Why are the two propositions you stated mutually exclusive? Why can't he both be racist and senile?
If you listen to other tapes, you can't help put come away thinking he suffers from a mix of old age and mild dementia.
Dementia is a medical diagnosis. It is irresponsible to rationalize his racism by speculating and assuming he's suffering from dementia when your sole knowledge is what you've heard. It seems you're trying to create a conveniently self-serving reality to defend him.
