Local Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is not a leader.
When Donald Trump told the audience at the National Association of Black Journalists conference that Vice President Kamala Harris has misled voters about being Black it drew jeers at the event – and even criticism from his own party. But not a peep from Fitzpatrick.
“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” said Trump, falsely claiming that she only promoted her Indian heritage.
It was just another disgusting, racist lie from the Republican presidential nominee, similar to when he spread “birther” conspiracies questioning whether the country’s first Black President, Barack Obama, was actually born in the United States.
Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan, a candidate for U.S. Senate, posted on X that it is “unacceptable and abhorrent to attack Vice President Harris or anyone’s racial identity.” Other Republicans sounded off as well. A leader puts principles before politics and speaks out on something like this. But not Fitzpatrick, who Trump has endorsed in past races. He continues to hide from the issue. Even if he agrees with Trump, which he very well might – we just don’t know – he should speak out.
The Bucks County Beacon tried to contact him for a statement multiple times, but predictably we never heard back from the Congressman’s office. And sadly, you can’t expect the Bucks County Courier Times to critically engage with Fitzpatrick, if even cover him at all, while the Bucks County Herald’s coverage of him has been compared to campaign press releases. The Republican lawmaker, who faces a tough reelection race against Democrat Ashley Ehasz, doesn’t like to speak to the press and doesn’t host town halls. This is a political strategy, aided by lack of critical coverage from local media, so that it is difficult for people to define him and so that he can speak out of both sides of his mouth depending on who his audience is.
“I do think it is apposite for him to speak out against the inappropriate rhetoric,” said Bucks County NAACP President Karen Downer. “I agree with those members of his party who say there should not be this focus on gender or racial identity politics. There are real issues that all voters are concerned about and they would like to comprehend our candidates’ positions.”
Bucks County Anti-Racism Coalition Co-leader Kevin E. Leven believes Fitzpatrick would rather not alienate MAGA voters, assuming the Republican Congressman actually believes Trump’s attacks, which Trump doubled down on days later, were in fact wrong.
“I for one would be eager to hear what his thoughts are on Trump’s attacks, as well as any other thoughts he has on the issue of race, but I’m not holding my breath,” said Leven. “I think saving face with his Republican cohorts is more important to him than openly objecting to racism, even if some of his party is willing to.”
Both of these Black Bucks County community leaders were simultaneously taken aback, but not surprised, by Trump’s very public racist attacks. I interviewed them so that they could share their thoughts and analysis.
What was your overall impression of Trump’s interview with the NABJ?
Downer: My first thought was, there he goes again. If you are looking for votes or you want to unify the country, you attack and race bait your audience? Who does that? While I was not shocked I did find his actions just plain weird. I was surprised though that he and his team had said VP Harris was a DEI hire but he needed a definition of DEI. However, at the end of the day, this was just another distraction from our real issues. Let’s not waste time talking about outrageous behavior when our tangible concern is Project 2025. Here are just a few examples of their plans for us:
– All women across the country (whether it’s a red or blue state) should be concerned about being returned to the early 1900’s as this agenda includes expanding abortion restrictions and curtailing access to contraception. Imagine watching your daughter (no matter how young) being forced to carry a rapist’s baby or bleeding out on the table as doctors wait for her to be sick enough to be given healthcare.
– For the LGBTQ+ community the plan will undermine marriage equality. (And we can expect open hostility, bullying and abuse of this community.)
– For all of us generally and most seniors in particular who may need more healthcare or nursing home care, the plan is to set limits on Medicaid coverage. They also want to eliminate the government’s ability to negotiate Medicare drug prices so your costs for medication will increase. Drug price caps with pharmaceutical companies will end.
– Gutting of Medicare and Social Security.
– States will be able to cut National overtime and minimum wage Laws. You would need to work 160 hours for the MONTH to qualify for any overtime pay.
– Restrictions on Unemployment Insurance coverage.
– Allowing children to work in dangerous conditions with very few protections.
Leven: Anyone who watched that interview already knows. It was evident from his very first remarks that we were in for another falsehood-filled, question-dodging, session of drivel from a man who makes up his own reality.
It’s not hard to spot racism if you are observant. Trump’s racism is akin to a signal flare. What’s weird about his particular brand of racism is it’s both accidental and intentional all at once. While I’m both saddened and angered by his behavior at this interview, I am not at all surprised by it.
READ: Legislating Inequality: The Christian Confederate Roots of Project 2025
I’m glad it happened though. I’m all about exposing racism, and with Don, he does the work for you. I suspect that this is the real reason other republicans are so upset by this.
What did you specifically think about him questioning Kamala Harris’ Blackness and suggesting she is lying about her race and that should be investigated?
