The View co-host Sunny Hostin defended President Biden's "racial equity" executive order on Tuesday's show and accused GOP Senator Tom Cotton [R-AR] of having white "privilege" for daring to challenge it in Merrick Garland's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday.
The race-obsessed host bristled at one of one of Cotton’s questions to Garland about President Biden signing a “racial equity” executive order. This was actually was the final question in a series of related ones where the Senator tried to feel out how Garland would handle racial discrimination issues as Attorney General. But ABC only played the last part where Cotton asked Garland, “Are you aware President Biden has signed an executive order stating his administration will affirmatively advance racial equity—not racial equality, but racial equity?”
Hostin ranted that Cotton’s question was part of the vast “right-wing ideology” to deny that America is plagued by “systemic racism.” She accused white people like Cotton of white “privilege” which makes them view “equality” as “oppression:”
Tom Cotton was implying I think that racial equity initiatives somehow oppress white people, the notion of that seems to be really rampant right-wing ideology, somehow the notion that marginalized groups, I think gaining rights is an attack on white people. And, you know, I guess sometimes equality may feel like oppression um, if you have, you know, had this privilege your entire life and maybe it feels like a threat to privilege, but I'm just shock at this sort of right-wing ideology that's so invested in denying that systemic racism exists and that, uh you know, somehow racial equity is not a good thing and that you just should sort of ignore the inequities we have in our system. That's really quite shocking to me coming from a United States senator...
The host erroneously conflated the word “equality” with “equity” in her answer to defend the Biden admin’s move to discriminate based on race to “advance equity”, which was the point Cotton was making.
Afterwards, Joy Behar expressed her delight at the thought of Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, being indicted by the same man he was questioning for confirmation, after Garland vowed that going after the Capitol Hill rioters would be his top priority:
“Sunny, how fun was it to watch Josh Hawley, who had his fist up at the Capitol, as part of the insurrection, questioning Merrick Garland and Merrick Garland could be indicting him pretty soon! That I can’t wait to see!” she gushed while Hostin chuckled gleefully.
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Read the transcript below:
The View
2/23/2021
JOY BEHAR: Sunny, his exchange with Senator Tom Cotton struck you. Tell us about that.
SUNNY HOSTIN: It really did. I think we have a clip about Senator Cotton questioning Merrick Garland about racial equity versus equality.
[plays clip]
SEN. TOM COTTON: Are you aware that President Biden signed an executive order will affirmatively advance racial equity not racial equality but racial equity?
JUDGE MERRICK GARLAND: Yes, and I read the opening of that executive order which defines equity as the fair and impartial treatment of every person without regard to their status. And including the individuals who are -- who have been in underserved communities where they were not afforded that before. But I don't see any distinction.
JOY BEHAR: So, Sunny, what do you make of that? Do you have something to say about it?
SUNNY HOSTIN: Yeah, what struck me, Tom Cotton was implying I think that racial equity initiatives somehow oppress white people, the notion of that seems to be really rampant right-wing ideology, somehow the notion that marginalized groups, I think gaining rights is an attack on white people. And, you know, I guess sometimes equality may feel like oppression um, if you have, you know, had this privilege your entire life and maybe it feels like a threat to privilege, but I'm just shock at this sort of right-wing ideology that's so invested in denying that systemic racism exists and that, uh you know, somehow racial equity is not a good thing and that you just should sort of ignore the inequities we have in our system. That's really quite shocking to me coming from a United States senator.
I will say it was just so wonderful to hear someone like Merrick Garland talk about the oppression and persecution that his Jewish family experienced, because I think that's why historically, especially in the civil rights movement and through today that we've seen this real allyship between the Jewish community and the African-American community because we have that shared persecution and oppression that both of our communities have experienced. And we understand that there's that true allyship. It’s not a performative allyship, it’s a real allyship. That's why I think Merrick Garland truly does understand the plight of African-Americans and why he’s going to be a true ally in this Department of Justice.
JOY BEHAR: Sunny, how fun was it to watch Josh Hawley, who had his fist up at the Capitol as part of the insurrection questioning Merrick Garland and Merrick Garland could be indicting him pretty soon! That I can’t wait to see!
[laughter]
