A Democratic representative from New York said Monday night that Donald Trump hasn’t made any genuine effort to reach out to the black community and has instead pushed harmful stereotypes about black voters as criminals.
Speaking with reporters on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s campaign after the first presidential debate, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) said Trump’s recent affinity for stop and frisk, a policing policy that was struck down by a federal court judge in 2013, is “un-American.”
“Donald Trump has never reached out to the African-American community,” Meeks told TPM. “Donald Trump is really reaching out to some elements of individuals who are supporting his campaign who believe in the stereotype that Donald Trump continues to put forth.”
Asked in a follow-up question about the stereotype of black Americans that Trump is pushing with his campaign, Meeks responded: “That all African-Americans are violent, are felons, are criminals, similar to what he said about Mexicans. That there is nothing good happening in community, and that is clearly not right.”
Meeks also told reporters that Trump’s record – a Justice Department investigation into allegations of racial bias in Trump rentals, his role as the “father of the birther movement,” and a lone campaign visit to a black church – “has been an insult to the African-American community.”
Donald, you are an utter scream.
Drumpf has evolved from an old-fashioned closet Dixiecrat racist to a tried and true 21st century Repuglican bigot – who better to lead the GOP into oblivion?
There were so many offensive things Trump said tonight. Because of it, this one kind of got lost in the shuffle.
You have to wonder why Trump wasted so much time in the last few weeks trying to appeal to blacks when it’s obvious he has no respect for them…or any other person of color other than lily white rich male.
The truth of how he really feels came out tonight almost by the grace of God. He lied about everything else. That’s not saying it’s a good thing, but at least we know that’s how Trump really feels.
The man is so racist. He thinks he can judge everyone else. He’s the ONLY one who sees the world the way it really is? Really?
There are various types of racists. There are the nuckle dragging Alt-right racists we all hate, but the vast majority are the whites isolated in their gated suburbs who gain all they know about the black experience from their local action news. They don’t think of themselves as racist. They think of themselves as fair minded. They treat their black coworkers well, but believe they are rare exceptions, as are black entertainers and athletes. They give to black charities at Christmas time just like they give to staving children overseas.
Donald Trump is trying to appeal to those ignorant suburban racists whose parents escaped from the same inner city slums decades ago and who have long forgotten their own roots. Those crime infested neighborhoods have been bad for a long,long time. They were bad we they were home to the Irish. They were bad when they were home to the Italians. They are bad now that they are home to blacks and Hispanics. Race has nothing to do with it. Nobody ever tells them that for the grace of God go you.
Suburban America is changing as blacks and Hispanics escape from the means streets where they have been confined. That change gives me hope. Sadly many old whites don’t notiice the change.
Why isn’t Meeks “bowing down”?!