Dem Rep.: ‘Elements’ Of GOP Base ‘Animated By Racism’ (VIDEO)

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Last week multiple Democrats suggested that members of the Republican party were racist, and that it impacts the way the GOP policy approach.

Attorney General Eric Holder last week implied that he is treated a certain way by some Republican lawmakers because of his race. And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) suggested that “race” is preventing Republicans in the House from moving on immigration reform.

On Sunday, CNN’s “State of the Union” host Candy Crowley asked Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) whether he felt his Republican colleagues were racist.

“Not all of them. No. Of Course not,” Israel responded. “But to a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism, and that’s unfortunate.”

Crowley then asked National Republican Congressional Committee chair Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) about Pelosi’s comments on race and immigration reform.

“It’s both wrong and unfortunate,” he said about the Minority Leader’s remakrs, pivoting to Republican-led investigations. “You know, there have been a lot of executive overreaches by this administration. We see the latest with Lois Lerner and the whole IRS scandal.”

Israel then called the investigation into the IRS scandal and the attack in Benghazi “witch hunts.”

“This is not a witch hunt,” Walden retorted. “I don’t want the IRS targeting any group, whether it’s liberal or conservative.”

Watch the full exchange via CNN:

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