Staff Reports
Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Republican candidate for president, Vivek Ramaswamy, are at odds over statements that the former made about Pressley's past statements about African-Americans. In 2019, Pressley stated that there are no more brown faces in America who don't want to be a part of the country's diversity. She also claimed that having a diverse perspective in terms of race is not a true representation of the country's diversity.
On the campaign trail, Ramaswamy referred to Pressley's comments as the words of "the modern grand wizard of the KKK." During a CNN interview, he maintained that he doesn't regret his statement, and he believes that Pressley's statements are divisive and have caused the country to divide.
In response to Ramaswamy's comparison, Bash asked if he could have a more honest conversation with Pressley by comparing Pressley's words to the violence that the KKK has historically displayed. Ramaswamy noted that both of them can agree that the organization is an awful group in American history, but he also stated that those calling for racial discrimination due to skin color are those who are aligned with the principles of the KKK.
Despite his relatively small number of supporters in the primary election, Ramaswamy's strong stance on politics and race has been able to resonate with voters. He also appreciates the support he's received from his opponents on various issues, such as gender and abortion. However, he refuses to back down from his statement about Pressley's past statements. He aims to create an honest and open discourse on the issue.
