Biden faces backlash for citing his work with two segregationists as a sign of 'civility'

Former Vice President Joe Biden faced a growing backlash on Wednesday for naming two Southern segregationist senators as examples of people with whom he had major disagreements but still "got things done" with in the Senate.

Biden cited the late Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman E. Talmadge of Georgia at a fundraiser in New York Tuesday night to back up his claim that one of his greatest strengths was to “bring people together.”

“I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland,” Biden said, briefly imitating the senator’s Southern drawl, according to pool reports. “He never called me 'boy,' he always called me 'son.'”

He called Talmadge “one of the meanest guys” he ever knew but said, “At least there was some civility. We got things done."

"We didn’t agree on much of anything," Biden continued. "But today, you look at the other side, and you’re the enemy … we don’t talk to each other anymore.”