Jul 16

Jul 16 NY-22 Minute: Brindisi Votes to Condemn "President Trump's Racist Comments," Says Targeted Congresswomen Unhelpful Too By Luke Perry

The House of Representatives voted today (240-187) to condemn President Trump’s recent comments about four Congresswomen: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13). Four Republicans joined the entire Democratic caucus, including Anthony Brindisi.

Trump’s related Tweets “evoked the trope of telling black people to go back to Africa” by directing these Representatives to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” not “loudly and viciously” tell the U.S. how to run the government.

All four House representatives are American citizens. Three are natural born citizens. In responding to scrutiny, Trump then questioned their loyalty to the country and to democracy.

Rep. Brindisi voted in favor of a non-binding resolution, which states in part that “President Trump’s racist comments have legitimized fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color.” Afterwards, Brindisi observed that “Congress has better things to do than yell at each other over whose tweets are more offensive.”

Brindisi previously criticized the president’s comments via Twitter:

“These comments are offensive and wrong. We should value diverse perspectives and experiences and seek common ground; not use hateful, personal attacks to distract and divide.”

This morning Rep. Brindisi described the situation as a “distraction” from recent bipartisan work and accomplishments. Examples include legislation enhancing election security, requiring the Department of Defense to purchase American-made flatware, and reauthorizing the First Responders’ Compensation Fund.

Brindisi’s reaction provided some equivalency between the president’s comments and those of his targeted House colleagues.

“I don’t think the president’s comments were helpful,” Brindisi explained. “I also don’t think some of the comments that the four women . . . have made in the past, were very helpful. And I’ve called those comments out as well.” (1:41 mark)

Brindisi believes the national media focuses too much on the president’s Tweeting and what Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley, and Tlaib, have to say. He hopes the president and these Congresswomen will stay off social media more often.

Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College