Donald Trump's campaign chair in a crucial Ohio county has declared racism to be nonexistent prior to Barack Obama taking office. Kathy Miller, the white chair of the Republican nominee's Mahoning County campaign, also told the Guardian during a filmed discussion that activism aimed at addressing the nation's police brutality crisis was a "stupid waste of time."
Speaking with Miller as part of its Anywhere but Washington series, the Guardiandiscovered that Ohio Republicans have dubbed Mahoning as "ground zero" for Trump's efforts at appealing to "disaffected, white, working-class" voters who would usually go for the Democrat on the ticket. Ohio at large, a state with a 12.7 percent black population, is also considered a crucial sparring ground for presidential hopefuls.
"I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected," Miller said when asked about the Trump campaign's ties to racism. "We never had problems like this. I'm in the real estate industry. There's none. Now, you know, with the people with the guns and shooting up neighborhoods and not being responsible citizens. That's a big change and I think that's the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America."
When pressed about the history of segregation, Miller doubled down. "I never experienced it," she told the Guardian. "I never saw that as anything." Miller also said that anyone who's black and hasn't "been successful in the last 50 years" only has themselves to blame.
Following the outcry over her remarks, Miller issued a resignation statement Thursday morning. "My personal comments were inappropriate, and I apologize," Miller said. "I am not a spokesperson for the campaign and was not speaking on its behalf." Miller has since been replaced by Tracey Winbush.
