U.S. Rep Hansen Clarke Pulls Out Of Primary Debates Due To Racist Heckling From Fellow Candidates

U.S. Rep Hansen Clarke Pulls Out Of Primary Debates Due To Racist Heckling From Fellow Candidates

A democratic representative running for office in Detroit is refusing to participate in anymore primary debates saying he has been targeted with racist phone calls and e-mails at the hands of his opponents.

Amid an increasingly hostile congressional race, U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, announced on Friday that he will no longer participate in primary debates in the 14th District Congressional. Clarke cites “race-baiting” robocalls and e-mails by an unnamed opponent.

“Due to the use of racist rhetoric and race-baiting by certain candidates in the 14th Congressional District race, Hansen Clarke will not participate in any more debates at this time,” Clarke’s campaign said in a statement. “These political tactics are insulting and offensive to our voters.”

The robocalls question whether Clarke and his late mother, Thelma Hashim, are black. Ron Scott, a media consultant for Clarke, said that the calls were “sickening” and told the Detroit News that Clarke has been made aware of the calls as well as e-mails regarding his race.

Clarke, who goes by his mother’s maiden name, has previously said that his mother was black and his father was Pakistani. The discrepancy stems from Hashim’s 1976 death certificate – obtained by the Detroit Free Press – which listed her as white.

The 14th District is majority black, while two of the candidates (Peters and Costello) are white. None of Clarke’s opponents have claimed responsibility for the calls.

These primaries are getting real cutthroat…

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