be doing something productive, something is really important, and something we can all benefit from.

[ugacrew]

How much is he being paid to be talking loud but saying nothing?
There are far more important issues facing the American people today than to spend time bickering over a choice of words. Words are not going to change their circumstances, only action.

Please, will someone give this man a ticket to Romper Room so he can go and throw toys.

[ugacrew]

The first and foremost important thing this Black man should know is that he cannot speak for all Black people. Who is he to say what is insulting to all African Americans? Hasn't he fought all of his life in this country against stereotyping as well as to be respected as individual with an individual voice? Who is he and where has he been, in the dark ages?

[Valhalla0907]

I think he meant the chains of poverty. That is the new slavery. Biden is from Delaware, using y'all is always a mistake for a Yankee. It is an inflected term. The definition of which y'all is intended depends on how long the speaker hangs on the y. y'all, Y'all, Y'ALL!

[ChandraNaraine]

It is indeed remarkable how the truth, when expressed in metaphorical language, can be twisted and distorted to vilify the context in which it is stated. I feel like I'm in chains given the reprehensible behavior of Wall Street and its political arm, the GOP. This does not in any way surprise me, even coming from Artur Davis, as this is the constant Republican refrain to accuse others of racism, divisiveness, Chicago-style politicking, anger when their political ideologies are brought up in the course of national discussion. There are many ways to tell the truth in the context of the oppressive practices of those who are constantly attempting to subjugate the impoverished, the disenfranchised, the underprivileged, and it is time that direct language be used to point out the failings of public figures...politicians...who epitomizes these abhorrent qualities.

[cubscout09]

My Paternal Great-Grandmother was forcibly removed from her home in Scotland, during the Highland Clearances and became a Georgia sharecropper.

My Maternal Great-Grandfather was sold into indentured servitude at age 8 in 1840.

This isn't about race, brother.

[LBMonizRetiredJournalist]

If it weren't an election year would the Congressman still be insulted? If the media failed to pay attention to his being insulted, would he still be insulted? The Vice President clearly said "all" the people present would be in chains-to me a fairly accurate statement of what Wall Street has done. Tell the congressman to start producing in Congress then maybe Americans will be more willing to reelect he and his do nothing cohorts.

[Photocrazy1]

I guess it was ok when the GOP favorite sons said it but not when the Africian American/White Presidents Vice President does. Hyprocrits:

"Because they will put you in chains called Obamacare," Santorum said at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12, 2011 (watch the video embedded left at 14:05). "And you will be dependent upon government and you will never break away."

Romney himself used the word "shackles" in a Dec. 19, 2011, op-ed for USA Today, claiming:
"If we remove the shackles of government, if we unburden ourselves from the mountain of debt that we have been saddled with, we can become the Opportunity Society that we once were."

And on July 8, 2012, Rep. Allen West (R-Florida) declared that "economic dependence" (including Social Security and unemployment benefits) is "a form of modern, 21st century slavery":

"I understand that my country is at a very perilous situation," West said the next day. "And I'm going to use the words that are necessary to get the attention of the American people."

[kenih1]

I listen to CBS news on the radio. They did an amazing thing with the coverage of this story... On the first day after the Biden slip up the reporter read what Biden said over the air. The second day again the reporter read what Biden said and then they played Romney's response (Romney speaking). The next day again the reporter read what Biden said and then played Romney's response and then played Obama's response.

What Biden said is bad enough but to get the full context you have to listen to how he said it. But you won't be able to do that at least on CBS radio. I listen to Fox news as well so I was able to hear Biden make the statement but still. Why the heck won't CBS play what Biden said?

[karlejohn]

Nothing wrong with Mr Biden speech. I have a problem with Trump running around the country with his birther mess. I have a problem with Mr Romney talking about "hate". The only hate I see, is the Republicans hating the poor and middle class! Trying to use smoke, mirrors, and "let you know my plans after I am President", BS! That what I have a problem with. Romney got thur the primaries with hate talk against the people running against him. Now he want to whine his way to the oval office, with his, "they are not playing fair BS!"