For the second week in a row, Hillary Clinton has found herself in an awkward position as it pertains to race. While campaigning in New York city, Clinton was joined by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio at the annual Inner Circle event where de Blasio announced his endorsement of Clinton.
At the event, which mixes politics, music and comedy, Clinton and de Blasio were joined on stage by Leslie Odom Jr. who plays Aaron Burr in the Broadway hit, Hamilton. Clinton joked with de Blasio about taking a long time to announce his endorsement of her for president. Without hesitation, or much thought, de Blasio attempted to respond to the joke by saying, “Sorry, I was running on CP time.”
The remark, an old stereotype, stands for “colored people’s time.” The gasps of several shocked audience members could heard. After de Blasio’s remark, Odom responded by saying, “That’s not [funny], I don’t like jokes like that, Bill.” Clinton interjected by saying, “Cautious politician time.”
In an interview with CNN, de Blasio later claimed that the statement was a part of a scripted segment. However, the video may prove otherwise. Clinton and Odom both looked as if they were shocked and uncomfortable when he used the phrase. De Blasio is married to a Black woman and spoke about how his mixed-race teenage son, who has strong Black features and wears an Afro, has been racially profiled by NYPD in the past.
But the joke was in poor taste and was another moment where Clinton was in the middle of a situation that was marred by racist remarks. Last week, her husband Bill Clinton got into a shouting match with Black Lives Matter protesters in Philadelphia over his infamous Crime Bill and Welfare Reform Act. The Clintons already have a shaky relationship with the Black community and de Blasio’s horrible joke made matters worse. Here is how some reacted to the joke on social media:
Hillary Clinton and Bill de Blasio running on CP time now. She just giving away the black vote ain’t she. Smh.
— Christina (@Childspleasee) April 12, 2016
Oh look, sexist Hillary supporters are insulting Jane Sanders looks again. On a day when Clinton had another scandal. CP Time cover eh?
— Matthew Welch (@MidgardDragon) April 12, 2016
Just saw the Hillary Clinton/Bill deBlasio “CP time” joke and I’m now convinced that the world isn’t real and we are living in a simulation. — Johnny Taylor, Jr. (@hipsterocracy) April 11, 2016
@KillerMike @BenJealous Hillary needs white votes now so she jokes on CP time & Bill Clinton back defending super predators? #DogWhistles
— The Progress Report (@ProgressReport_) April 12, 2016
