A panel discussion about people of color in the West Wing of the White House got heated on CNN’s “Out Front with Erin Burnett.”
Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to answer questions about how many black staffers work in the West Wing when asked by reporters.
Trump ally Gina Loudon claimed that she isn’t sure it’s necessary to have a certain number of people of color on staff because civil rights laws and women’s rights laws were passed by presidents who didn’t have diverse staffs. She said that the list she looked at revealed a full third of minority staffers or women. That, however, does not pinpoint the West Wing, where the president’s aides were located.
“The fact we have to count people based on skin color, I don’t like that,” she said.
Angela Rye was aghast while Loudon attempted to justify the lack of diversity.
Loudon argued it was a Republican president who passed civil rights.
Loudon cut in, saying that Rye was mischaracterizing what she said.
She urged Loudon to “RIP” her talking points because the numbers are pathetically low. Rye went on to say that regardless of the talking points, the reason the White House can’t get staffers of color is that their options are slim.
“You know why? Because nobody wants to work for a racist,” Rye said. “There’s not a single senior black person in the White House, and don’t you dare say Ben Carson, because he doesn’t work there. How dare his gifted hands — who is a brain surgeon and who has never done anything on a construction project become the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.”
Loudon then pivoted to say that she has an adopted minority son with Down Syndrom, so she understands Rye’s perspective.
“America has never been great,” Rye responded. “It is not great because people like you come on and lie for the president of the United States and tout — bring out your son as an example? You should be completely ashamed of yourself!”
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