Independent reporting on American politics
STATE BEACON

Clinton: Rep. Clyburn ‘Highest Ranking African-American’ in Government

Hillary Clinton misspoke Tuesday when she told a Miami gospel radio station that James Clyburn is the highest ranking African-American “in our government.”

By Cameron Cawthorne··
Clinton: Rep. Clyburn ‘Highest Ranking African-American’ in Government

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton misspoke on Tuesday morning when she told a Miami gospel radio station that Rep. James Clyburn (D., S.C.) is the highest ranking African-American "in our government."

Clinton was discussing the importance of Florida in the presidential election with Rev. Victor Curry on WMBM, a gospel station with a large African-American audience.

Clinton then began talking about the importance of putting more investment in communities and praised Clyburn for a program that he promoted in South Carolina.

"I really like the idea of a program that Congress Jim Clyburn from South Carolina, the highest ranking African-American in our government, has been promoting and I have embraced it," Clinton said.

Clyburn is the highest ranking African-American in the Congress, but not in government. President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch are the two highest ranking African-Americans in government.