Greta: Falsely yelling racism is racist

'Off the Record,' 5/22/14: Greta takes Rep. James Clyburn and Sen. Jay Rockefeller to task for their alleged race-baiting comments on the Benghazi select committee and opposition to ObamaCare

By Greta Van Susteren

Let's go "Off the Record" for a minute. Yikes! Did you hear what Democratic congressman James Clyburn said about the House Select Committee on Benghazi?

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JAMES CLYBURN, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA: When people of color gain political presence throughout the south, they drummed up all kinds of things, they drove these people out of the south. I see the same kind of efforts to discredit this president, this administration.

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Wow, that's way off the charts bad. It's race-baiting. Yes, of course, racism does exist. But every time you don't like something, doesn't mean it's racist. The investigation about Benghazi is not racist. But falsely yelling racism, well, that is racist.

And Congressman Clyburn, well, he's not alone. Did you hear what Senator Jay Rockefeller said about politicians who disagree with ObamaCare?

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JAY ROCKEFELLER, SENIOR UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA: I'll be able to dig up some emails that make part of the affordable care act that doesn't look good, especially from people who have made up their mind that they don't want it to work. Because they don't like the president. Maybe he's on the wrong color, something of that sort.

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Well, we all say stupid insensitive statements once a while. But I hope Congressman Clyburn and Senator Rockefeller take a deep breath, think about what they've said, retract and apologize. That's the decent and right things to do. Politicians don't always agree and strong debate is good for the country. But pouring gasoline on a fire with false accusations of racism is terrible for our nation.

And that's my "Off the Record" comment tonight.