Bret Baier has a question on Sen. Joe Donnelly's 'odd phrasing' at debate regarding his Indian American and African American staffers

During last night’s debate in Indiana, incumbent Dem Senator Joe Donnelly raised more than a few eyebrows with some “odd phrasing” while attempting to praise some of his staffers.

“Our state director is Indian American, but he does an amazing job,” said the senator:

Some odd phrasing from @SenDonnelly attempting to highlight the diversity of his staff:

"Our state director is Indian American, but he does an amazing job."#INSEN

— David Catanese (@davecatanese) October 30, 2018

What’s with the “but”? He then used the same construction to talk about an African American staffer:

Followed up with: “Our director of all constituent services, she’s African American. But she does an even more incredible job than you could ever imagine.” https://t.co/xVttn2xohW

— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) October 31, 2018

It does remind us of Michael Scott from “The Office”:

(via DM) "Donnelly is like Michael Scott in the Diversity Day episode" pic.twitter.com/TpFvUSQHaz

— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) October 31, 2018

“WTF” is right:

Wtf

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 31, 2018

And it’s not just us. Colby Itkowitz from the Washington Post’s Fix blog writes:

These are the things Veep writer’s dreams are made of — tone deaf statements probably meant well, but totally offensive.

And Fox News’ Bret Baier asks the question:

Hmmm. “…but she does a great job”. Will that get attention in this environment? https://t.co/r6giskG3dD

— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) October 31, 2018

And here’s the answer:

Can we just be honest and say that if Mike Braun had said this it would be an issue but it won’t because Donnelly is a Dem?

— Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) October 31, 2018

It will pass.

***

Related:

WTF? Connecticut GOPer targets Democratic state senate candidate in anti-Semitic mailer [pic] https://t.co/YiJeksAnN8

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 30, 2018

ICYMI==> CAPITULATION? Photo from Senate Judiciary Committee hearing shows Dems have given up fighting Trump on judges https://t.co/aSPYA0RRGP

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 24, 2018

ANOTHER ONE? Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema accused stay-at-home moms of ‘leeching off their husbands’ https://t.co/iepv3vhnyG

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 20, 2018