racism
US senator outraged with statements on white nationalism
US Senator Tommy Tuberville describes the statement that white nationalism is a racist ideology as “opinion”. photo
© Alex Brandon/AP/dpa
“Tommy Tuberville gives the word idiot a new meaning” – this is how the US best-selling author Stephen King reacted to a statement by the Republican politician, which also caused criticism in his own party.
A Republican US Senator has irritated with statements on white nationalism. The fact that this is a racist ideology is just an “opinion,” said Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville on US TV last night.
CNN host Kaitlan Collins insisted that a white nationalist is someone who believes white people are superior to people of color. “Well, that’s the opinion of some people,” the 68-year-old responded. For him, a white nationalist is an American. He added that he was “anti-racism”.
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After fierce criticism, including from his own party, Tuberville finally said, according to CNN, that white nationalists were racists. When asked by the press in the US Congress, he had previously followed up and said: “I am absolutely against racism. If the Democrats want to say that white nationalists are racists, then I am also absolutely against it.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then emphasized, “Defining white nationalism is not a matter of opinion.” This ideology is racist to the core. Other members of Congress also reacted with outrage to Tuberville’s statements. The successful US author Stephen King wrote on Twitter: “Tommy Tuberville gives the word idiot a new meaning.”
Tuberville has recently been in the spotlight for blocking confirmation of important personnel within the US military. The reason: He refuses to allow the Pentagon to fund the cost of further trips to abortion clinics for members of the US military. The Senate is of particular importance in the political power structure of the USA. Important personal data at the federal level must be confirmed by the parliamentary chamber.