Left cries racism after Sen. Chuck Grassley applauds Korean-American judge’s 'work ethic'



Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa) is taking heat from the left over a compliment he recently gave to a Korean-American judge that some are calling a subtle example of racism.

After hearing her background story during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Grassley, 88, applauded Lucy Koh, a judge nominated by President Joe Biden to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, for her "hard work ethic," the Des Moines Register reported. Little did he know that his commendation would be fuel for leftist outrage.

GRASSLEY to judicial nominee Lucy Koh: "If I learned anything from Korean people it's a hard work ethic and how y… https://t.co/O921HFjZNc

— Zach Purser Brown (@zachjourno) 1633543589.0

"What you said about your Korean background reminded me a lot of what my daughter-in-law of 45 years has said: 'If I've learned anything from Korean people, it's a hard work ethic. And how you can make a lot out of nothing,'" the Iowa senator said. "So I congratulate you and your people."

"Thank you," replied Koh, who has served as a district judge for the Northern District of California since 2010. With her appointment to the federal appeals court, she will become the first female Korean-American federal circuit judge in U.S. history.

Not long after, Grassley's comments were picked up by some in the media and the barrage was underway.

"Even as a compliment, assigning any trait to a whole community is the definition of prejudice," Democratic Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, tweeted.

"Treating all members of a group as the same invites mistreatment. It may not be the same incitement to violence seen in other slurs, but is harmful nonetheless," she argued.

Even as a compliment, assigning any trait to a whole community is the definition of prejudice. Treating all members… https://t.co/PquevEF5u3

— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) 1633551659.0

John C. Yang, the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, added in a statement that "while we understand the intent of Sen. Chuck Grassley's comment, stereotypes — even seemingly benign ones — ultimately harm and create divisions within communities. Hard work is a shared ethic among many Americans from different cultures and races, not only Korean Americans," according to the Washington Post.

In a column for NBC News, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee adviser Kurt Badella characterized Grassley's words as "racist" and argued that "even the implication that one race is superior to the other is a gateway to violence and oppression."

"I don't care what his intentions were. I don't care if he thinks what he said was a compliment. It wasn't. Ideally, this moment would be cause for some reflection — but at minimum, he owes Judge Koh an apology," he added.

In response to the backlash, the senator's office issued the following statement to the Des Moines Register: "Sen. Grassley's intent was to be complimentary, not to insult anyone. Chairman Durbin invited Judge Koh to share the inspiring story of her family's immigration to the United States. Sen. Grassley shared that he has similarly been inspired by the immigration story of his daughter-in-law, who is also Korean-American."

'They don't understand': Biden responds to angry Americans who called him out while touring storm damage



President Joe Biden completely dismissed angry Americans on Tuesday who earlier in the day had called out the president as he was touring the storm damage in New Jersey.

What happened first?

As Biden was touring damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, nearby people in a Manville, New Jersey, residential neighborhood yelled at the president.

"I'm an immigrant and I am proud of this country," one woman screamed. "I'd give my life for this country. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves — this is a republic, not China. It's sad. It's sad that America has come to this. It's sad — despicable."

Others nearby demanded that Biden resign, and even called him a "f***ing tyrant." One man said, "All this for a f***in' photo-op? You ain't gonna do s**t!"

Also heard in the background was a man chiding Biden for his botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Although the audio is difficult to discern, the man said his friend died in Afghanistan in 2011.

"For what? So this guy could pull this s**t? You leave them in ruins and you leave Americans behind!" the man screamed.

"You leave Americans behind!" the man screamed again. "We will leave you behind!"

Content Warning: Strong language:

"It's sad that America has come to this." BIDEN takes a barrage of heckles from people behind a fence waving a Tr… https://t.co/Z0iXhIVrzF

— Zach Purser Brown (@zachjourno) 1631040929.0

As the New York Post noted, anti-Biden demonstrators lined the streets where his motorcade drove. People reportedly gave Biden the middle finger, and many held anti-Biden signs.

One sign reportedly read "F*** Biden And F*** You for Voting For Him," while another said, "Biden go back 2 the basement." People also held pro-Trump flags and signs.

How did Biden respond?

While speaking in Queens after surveying the storm damage, Biden acknowledged that he was heckled, but outright dismissed the angry Americans.

Biden oddly claimed the hecklers did not live in the neighborhood — despite cameras capturing some of those who voiced the frustrations standing clearly inside a fenced yard — and said the hecklers were angry about "free enterprise."

"The people who stand on the other side of the fences, who don't live there, who are yelling that we're talking about interfering with free enterprise by doing something about climate change — they don't live there, they don't live— they don't understand," Biden said.

Biden says after touring storm damage in NYC and NJ: "The people who stand on the other side of the fences, who don… https://t.co/betLBraaT0

— CBS News (@CBSNews) 1631047926.0

Biden has blamed climate change for Hurricane Ida, which killed dozens of Americans, mainly in New York and New Jersey. He used a speech on Tuesday to urge Americans to take "bold action now to tackle the accelerating effects of climate." Biden suggested his multitrillion dollar spending bills are the solution that Americans need.

The president is also asking Congress for $24 billion in disaster relief funds, NPR reported. The money would be used to help recover Americans impacted by tropical storms, like Hurricane Ida, and wildfires that continue to ravage the west, as they do every summer.