Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn On Why It’s ‘Necessary’ For Him To ‘Stay In Power’: ‘It’s Biblical With Me’

 Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) said Sunday that it was “necessary” for him to “stay in power” because it was “Biblical” for him.

Clyburn, 82, made the remarks during a Sunday interview with CBS News’ Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation.”

“Democrats are holding leadership elections in the coming week, you’re already in leadership, I know you will be standing for election to a different position,” Brennan said.

“But if it is time for a new generation as Speaker Pelosi had said, Why do you think it’s necessary for you to stay in power?” she asked. “Do you think the next generation needs you to guide them?”

“Well, I’ve always said there is a healthy respect, it’s Biblical with me,” Clyburn responded. “We need to have a healthy blend of strength and knowledge and look at our leadership.”

“The South is left out of it and what I’m doing is trying to make sure that we do not tilt too far to the east or too far to the west,” he continued. “But maintain what we have here. There’s no other southerner among the leadership ranks and we need the south. We need these historically black colleges and universities. If it weren’t for Georgia, where would the Senate be today? And the last time I checked, Georgia is south of South Carolina.”

WATCH:

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT:

MARGARET BRENNAN: Democrats are holding leadership elections in the coming week, you’re already in leadership, I know you will be standing for election to a different position. But if it is time for a new generation as Speaker Pelosi had said, Why do you think it’s necessary for you to stay in power? Do you think the next generation needs you to guide them?

REP. CLYBURN: Well, I’ve always said there is a healthy respect, it’s Biblical with me. We need to have a healthy blend of strength and knowledge and look at our leadership. The South is left out of it and what I’m doing is trying to make sure that we do not tilt too far to the east or too far to the west. But maintain what we have here. There’s no other southerner among the leadership ranks and we need the south. We need these historically black colleges and universities. If it weren’t for Georgia, where would the Senate be today? And the last time I checked, Georgia is south of South Carolina.