Downer: We all have the right to define ourselves. This is especially true here in America. We believe we have the power to determine who we are and how we want to live our lives. We are not a dictatorship. Why does Trump think he has the right to make VP Harris pick a race when she is both Black and Indian? It appears that he himself has selected a race. Should we investigate him? Again, this is weird. And it is a silly distraction. The purpose is to cause dissension, disruption and confusion over here, so you forget what they are doing over there. If Project 2025 becomes the law of the land, will we even remember these ridiculous remarks about her race?
Leven: Who “investigates” Blackness exactly? Just what does that “investigation” look like? If you embrace the cultures of your parents – are you not a part of both of those cultures? This fixation on putting people into categories that are simplistic and exclusionary misses the point of all that makes multiculturalism so inherently beautiful – that as an individual you can exist as and embody two or more cultures simultaneously, and benefit from the history, wisdom, and connection between them all.
Most Americans can claim more than one national origin depending on how far back in their lineage they go. But no one questions this about white people, because it’s all too common to just refer to that person as white, and it stops there. This not only shows how limiting the whole idea of whiteness is, but it also shows how those that fall victim to this delusion are cheating themselves of a richer and more authentic claim. Those who do this lack the vocabulary or imagination to see it any other way. Trump most certainly fits that bill.
Blackness on the other hand was created by people who were not Black, to limit, oppress, and profit off of people who were. But as with so many other things, Black people have turned something meant to be ugly by design into something beautiful worth celebrating.
It’s up to Kamala and no one else to define which cultural groups she claims based on her ancestry, and her navigation of the racialized social hierarchy that is America. Donald doesn’t get a say, and frankly neither does anyone else. My art history teacher was known to say, “If you don’t define yourself, someone else will do it for you, and you won’t like it half as much.” I think that holds true here.
What message should Black voters in Bucks County and Pennsylvania take away from Trump’s interview?
Downer: Trump came to a Black event, and delayed that event from starting on time because he did not want them to “fact check” him in real time. He then proceeded to insult his audience and display his inability to answer questions that are important to Black and brown communities. Again, I say do not be distracted from the primary agenda, Project 2025. In the first 180 days of their administration a partial list of what they will do includes: expand the power of the president, restructure the Dept of Justice, replace career federal employees with employees loyal to the president, dismantle the Dept. of Education, reverse FDA approval of abortion medication. Trump’s former officials wrote this document (which they also call the Institutionalizing of Trumpism). A few of the author’s include: Russ Vought, his fmr. OMB Director; Dr. Ben Carson, his fmr. HUD Secretary; Ken Cuccinelli, his fmr. DHS Official; Gene Hamilton, his fmr. DOJ Official; Rick Dearborn, his fmr. Deputy Chief of Staff. The document is more than 900 pages long but it is important for you to it read before you vote. You can also just google Project 2025 Plan Summary to get a good overview of the plan agenda. Your vote will be either for or against this plan. They put it in writing so you can’t say later that you didn’t know.
Leven: I can’t tell Black people how to interpret what happened on that stage. I can urge those who have not watched this to do so, and draw their own conclusions about whether the former president really cares about them like he claims to, and whether he even has a basic understanding of their lived experience. Black people that I know and have known have a very acute and accurate perception of racism – we know it when we see it. They’ll be able to connect the dots from there, trust me.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, unlike other Republicans, has been silent on the issue. Do you believe he owes it to his constituents to explain where he lands on Trump’s attacks, and whether he will vote for Trump for President?
Downer: It is up to him how he votes. However, I do think it is apposite for him to speak out against the inappropriate rhetoric. I agree with those members of his party who say there should not be this focus on gender or racial identity politics. There are real issues that all voters are concerned about and they would like to comprehend our candidates’ positions.
Leven: I don’t believe anyone owes anyone else a reveal on who they vote for, but we are lucky, because in Rep. Fitzpatrick’s case, all we need to do is look at his voting record to get a crystal clear indication. House Resolution 1371 is a good example. I for one would be eager to hear what his thoughts are on Trump’s attacks, as well as any other thoughts he has on the issue of race, but I’m not holding my breath. I think saving face with his republican cohorts is more important to him than openly objecting to racism, even if some of his party is willing to.
Anything else to add?
Leven: Here are some things I’d like for people to investigate:
My great-great grandfather was Dutch – he had blonde hair and blue eyes, as did my great grandfather. That makes me at least 1/16th “white.” For centuries, if a person with a single Black great-great grandparent was Black, that person was considered legally Black. It’s very telling how restrictive whiteness is by comparison. Look into why that is, and who profits from this arbitrary categorization of races. Always, always ask “Who benefits from this?”
