Biden says doesn't think the American people are racist, in aftermath of his address, Scott response

President Biden says that Americans are not racist but argued the country has a history of racism that must be addressed.

"I don’t think the American people are racist," Biden said in an interview aired Friday on NBC "Today" show. "But I think after 400 years, African Americans have been left in a position where they are so far behind the 8 ball in terms of educations, health, in terms of opportunity. ... slavery had a cost, and we have to deal with it."

Biden's comments mirror those of Vice President Kamala Harris – the morning after Biden's joint address to Congress and the GOP response by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the Senate's only black Republican.

"Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country," said.

In his response Scott also appeared address the issue of Republican lawmakers in some states – including Florida and Georgia – that are securing their state's voting laws in ways critics say making balloting more restrictive for minorities. 

"I'm an African American who has voted in the South all my life," Scott said. "I take voting rights personally."