Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) found herself embroiled in more controversy this week. After coming in third place in the Iowa Caucus, the presidential hopeful has moved forward by saying that the race is now between her and President Donald Trump (R). During a townhall moderated by CNN, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) commented on her recent comments regarding racism in America, affirming that the Republican party represents “merit, achievement, and color blindness.”
Ambassador Haley was asked this week if the Republican party was a racist party. She took the opportunity to comment that the United States has never been a racist country, and this has drawn the ire of some.
In response, Governor DeSantis commented that “the Republican party stands for merit, achievement, and color blindness.”
He went on to explain that he has pushed back against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Florida, arguing that the efforts have instead been “discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination.”
Under a DeSantis administration, he would make sure that “individual achievement and merit” would be restored, adding that “a colorblind society is what we should aspire to.”
In speaking about the United States, Governor DeSantis said that the country has “had challenges with how race was viewed.” As an example, he provided the Dred Scott decision, warning that “Dred Scott was discriminated on the basis of race” and affirming that “no matter what your background is, if you have one place you want to grow up and have the most opportunity, it doesn’t matter your background, this is the best place to grow up and to pursue your dreams of any place in the entire world.”
In calling on others to “treat people as individuals,” Governor DeSantis expressed that “there should be no discrimination against anyone, but that doesn’t just go for ethnic or racial minorities,” citing the discrimination that white Americans and Asian Americans also face.
