Rep. Vicente Gonzalez apparently compared Latino supporters of former President Donald Trump to “Jews for Hitler” in an interview earlier this month.
“[Republicans] have invested millions and millions of dollars trying to target Latinos on the border,” Gonzalez (D-TX) told The New Republic. “They do that because in Texas, Latinos are now the majority. The Republicans know how to count, right? For them to stay in power, even at the state level, they need to convince at least a percentage, even a small percentage, of Latinos to start voting Republican. If not, they will eventually lose elections.”
“If they didn’t have that racist, divisive element within their party, they would have a lot of Latinos, but they can’t seem to shake that off,” he continued. “The rhetoric you hear from the Republican Party is shameful and disgraceful for Latinos. And you know, when you see ‘Latinos for Trump,’ to me it is like seeing ‘Jews for Hitler,’ almost, you know?”
The comments continue an aggressive campaign effort from Gonzalez on the issue of immigration as he faces a tight rematch against former Rep. Mayra Flores. He said last month that Republicans are “anti-Latino,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“Clearly, without a doubt, these proposals that are coming from the Republican Party are anti-immigrant but also anti-Latino, anti-American Latino,” Gonzalez claimed. “It impacts our rights and liberties in this country.”
“It is important, and it is urgent that every Latino sees this,” he added.
Polling from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) shows a competitive race between Gonzalez and Republican candidate Mayra Flores this year. Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the NRCC, said Gonzalez’s rhetoric ignores the serious issue at the southern border, which has seen all-time highs in unlawful migrant encounters under President Joe Biden’s administration.
“Hispanic voters, especially those living in border communities, know that Democrats are failing them on the border, the economy, and community safety. Vicente Gonzalez’s comments are insulting, and he should apologize,” she said.
Gonzalez has voted against a series of Republican-led measures in the House to increase border security, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Additionally, Texas political blogger Jerry McHale, who has received campaign funds from Gonzalez for advertising services, faced criticism for racist attacks he purportedly made against Flores, as reported by The Texas Tribune. McHale called Flores, who was born in Mexico, “Miss Frijoles” and “Miss Enchiladas.” He accused her of “playing the race card” when she claimed she worked in cotton fields in Mexico as a child, calling her a “cotton pickin’ liar.”
