Trump defends judge attack: He's 'of Mexican heritage, I'm building a wall'

[Norm dePlume]

Trump defends judge attack: He's 'of Mexican heritage, I'm building a wall'

TRENTON — Donald Trump doubled down Friday on his suggestion that the judge presiding over lawsuits against Trump University might be biased because of his Mexican heritage — even as detractors said the remarks were racist and dangerous.

On Thursday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee told the Wall Street Journal that U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel had an "absolute conflict of interest" because he's of Mexican descent and Trump is vowing to build a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration.

Trump stood by that view Friday in a combative interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.

"I've been treated very unfairly by this judge," the billionaire businessman and former Atlantic City casino magnate said of Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrants. "Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage. I'm building a wall, OK?"

"I think he should recuse himself," Trump added.

How is this not racist?

[Norm dePlume]

You should watch that video and just listen to him try and make sense.

[gary m]

How is this not racist?

Ummm..... they're both white?
Was this a trick question?

[Norm dePlume]

Ummm..... they're both white?
Was this a trick question?

No, that's a trick answer. You actually managed to overlook the "of Mexican heritage" that was so prominent in Trump's comments. The guy is a judge, overseeing a lawsuit that has nothing to do with Mexico, a wall, or Mexicans, yet Trump thinks he should recuse himself because he's "of Mexican heritage."

[gary m]

No, that's a trick answer. You actually managed to overlook the "of Mexican heritage" that was so prominent in Trump's comments. The guy is a judge, overseeing a lawsuit that has nothing to do with Mexico, a wall, or Mexicans, yet Trump thinks he should recuse himself because he's "of Mexican heritage."

Nope, didn't overlook it, just answered the question as it was asked.

Now it could be viewed as a bigoted or prejudicial comment, both of which would be more applicable to the situation, but you asked specifically how it could not be a racist comment and I correctly answered you. If both the speaker and the subject are of the same race, Caucasian in this case, then whatever else it may be, it is not racist.
For that matter, I also do not think that any criticism of Barack Obama by members of the black community are racist either, although that may not be a good example as he is half black and half white so I don't know that comments made about him by either of the races he is a member of would or would not be racist.

[Norm dePlume]

Nope, didn't overlook it, just answered the question as it was asked.

Now it could be viewed as a bigoted or prejudicial comment, both of which would be more applicable to the situation, but you asked specifically how it could not be a racist comment and I correctly answered you. If both the speaker and the subject are of the same race, Caucasian in this case, then whatever else it may be, it is not racist.
For that matter, I also do not think that any criticism of Barack Obama by members of the black community are racist either, although that may not be a good example as he is half black and half white so I don't know that comments made about him by either of the races he is a member of would or would not be racist.

So, technicalities aside, you would agree that Trump's comments about the judge are bigoted, then? That he assigns bias to this judge based on the nationality of the judge's parents, when that has absolutely no bearing on the case?

[gary m]

So, technicalities aside, you would agree that Trump's comments about the judge are bigoted, then? That he assigns bias to this judge based on the nationality of the judge's parents, when that has absolutely no bearing on the case?

I would say they are certainly prejudicial and most likely bigoted.
But this is hardly plowing new ground for Presidential candidates from either party, wouldn't you agree?

[Norm dePlume]

I would say they are certainly prejudicial and most likely bigoted.
But this is hardly plowing new ground for Presidential candidates from either party, wouldn't you agree?

I would not agree. Not in the modern era. If you want to compare him with candidates prior to the 60's, yeah, he's right in line with a lot of bigots.

[gary m]

I would not agree. Not in the modern era. If you want to compare him with candidates prior to the 60's, yeah, he's right in line with a lot of bigots.

You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not.

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

Nothing prejudicial or bigoted in that comment.

[phillygirl]

Nothing prejudicial or bigoted in that comment.

That was about white people.

[Norm dePlume]

Nothing prejudicial or bigoted in that comment.

Ha! I knew you'd go there. That is pretty much in the same league (speculating on how a political faction comes by their mindset) as Ronald Reagan's appropriation of a Mark Twain quote:

The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.

It's far less bigoted than accusing a specific person of being unfit to do their job because of the nationality of their parents.

[Norm dePlume]

That was about white people.

You don't believe that there are black people and brown people who live in small towns and who own guns and bibles? I'm surprised.

[phillygirl]

You don't believe that there are black people and brown people who live in small towns and who own guns and bibles? I'm surprised.

In Pennsylvania? yeah, not so much.

[Michele]

“If Obama was a white man he would not be in this position.” - Geraldine Ferraro

[Michele]

“You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking!” - Joe Biden

“I mean you’ve got the first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and nice-looking guy.” - Joe Biden