WaPo's Jonathan Capehart: Republicans, Including Allen West, Are 'Racially Insensitive' When Attacking President Obama

Washington Post columnist and MSNBC contributor Jonathan Capehart appeared on "Morning Joe" on Wednesday to defend Vice President Joe Biden's "put y'all back in chains" remarks. He argued that Republicans, including Mitt Romney, have been engaging in hateful, "racially insensitive" rhetoric against President Obama ever since he was elected. Despite being black himself, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) also made Capehart's naughty list.

"When I saw Andrea Saul’s statement about Vice President Biden’s comments," he said,  "I rolled my eyes, because we have been looking at a campaign, and in some instances the candidate himself, engaging in some somewhat racially insensitive things."

"You’ve got Newt Gingrich who consistently calls the President a food stamp president," he continued. "You had Mitt Romney say to donors in Montana, after speaking to the NAACP saying how he would repeal Obamacare, saying if you want more free stuff vote for Obama. And then you have this welfare ad coming out that’s completely false."

Skeptical of Capehart's assertion, Scarborough replied, "Is that racially insensitive? Is welfare racially insensitive? Are food stamps racially insensitive?"

Capehart did not answer the question. But he did continue his rant: "You've got Mitt Romney whose still endorsed by Donald Trump who is still engaging in the racist 'birther' lie, you've got Allen West out there saying that Barack Obama wants to make everyone his slave."

"Allen West is black," Scarborough added bluntly.

"I know Allen West is black... but what I'm talking about though is a larger issue here," Capehart responded. He argued that Republicans have gotten away with racist and hateful rhetoric ever since Obama was elected president.

"I understand why the Obama campaign would be angry, being yelled at, being lectured to by the Romney campaign about a 'campaign of divisiveness and hate,' which is what they have been getting from the republican Party, and the Romney campaign in particular, for quite a long time," Capehart added.

Co-host Mika Brzezinski then asked "Are you saying they’re giving it back now?"

"No," he replied, "I’m saying I think they are right to defend themselves, I think Stephanie Cutter was right to not back down."

Capehart also made sure to clarify that there is nothing "racially insensitive" in saying telling a largely black audience that another group of people wants to "put y'all back in chains," as Vice President Joe Biden did yesterday.

"Joe Biden spoke in-artfully, but I don’t think he has anything to apologize for."

Watch the "Morning Joe" segment via MSNBC below:

(H/T: Weasel Zippers)