The political discourse in America hit a new low with the 2016 Presidential election.
It seems anything goes nowadays, as long as it pushes a candidate to the winner’s circle on Election Day.
A recent mail piece, pedaling fear and racism, proudly paid for by the New York Republican State Committee, and approved by Republican Nassau County Executive Candidate Jack Martins, continues in the same vein.
It’s a common political strategy: To avoid giving credence to an opponent’s political attack, never repeat their message. That’s why Democrats have ignored the rhetoric used against them.
However, I must repeat some of it here, because it’s time to expose the Republican Party’s messaging for what it is, vile and destructive.
The fear-mongering tactics about “bad hombres,” that helped propel Donald Trump to the White House, are now being used locally.
Nassau residents just received a mail piece that shows what are supposed to be three sinister, heavily tattooed MS-13 gang members, with the caption “Laura Curran will roll out the welcome mat for violent gangs like MS-13!…Laura Curran: She’s MS-13’s choice for County Executive. She shouldn’t be yours.”
This is disgusting, offensive, racist, garbage that must not be tolerated.
Just about every race and religion has been attacked throughout U.S. history.
This year “illegal” Hispanics are being vilified.
Deporting children and building walls to keep “true” Americans safe from Hispanics is the Republican mantra not only on Long Island but throughout the land.
That’s what makes this horrible MS-13 mail piece so scary. The truth doesn’t matter. Connect Curran to Hispanic gang members and victory will be ensured.
Whenever I speak publicly where race or religion is an issue, I ask the audience, “Please raise your hand if you have one grandparent who is an immigrant.” Just about every hand goes up, as would the hand of first generation American immigrant of Portuguese descent Jack “Joaquim” Martins.
We are all descendants of immigrants in this country, unless of course your family is First (Native) American. Somewhere along the way, Martins and the Republican Party have forgotten that. Laura Curran has not.
Please join me in supporting Laura Curran for Nassau County Executive. Curran doesn’t use hate and racism to win votes. Laura Curran is a good soul, with a solid resume, who will always put Nassau residents first.
I don’t see how the Martins mailing is racist. MS13 is real, they are ruthless drug dealers, murderers and they are hispanic. Those are the facts. If Martins feels that his opponent will be soft on ILLEGALS, wherever they are from, he can say that she is the choice of MS13. I shouldn’t be surprised that the race card has been played. It is the go to play in the playbook. I am also not surprised that your recent bids for office have been unsuccessful.
I don’t see that the mailing is racist either. It’s a fact of life on Long Island, as well as other areas. It’s scary to most Long Islanders. You, Mr. Haber, are a typical Democrat. Just like Schumer, DeBlasio, and Cuomo. Your way of thinking is why we are in this predicament in the first place. Yes, one of my grandparents came here as an immigrant. But he came the LEGAL way, which no one I know objects to. That’s the problem today, no one wants to differentiate between legal and illegal immigration. Until that is done, we will have the same problems we face now. Trouble is the democratic party won’t even try to do this. BTW, I am a registered democrat, have been all my life. But I won’t be when this election period is over. I have put in my request to become a Republican and I will be just that after this election week. I can’t wait. I am completely done with the democratic party and I will never vote for one again.
Why is the word illegal in quotes? I guess the author doesn’t recognize the reality that some people enter this country without permission. This article is just a hit piece against Martins. Pay no attention to it. It’s garbage.