Citing "racist rhetoric and race baiting" in the hotly contested battle for the 14th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke's campaign said Friday that he would no longer participate in debates or forums before the Aug. 7 Democratic primary.
"Due to the use of racist rhetoric and race-baiting by certain candidates in the 14th Congressional District race, Hansen Clarke for Congress will not participate in any more debates at this time. These political tactics are insulting and offensive to our voters," the campaign said in a statement.
A debate is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Southfield. Clarke had been expected to attend. Reports surfaced this week that a robo call to district homes claimed Clarke is not black. Questions have lingered for years about Clarke's heritage. His late father lived in India, according to his congressional website. His mother's ethnic heritage is in question, according to the Free Press. The paper obtained her death certificate, which listed her as white.
The other Democrats in the primary battle for the newly drawn seat, which includes large portions of Detroit and Oakland County and the Grosse Pointes, are U.S. Rep. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, former state Rep. Mary Waters of Detroit and retired 36th District Court magistrate Robert Costello of Detroit. Lawrence and Waters are African American. Peters and Costello are white.
