Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump feigned shock this weekend over the outrage his incendiary remarks about Mexican immigrants have generated. He stated: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” “And some, I imagine, are good people.” The result: NBC, Univision, Macy’s and NASCAR have moved to sever ties with the brash mogul.
Author and commentator Anita Finlay said “He is the Democrats’ secret weapon. Every time he opens his mouth, he wins them votes. Award-winning actress/activist America Ferrera even thanked him for motivating Latinos to vote – and not for Trump!” Finlay also notes that Trump’s statements linking immigrants to high crime are wrong. According to Justice Quarterly, “Foreign-born individuals exhibit remarkably low levels of involvement in crime across their life course.”
Political strategist and commentator Shawna Vercher wonders if he is exposing things people in his Party think, but do not dare say. “Or with such a crowded field, maybe he thinks he needs to say something outrageous just to get news coverage. But he is doing his Party a disservice, pushing the worst stereotypes of the white, male, Republican voter.”
To make matters worse, after competitor Jeb Bush finally denounced his remarks, Trump tweeted to a friend that Jeb ”has to like Mexican illegals because of his wife.” He has since deleted the comment. What coalition is he hoping to attract besides xenophobes? Isn’t he making a mockery of this entire process? Is that his intent?
Don’t miss this latest episode of Dare We Say as Shawna Vercher and Anita Finlay ‘trump’ distasteful stereotypes with reality.
