A Republican candidate said diversity is ‘crap’ and ‘un-American’

Seth Grossman | Photo: Facebook/GrossmanForCongress

Republican political candidate Seth Grossman called diversity ‘crap’ and ‘un-American’ at an event in April. Instead of apologizing for the offensive remarks, he’s now doubling down on them.

The Philadelphia Inquirer first shared the video of Grossman making the comments. American Bridge to the 21st Century, a political action committee monitoring Republican candidates, initially posted the video.

‘The whole idea of diversity is a bunch of crap and un-American,’ he said on 21 April at an event in Pittsgrove, New Jersey.

Hailing from New Jersey, the congressional candidate won the Republican primary last week in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

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He further explained that diversity efforts are ‘an excuse by Democrats, communists and socialists, basically, to say that we’re not all created equal, that some people, if somebody is lesser qualified, they will get a job anyway or they’ll get into college anyway because of the tribe that they’re with, what group, what box they fit into’.

‘Diversity is not a virtue’

Many people are criticizing the comments.

However, in his first time addressing them since he made them, Grossman defended the remarks.

He released a statement on Facebook.

‘Republicans need to push back and point out the obvious,’ the statement begins.

‘”Diversity” is not a virtue. America did not become great because of “diversity”. America became great because our Constitution, our culture of liberty, and our Judeo-Christian heritage of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” created “boundless” opportunities that let Americans of every race, ethnic group, and gender succeed.’

Grossman now faces Democratic candidate Jeff Van Drew in the general election on 6 November.