Booker: McConnell does not understand race problems after owner's comments

Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerJudge faces death threats after stating that the accused teen rapist came from a "good family": report Presidential candidates hear the footsteps of challengers at home (D-N.J.), White House candidate for 2020, strongly criticized the majority leader in the Senate Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGraham is ready to investigate the plea deal Acosta-Epstein Gabbard defends Biden while Harris defends a non-mandatory bus Kentucky Democrat announces McConnell protest MORE Tuesday night on Kentucky Republican's comments on racism and reparations.

In an interview with CNN, Booker said McConnell did not "understand" race issues after arguing that reparations for slavery were useless because of progress in race relations in recent years.

"Mitch McConnell does not even seem to have the slightest understanding of these issues, nor of the bill I have in the Senate that would summon people to study this issue," said Booker, referring to his bill that he wrote that would create a commission to consider the possibility of reparations for slavery.

"Dear God, there are … two years of my life for Mitch McConnell and Donald TrumpDonald John Trump Graham is ready to investigate the Advocacy Agreement between Acosta and Epstein Continue progress with Mexico on migration The government will license exploitation with Huawei PLUS where things come out of their mouths where sometimes I just have to sometimes … you know, I have to step back for a second and pull myself together, "he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, McConnell had declared that the former president and himself were "descendants of slaves", referring to a report published in 2007 by Baltimore Sun, according to which the Obama family owned slaves decades ago.

"You know, I find myself once again in the same position as President Obama.We are both opposed to reparations and we are both descendants of slave owners," McConnell said on Tuesday.

"We have tried to fight our original sin of slavery by fighting a civil war by passing a landmark civil rights law. We elected an African-American president, "he told reporters.

In June, McConnell had already expressed his opposition to the repairs, saying that "none of us currently living is responsible".