Comedy and television icon Bill Cosby slammed Republicans who failed to stand for President Obama’s State of the Union speech, likening them to racists who opposed desegregation.
“I think we have people sitting there,” he said, referring to the president’s SOTU speech, during a CNN television interview reported by Mediaite, “who are as bad as the people who were against any kind of desegregation.”
His comments came in context of a discussion about racism and the 1965 Bloody Sunday march across Selma, Ala., Mediate reported. Rep. Connie Mack said “it’s just hard to believe,” and “it’s unbelievable,” in reference to the level of racism that marked that decade, Mediate reported.
“I don’t think so,” Mr. Cosby said, Mediate reported. “Not when you look at the president’s speech recently.”
That’s when he made the remarks about those who failed to stand for Mr. Obama’s speech. He didn’t say Republicans — but it was members of the Republican Party, not Democratic Party, who failed to stand.
“And then in place of a better America, they want their own sick feelings put across and … it isn’t a good time,” he said, as Mediate reported. “But I think, also on our part as professors and presidents of colleges all over, and in public schools, we need to get the education of the correct history that happened so people can say, ’Yes, this really did happen.’ “
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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