Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz suggested Monday that the only reason the GOP has chosen South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to deliver the party’s official response to President Obama’s State of the Union address is because of her race.
“It’s pretty clear that Nikki Haley is being chosen because the Republican Party has a diversity problem,” the Florida Democrat said on a conference call previewing the speech, Politico reported.
“Haley’s failed record gives her no credibility whatsoever,” she said. “In fact it exemplifies exactly why the last thing we need is a Republican to make the same mistakes at the national level.”
Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Short slammed Ms. Wasserman Schultz for the comments.
“Like most things Debbie Wasserman Schultz says, that’s just ridiculous,” he told The Hill.
“No one disputes the fact Republicans have the most diverse presidential field in the history of either party, though the Democrats do have us beat when it comes to fielding self-described socialists and candidates under FBI investigation.”
Ms. Haley, who was born to Indian immigrants in Bamberg, South Carolina, is set to deliver the GOP’s official response on Tuesday night, following Mr. Obama’s final State of the Union address during his presidency.
“In a year when the country is crying out for a positive vision and alternative to the status quo, Governor Haley is the exact right choice to deliver the Republican Address to the Nation,” Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement last week, The Hill reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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