Lawyer Michael Avenatti, a self-appointed advocate of all women, is facing online wrath after saying that Democrats should pick a “white male” to run for president in 2020, as his arguments would “carry more weight.”
Avenatti, the firebrand lawyer representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal case against US President Donald Trump, has faced massive backlash after he told Time in the interview that it takes a white male to beat Trump in 2020. Coincidentally, Avenatti himself fits the bill perfectly.
“I think it better be a white male,” Avenatti said, as cited by the newspaper. The lawyer argued that being a white male himself helped him to represent women, such as Daniels, and mothers of migrant children.
When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight.
Avenatti added that although he does not believe this treatment to be fair, it is presently the case. The lawyer, who has gained prominence for representing Daniels, with whom Trump allegedly had sex in 2006, is considering a presidential run.
The interview was met by a barrage of condemnation on Twitter, with people accusing the lawyer of perpetuating white supremacist stereotypes. The indignation has been bipartisan, voiced both by liberal and conservative commentators.
Some have accused the embattled lawyer of being racist.
Michael Avenatti said that the 2020 Democratic nominee must be a white male.
I guess us black folks have overstayed our welcome. Back to the plantation, the Left sends us!
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) October 25, 2018
“You perpetuated a myth of supremacy, do you get that? Do you understand how that makes nonwhite males feel?” Bakari Sellers, former South Carolina Representative wrote.
You perpetuated a myth of supremacy, do you get that? Do you understand how that makes nonwhite males feel?
Your theory of white male supremacy is easily disproved. Who is a better lawyer, Cochran or Avenatti? A better politician Obama or Avenatti?
I’m furious and disappointed. https://t.co/XugOrhHxBA
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) October 25, 2018
You’re an incredible activist for our cause Michael. Big respect for that. But we don’t need a white male savior.
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) October 25, 2018
In a futile attempt to weather the raging storm, Avenatti took to Twitter himself to respond to criticism. He wrote that he has been an advocate for female empowerment and constantly stresses a need for white men to “step up and call out” other white men for bigotry and sexism in his speeches.
Let me be clear: I have consistently called on white males like me to step, take responsibility, and be a part of stoping the sexism and bigotry that other white males engage in. It is especially important for them to call out other white males. I make this pt in my speeches.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) October 25, 2018
Initially, Avenatti denied that he had even made the remark, calling Time Magazine’s reporting “complete bulls” that took his words out of context.
The magazine, which firmly stood by its report, then published a partial transcript of the interview, leaving Avenatti little room to squirm.
The transcript shows that when asked if he “really” believes that the only person to defeat Trump is a “white male,” Avenatti quite vigorously doubles down, saying that otherwise the Democrats are doomed.
I think if the Democrats nominate anyone other than a white male at the top of the ticket, they’re gonna lose the election. I’d be willing to bet anything. I feel highly confident in that.
The remark could spell a swift fall from grace for the one-time liberal media darling (the CNN made a move to disown him mere hours after the scandal erupted), and cut short his chances as Trump’s 2020 rival, it is far from the only problem Avenatti faces.
On Thursday, The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the FBI to investigate Avenatti and his client, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s gang-rape accuser Julia Swetnick, for fraud, false statements, and obstruction of justice.
Earlier this week, Avenatti was ordered to pay $4.85mn in a lawsuit brought by his former legal firm partner.
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