Clinton, De Blasio Facing Backlash For 'C.P. Time' Joke At Charity Event
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/CBS News) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Mayor Bill de Blasio are being criticized for what some say was a racist joke they made at a charity event.
CBS2's Nancy Cordes reported the joke in question was made late Saturday night at the annual Inner Circle Show, a political dinner at starred Clinton, de Blasio, and "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom Jr.
"I just have to say thanks for the endorsement, Bill. Took you long enough," Clinton joked.
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De Blasio responded, "Sorry Hillary, I was running on C.P. time," as the crowd was taken aback somewhat from the joke.
Actor Leslie Odom Jr., who plays Aaron Burr in "Hamilton," said, "I don't like jokes like that, Bill."
"Cautious politician time," Clinton said in the punchline. "I've been there."
"C.P. time" is shorthand for "colored people time," slang some African-Americans use for being late.
However, the joke fell flat with some critics. Slate described the joke as "cringeworthy"; Gawker said it was "awkward"; Raw Story called it "painful"; and Town Hall said, "It's only racist if Republicans do it."
De Blasio told CNN that "people are missing the point" of the joke.
"It was clearly a staged show. It was a scripted show and the whole idea was to do the counter intuitive and say, 'Cautious politician time,'" the mayor explained. "Every actor involved, including Hillary Clinton and Leslie Odom Jr., thought it was a joke on a different convention. That was the whole idea of it."
The Clinton campaign said it agrees with de Blasio, but other than that, the campaign has had no comment.
The mayor's office said the joke was not intended to offend.
"Let's be clear, in an evening of satire, the only person this was meant to mock was the Mayor himself, period," a spokesperson told CBS News in a statement. "Certainly no one intended to offend anyone."
