The fallout continues for Donald Trump. Univision, the largest Spanish-language network in the U.S., has announced it is cutting ties with the Republican Presidential candidate following his vile accusation that immigrants from Mexico are “rapists.” Leading Latino groups are calling for NBC to cut ties with Trump as well.
The anger and outrage from the Latinos – throughout America and throughout Latin America – has been palpable. But what’s perhaps been just as loud has been the silence and lack of courage from Republican leaders.
In fact, since Trump’s remarks nearly two weeks ago, Republican candidates have cowered as he’s doubled down, saying this past weekend he does “business with the Mexican people, but you have people coming through the border that are from all over. And they’re bad. They’re really bad.”
Currently, over a dozen Republicans are considering or already running for President in 2016. Yet not one single GOP candidate has stood up to defend America’s immigrant families and denounce Trump’s blatant racism:
Lindsey Graham is the only Republican running for President in 2016 who unequivocally supports a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America – without invoking the slippery slope excuse of “border security first”. His reply to Trump has been silence.
Rick Perry signed the Texas DREAM Act into law. He even challenged his fellow Republicans on their opposition to it, telling them during a 2011 debate they didn’t have a heart. But his reply to Trump has been silence.
Chris Christie signed the NJ DREAM Act into law, and during the ceremony told DREAMers they’re “an inspiration to us because in you we see all that the future of our country can be.” But his reply to Trump has been silence.
Ted Cruz is the son of a Cuban immigrant, and represents Texas, where almost 40% of the population is Latino. Instead, his reply to Trump has been silence.
Marco Rubio was supposed to be immigration reform’s champion, and for a while he seemed like it by co-writing the Senate’s bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013. But then he abandoned both his bill and the immigrant community in order to reposition himself for the GOP primary. His reply to Trump has been silence.
Jeb Bush’s silence has been the biggest disappointment. Bush is married to a Mexican immigrant, has Mexican-American children, and once described himself as “Hispanic,” claiming he understands the “immigrant experience.” But instead of standing up for those immigrants – and members of his very own family – Bush has said nothing as Trump vilifies millions of Americans.
Ben Carson’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Carly Fiorina’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Mike Huckabee’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Rand Paul’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Rick Santorum’s reply to Trump has been silence.
John Kasich’s reply to Trump has been silence.
George Pataki’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Bobby Jindal’s reply to Trump has been silence.
Scott Walker’s reply to Trump has been silence.
It’s been nearly two weeks since Donald Trump’s racist comments disparaging immigrants. When will his GOP challengers find the courage to do what’s right and denounce his bigotry?
