Social Media Reacts to Republican Presidential Debate
Thursday's Republican Presidential Debate was a major talking point among Latinos on social media yesterday, although much of the talk was not exactly in favor of the candidates.
Despite the Republican primary race boasting two Latino candidates -- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio -- many Latinos find themselves increasingly dissatisfied with the candidates attitudes toward immigration and other issues affecting the community.
This whole idea of serving up Rubio & Cruz as 'Latino' makes me more inclined 2 embrace #Chicano identity.
— Adriana Maestas (@AdrianaMaestas) January 15, 2016
Rubio in particular was criticized when he made the declaration that under his administration, "if we don't know who you are...you are not getting into the United States of America."
The comment was intended to be in regard to Muslim immigration, and the increasing concern from the right-wing that potential terrorists and Islamic State supporters could be allowed into the country. However the significance (and arguably, the hypocrisy) of such a response was not lost on Latino listeners.
Rubio said "If we don't know who you are, you aren't getting in..." on #immigration -- does that apply to Cubans? #GOPDdebate — Adriana Maestas (@AdrianaMaestas) January 15, 2016
Pretty much sums it up. #GOPdebate https://t.co/lkEiVj2Jde — Elianne Ramos (@ergeekgoddess) January 15, 2016
Other people responded negatively to the frequent criticism aimed at Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. While many in the community revere Sotomayor as a champion of liberal policy, Cruz and Rubio made her a target throughout the debate.
Cruz attacked Obama, saying he appointed Sotomayor, "who has been a radical against the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms."
Justice Sotomayor is totally the surprise guest of this debate — Alicia Menendez (@AliciaMenendez) January 15, 2016
Aside from Cruz and Rubio, Donald Trump's continued attempts to make light of his past discriminatory comments aimed at Latinos also garnered eye rolls.
"I love the Hispanics. I do great with the Hispanics. I employ thousands of Hispanics." @realDonaldTrump
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) January 15, 2016
Finally, many New Yorkers in particular were annoyed at Cruz's implication that Trump's "New York values" would make him ill-suited to be the Republican nominee. Twitter erupted with the hashtag, #NewYorkValues.
I'd rather have "New York" values than the small minded values that @tedcruz holds dear. #ProudNewYorker #GOPdebate — Erica Overton (@ego144) January 15, 2016
Today's @NYDailyNews cover in response to Ted Cruz comments about #NYC last night. I Love my city! pic.twitter.com/qilMKRUTVR — Francisco Cortes (@CortesLatino) January 15, 2016
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