Democratic Lawmaker: GOP Base ‘Animated by Racism’

An overhaul to the nation’s broken immigration system remains stalled because “the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism,” the head of the House committee to elect Democratic lawmakers said Sunday.

Rep. Steve Israel’s comments are in line with those from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi earlier this week, in which she blamed racial issues for the GOP’s failure to act on comprehensive immigration legislation. Asked about Pelosi’s comments, New York’s Israel said he agreed with her assessment.

“To a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism. And that’s unfortunate,” said Israel, who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

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“I think race has something to do with the fact that they’re not bringing up an immigration bill,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday.

Pelosi was responding to a question about whether race factors into how Republicans deal with members of the Obama administration. {snip}

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Israel and Walden spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union.”