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London Mayor Boris Johnson Describes Obama As A ‘Part-Kenyan’ Hypocrite

By Pam Wright
Published on: 05:33 PST, Apr 22, 2016

London Mayor Boris Johnson is taking criticism after describing President Barack Obama as a “part-Kenyan president” in an op-ed piece for Britain’s best-selling Sun newspaper.

According to BBC News, Johnson criticized Obama’s call for Britain to remain in the European Union, calling it “incoherent,” “inconsistent,” and “downright hypocritical.”

Johnson, a Conservative member of parliament and a favorite to become Britain’s next prime minister, also blasted Obama for the alleged removal of a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.

In the op-ed piece written by Johnson, he seemed to suggest that Obama may have been motivated to remove the statuette because of an “ancestral dislike of the British empire.”

Johnson’s tirade stems from his anger that Obama has intervened in the upcoming referendum on whether Britain should remain part of the European Union, including an article written by the U.S. president for the Telegraph. In the article, Obama urged British voters to vote in favor of remaining in the EU.

“I will say, with the candor of a friend, that the outcome of your decision is a matter of deep interest to the United States. The tens of thousands of Americans who rest in Europe’s cemeteries are a silent testament to just how intertwined our prosperity and security truly are.”

Obama argued that Britain has more influence as a member of the European Union, which has helped to secure agreements on trade, climate change, and a recent deal with Iran.

“This kind of cooperation — from intelligence sharing and counterterrorism to forging agreements to create jobs and economic growth — will be far more effective if it extends across Europe. Now is a time for friends and allies to stick together. Together, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have turned centuries of war in Europe into decades of peace.”

In his op-ed piece, Johnson said that Obama’s hypocrisy is evident because, as he sees it, Washington would never back a deal that diluted U.S. sovereignty.

“The US guards its democracy with more hysterical jealousy than any other country on earth. For the United States to tell us in the UK that we must surrender control of so much of our democracy — it is a breathtaking example of the principle of do-as-I-say-but-not-as-I-do. It is incoherent. It is inconsistent, and yes it is downright hypocritical.”

Other British officials have been swift in denouncing Boris Johnson’s comments.

According to BBC News, Chancellor John McDonnell accused Johnson of “dog whistle racism” and called on him to withdraw the comment.

A spokesman for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign also denounced the comments made by the London mayor.

“Desperate, shameful stuff from Boris mentioning Obama’s Kenyan ancestry. Why does that matter, exactly?”

Sir Stephen Wall, Britain’s former permanent representative to the EU, who is campaigning for a Remain vote, also had a word to say about the mayor of London’s comments.

“Boris Johnson’s comment implying the President of the United States is driven by his ancestral dislike of the British empire is demeaning to the debate. Using that type of language does not reflect Britain’s standing in the world or the country we aspire to be.”

Obama will most assuredly not be meeting with Johnson during his stay in London, but he does have plans on Friday to enjoy lunch with the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday. He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron before dinner at Kensington Palace hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) and Prince Harry on Friday night.

[Photo by AP Images]

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