Rep. Cleaver: Biden comments had “no impact” on African American vote

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) explains why he thinks that the backlash against Vice President Joe Biden’s “in chains” comment is unmerited on Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien.

Rep. Cleaver says, “And so it makes absolutely no sense that some kind of a little throwaway line is now being used to make Vice President Biden appear to have been throwing out these words in order to somehow attract dumb African-Americans who if they hear the words chains are going to automatically vote for him and President Obama.”

When CNN Anchor Soledad O’Brien asks Cleaver if his reaction would be the same if the these comments came from Governor Romney’s speech, he answers, “I’m not sure. I think it depends on the context.”

Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien airs weekday mornings from 7-9am ET on CNN.