GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a statement defending two of his Republican competitors in the 2024 Republican presidential primary after former President Barack Obama accused the two of “glossing over effects of racism.”
Obama made the comments during a podcast interview, according to The Guardian, which quoted him saying of Senator and presidential candidate Tim Scott (R-SC), who is African-American, “There’s a long history of African American or other minority candidates within the Republican party who will validate America and say, ‘Everything’s great, and we can make it.’”
The former president, the outlet notes, added that he thought former ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley “has a similar approach.”
In a statement released on Saturday, Ramaswamy defended both Scott and Haley – both of whom are vying for the presidency – following the former president’s remarks.
.@BarackObama criticizes my fellow GOP contenders @NikkiHaley and @SenatorTimScott for rejecting the Left’s myth of systemic racism. Sorry Barack, we’re not all prisoners of our skin color. Requiring minorities to adopt views about racism because of our own skin color *is*…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 17, 2023
“Barack Obama criticizes my fellow GOP contenders Nikki Haley and Tim Scott for rejecting the Left’s myth of systemic racism. Sorry Barack, we’re not all prisoners of our skin color,” Ramaswamy stated, adding, “Requiring minorities to adopt views about racism because of our own skin color is racism.”
He said, “Restricting what you can say based on your skin color won’t bring us together. Open debate will. Being an American means no matter who you are, where you came from, or what your skin color is, you can achieve anything with your own hard work, commitment, and dedication. That is the American Dream.”
This is not the first time Ramaswamy has defended his fellow competitors. Earlier this month, he called the indictment of former President Donald Trump “an affront to every citizen.”
He added, “I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Vivek Ramaswamy” by Vivek Ramaswamy. Photo “Barack Obama” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Quick PS.
