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North Carolina congressman says Charlotte protesters ‘hate white people’

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ASSOCIATED PRESS / JAN. 18

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, speaks to the media at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Pittenger, a Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area said today that people are protesting in the city because they “hate white people.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. » A Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area said today that people are protesting in the city because they “hate white people.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte and its suburbs, was asked by an interviewer for Britain’s “BBC Newsnight” what grievance the protesters have.

In the video posted online today, Pittenger responded: “The grievance in their mind is — the animus, the anger — they hate white people because white people are successful and they’re not.”

He also complained that the government has spent too much on welfare programs that ultimately hold people back.

He later released a statement apologizing for what he said, and his comments were condemned by Democrats.

“What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart. My anguish led me to respond to a reporter’s question in a way that I regret,” he said in his apology statement.

Protesters massed on the Charlotte’s streets for a third night today, though the demonstrations were peaceful. Two previous nights included chaotic protests that damaged property, injured people and led to one death.

The protests stemmed from the shooting of a black man by a police officer Tuesday.

The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger’s remarks were inexcusable and accused him of “fanning the flames of hate with his racist rhetoric.”

Pittenger, who was first elected to his seat in 2012, won a razor-thin Republican primary this year after a recount, and he faces a Democratic challenger in the November election. His largely affluent district was redrawn under court-ordered redistricting and now includes poorer areas along the South Carolina border.

15 responses to “North Carolina congressman says Charlotte protesters ‘hate white people’”

  1. jimbone says:

    Wow, this guy gets Bashing for telling the TRUTH.

  2. justmyview371 says:

    You these actually hate white people. I guess it’s a universal feeling. I would swear a lot of Black people hate White people.

  3. aiea7 says:

    so?, white people hate blacks and people of color.

  4. klastri says:

    Mr. Pittenger is a pathetic throwback to the old south. He’ll lose in his next election. Good riddance to him.

  5. WizardOfMoa says:

    Would the opposite of that statement causes riots in every major cities in America!?

  6. Marauders_1959 says:

    What’s wrong with being honest ???

  7. Tita Girl says:

    Why apologize? It’s the truth that the govt. spends way too much on welfare programs…and it does hold people back. We’ve traded honesty for PC.

  8. rayhawaii says:

    80% of the prisons in America are filled with black people? 80% of the people in prison in Hawaii are Hawaiians. Drugs and alcohol, a lack of education and crime and the prisons just keep filling up.

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