Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is getting blasted on social media because of comments he made about slavery six years ago.
The Twitter account, Resist Programming, posted the clip on social media. The statement was reportedly made during a children's public television show in 2014. In the 30-second video, the South Bend, Indiana mayor said "the people who wrote the Constitution did not understand that slavery was a bad thing."
“Similarly, the amendment process – they were wise enough to realize that they didn’t have all of the answers and that some things would change. A good example of this is something like slavery – or civil rights," he said. "It’s an embarrassing thing to admit, but the people who wrote the Constitution did not understand that slavery was a bad thing and did not respect civil rights.”
“It’s an embarrassing thing to admit, the people who wrote the Constitution did not understand that slavery was a bad thing…”
–#MayorPete appearing on a childrens’ public television show in 2014#PeteButtigieg
#PeteForAmerica
#Pete2020
#PeteButtigieg
#PetebuttigiegisalyingMF
pic.twitter.com/ZUZNLf67wb— Resist Programming ???? (@RzstProgramming) December 29, 2019
Twitter had plenty to say after seeing the clip.
"THIS is why I talk about racism even though people don’t like it… because we’ve got people like Pete Buttigieg out here telling our children that racist White Supremacists didn’t know they were racist White Supremacists and implying that somehow excuses the behavior," said Kassandra Seven on Twitter. "It’s a lie."
THIS is why I talk about racism even though people don’t like it… because we’ve got people like Pete Buttigieg out here telling our children that racist White Supremacists didn’t know they were racist White Supremacists & implying that somehow excuses the behavior.
It’s a lie. https://t.co/UoIUKsHTr5
— Kassandra Seven (@KassandraSeven) December 29, 2019
Chris Evans, another Twitter user, said the statement is especially disturbing because he's saying it in front of children.
"What’s absolutely disgusting is not just this statement itself, but the fact that Cream of Pete is saying it to a bunch of children, on a children’s program where other young people are actually watching and might believe the s**t," he wrote.
What’s absolutely disgusting is not just this statement itself, but the fact that Cream of Pete is saying it to a bunch of children, on a children’s program where other young people are actually watching and might believe the shit. pic.twitter.com/yedBCEQmzV
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) December 29, 2019
"More whitewashing of history," another Twitter user said. "If Plastic Pete can't even tell the whole truth about the past, why should anyone trust this man with their future?"
More whitewashing of history.????
If Plastic Pete can't even tell the whole truth about the past, why should anyone trust this man with their future?
— Mighty Mouse to the WH! (@FreedomTruthJoy) December 29, 2019
According to Newsweek, the presidential candidate made another controversial statement at an Indiana state Tea Party in 2010. In his remarks, Buttigieg said he understands the concerns of the Tea Party.
"There are some, especially in my party, who think that the Tea Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party," he said. "But there are many others who believe that the Tea Party is motivated by real concerns about the direction of our government and the responsiveness of our government to citizens—and above all, a frustration with business as usual. That is what motivated me to run. And so, while we may come from often very different perspectives, I believe we might have a lot in common on that front."
The mayor received more backlash this year for the same 2011 interview, where he said children from minority neighborhoods struggle with education because they don't have role models.
“Kids need to see evidence that education is going to work for them,” Buttigieg said, according to Politico. “There are a lot of kids, especially the lower-income minority neighborhoods, who literally just haven’t seen it work. There isn’t somebody they know personally who testifies to the value of education.”
The 37-year-old tried to defend his comments after the video surfaced online, saying that he was trying to emphasize the need for mentorship.
“I wanted to make sure I communicated that I'm very conscious of the advantages and privileges that I have had,“ he said, “not through any great wealth, but certainly through education, through the advantages that come with being white and being male — and that's part of why I know I've got to make myself useful as a candidate and as president.“
After the latest video posted to social media, people have suggested for the mayor to be more educated on history.
"Mayor Pete said the framers of the Constitution didn't understand slavery was bad," said Daryl Sturgis on Twitter. "I guess he missed the whole Three-Fifths Compromise portion of history class on his way to his Rhodes Scholarship."
Mayor Pete said the framers of the Constitution didn't understand slavery was bad. I guess he missed the whole Three-Fifths Compromise portion of history class on his way to his Rhodes Scholarship. https://t.co/zrbKwTyCUj
— Daryl Sturgis✊???? (@darylsturgis) December 29, 2019
Another person said "even the slave owning Founders spoke and wrote about the evils of slavery. Washington & Jefferson KNEW and decided to side with money."
Even the slave owning Founders spoke & wrote about the evils of slavery. Washington & Jefferson KNEW & decided to side with money.
— Sherry B (@OkieLibSherry) December 29, 2019
According to the Business Insider, Buttigieg currently has the support of 27% of Black voters. Sen. Bernie Sanders has the support of 55.1% of Black voters, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren has 53.6% and former Vice President Joe Biden has 66.3%.
The mayor has also faced criticism from activists for his handling of a police involved shooting that took place in South Bend.