This controversy is fading now, to be replaced by the next Biden foot-in-mouth syndrome, but if one carefully listens to the tape, he does use the word “negro,” which is now politically incorrect. The amazing thing is that some of the mainstream media denied the said it, just like they claimed the crowds were chanting “let’s go Brandon,” when it was a profanity, but an understandable one.
“A video of President Joe Biden's Veterans Day speech on Thursday had gone viral and was seen more than 4.5 million times. While there was nothing particularly moving or even controversial in the speech, critics of the president missed no opportunity to jump on it nonetheless after he misspoke, calling mid-20th century legendary African-American baseball player Satchel Paige, "the great negro of our time."
However, while that is actually what Biden said, the context is missing. The president delivered the speech on Veterans Day while wishing former Ambassador Donald Blinken a happy 97th birthday.
According to the official transcript published by the White House, Biden said, "And I just want to tell you, I know you’re a little younger than I am, but, you know, I've adopted the attitude of the great Negro — at the time, pitcher in the Negro Leagues — went on to become a great pitcher in the pros — in the Major League Baseball after Jackie Robinson. His name was Satchel Paige."
Anyone reading that transcript should realize that Biden had a slip of the tongue, something that isn't exactly uncommon for the 78-year-old who has a long history of verbal gaffes. Biden has admitted he's a "gaffe machine" who often says the wrong thing, but unlike some of his actual misstatements on facts or questionable stories, there wasn't really much to this story.
"Biden has never been the best orator, and he's known to make mistakes," said Chris Haynes, associate professor of political science and national security at the University of New Haven. "It isn't that different from some of George W. Bush's verbal gaffes."