Steve Israel, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, made the remarks in an interview with US broadcaster CNN on Sunday.
"Not all" Republicans are racist, said Israel, but "to a significant extent, the Republican base has elements that are animated by racism, and that's unfortunate."
Earlier this week,
Nancy San Fran NanPelosi
Congresswoman-for-Life from the San Francisco Bay Area, born into a family of professional politicians. Formerly Speaker of the House, but it's not her fault they lost. Really. Noted for her heavily botoxed grimace...
, the Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives, blamed racial issues for the Republican Party's failure to take action on comprehensive immigration legislation.
"I think race has something to do with the fact that they're not bringing up an immigration bill," Pelosi told news hounds on Thursday.
The CNN journalist asked Israel about Pelosi's comments. He said he agreed with her remarks.
Pelosi also accused Republicans of being disrespectful to members of the administration of President Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
and to women.