* Old news by now, but everybody seems to be weighing in, so let’s get to it…
Sen. Dick Durbin left the White House Thursday “sickened and heartbroken,” after hearing President Donald Trump refer to certain nations as “sh*thole countries,” Illinois’ senior senator told reporters Friday.
“I cannot imagine that in the history of [the Oval Office], that hallowed room, where the president of the United States goes to work every day, there has ever been a conversation quite like that. It was vile, it was hateful, it was racist,” Durbin told reporters after attending a breakfast in the city to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Durbin said Trump repeated the term “sh*thole” during a meeting that was, ostensibly, a discussion about a potentially bipartisan deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA. Trump has since tweeted that he used “tough” language during the meeting but never used the derogatory language that has caused outrage across the globe.
I asked Sen. Durbin’s staff whether Durbin stood up to Trump at that meeting and took him to task for his remarks, but haven’t yet heard back.
* Gov. Rauner was asked today if he had anything to say about President Trump’s alleged comments…
Yeah, well, I’ll say this. That language has no place in our political conversation.
It ain’t the language, per se, it’s the sentiment behind the language. But, OK, at least he said something.
* From Sen. Kwame Raoul, the state’s most prominent Haitian-American…
As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the reported hateful comments spewed by the President remind us just how much further we have to go as a nation.
Today, I’m embracing the Kingian philosophy that darkness cannot drive out darkness and that only light can do that. That’s why today I’m using my light - as a citizen of this country, as the son of Haitian immigrants, as an elected official and a candidate for office - to call out the injustices committed on our watch.
I am revolted by Donald Trump’s vulgar dismissal and dehumanization of the people of Haiti, El Salvador and many African nations. Simply put, the President’s remarks are vile, racist and unbecoming of the office he holds. Donald J. Trump is unfit for the office of the Presidency of the United States. He should resign or Congress should do its job and proceed with the impeachment of the President.
My position isn’t simply about disagreements in policy, instead it’s about what type of country we want to be. Do we want to be a country with a corrupt racist at its helm or do we want to be a country which embraces King’s dream and those before us of to create a more perfect union? I choose the latter.
* JB Pritzker…
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Donald Trump is a racist and a xenophobe who has never had the dignity to be in the White House,” said JB Pritzker. “After unilaterally moving to end DACA and upend the lives of 800,000 young immigrants, including more than 41,000 in Illinois, Trump is resorting to offensive tactics to score a political win with his base. First, he insisted his senseless wall be part of an immigration deal and now Trump is spouting vile profanities about Haitian and African immigrants from the Oval Office. America deserves better, and when I’m governor, I’ll protect immigrant families and make Illinois a welcoming state for all.”
* Biss…
* Congressional candidate Chuy Garcia…
Donald Trump’s comments demonstrate his unfitness for the office. His ignorance, incompetence, and callousness make it difficult to distinguish him from a Klansman or a Nazi. As an immigrant and someone who has struggled to make our democracy inclusive of everyone, this is the most despicable comment I have heard from a President in my lifetime.
* AG candidate Jesse Ruiz…
In 2015, Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign by saying, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best…. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
Ever since that day, Trump has been displaying his racist attitudes like a badge of honor. It seems like the only words that can come out of Trump’s mouth are vile hate or lies. His despicable remarks about “sh*thole” countries are simply the latest in a long and ugly string of insults, epithets, and attacks. Instead of begging for forgiveness from the American public, he lies like a coward. He should resign or be removed from office.
We must not let Trump’s contemptible words distract us from his even more deplorable actions. Trump made this remark while talking with members of Congress about immigrants living here under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. The TPS program has saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but it is clear that the lives of people of color do not matter to Trump.
Today, members of Congress from both parties are denouncing Trump’s disgusting words. That’s important, but it’s even more important to make sure that Trump’s vile attitudes do not destroy the lives of law-abiding immigrants from countries that have suffered catastrophic events. I call on Congress to move immediately to pass the SECURE Act, to continue the protections of the TPS program and create pathway to legal permanent residency in America, and to pass a clean DREAM act, to fix DACA and protect the futures of 800,000 promising young immigrants.
I hope Trump is out of office by next January, when I take office as Illinois Attorney General. If not, I look forward to standing up to the White House, holding Trump accountable, and taking him to court to protect the rights of everyone.
* Congressional candidate Sol Flores…
Flores said, “I’m deeply saddened by the incredibly disrespectful and racist remarks. This President does not speak for me or my community. Our country is stronger because of the diverse groups of immigrants that come here. I know this. I’ve lived this. And unfortunately President Trump doesn’t see what I see.”
* US Rep. Bobby Rush…
“It is disgusting and infuriating that the President remarks about immigration from “sh*thole countries” like Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries come on the 8th anniversary of the Haitian earthquake in which more than 200,000 people were killed.
“Is the President not aware that immigrants of all races, nationalities, and religions built this country?
“These comments not only highlight his pure ignorance, moral turpitude, and lack of judgment but his racism that has been a fixture of his career, campaign, and presidency.
“This is the same person who started his career being sued twice by the Department of Justice for racial discrimination because he would not rent apartments to African-Americans.
“This is the same person who launched the racist birther movement against the country’s first African-American President, casting doubt on Barack Obama’s birthplace.
“This is the same person who began his Presidential campaign calling Mexican immigrants rapists, murderers, and criminals.
“The President of the United States is racist.
“On the weekend where we should be honoring the spirit and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for racial equality, we have a President intent on dividing this country.
“Everyone should condemn the racist remarks made by the President, especially those who were present in the meeting. Their silence is deafening. I commend Senator Dick Durbin for giving truth power.
“We cannot continue to let this dangerous President erode this country’s reputation. We must stand up for our nation’s values because it is clear President Trump will not.”
* US Rep. Jan Schakowsky…
“Just when you thought Donald Trump could not get any more racist, he digs down to an even deeper low. These vile comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of the Presidency. It is time for my Republican colleagues to say so. Enough is enough. Silence is complicity.”
I have yet to receive any press release or see a social media post by an Illinois politician praising the president’s remarks. I’ll let you know if that happens.
…Adding… Lame…
…Adding… Rep. Roskam…
“If true, the reported comments made by the President are disappointing and I urge him to reiterate his commitment to continuing America’s legacy as a welcoming country for those seeking a better life and those willing to play by the rules. Our country has opened its arms to legal immigrants from around the world and we should never disparage anyone from any country. Illinois’ 6th district has been a welcoming place for people from every nation, prioritizing missions and service to challenging regions across the globe to help make our world a better place. We must understand and appreciate that there are many people who wish for the opportunity to come to our country and live out the American Dream.”
- JoeMaddon - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
**I have yet to receive any press release or see a social media post by an Illinois politician praising the president’s remarks. I’ll let you know if that happens.**
LOL
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
===I have yet to receive any press release or see a social media post by an Illinois politician praising the president’s remarks.===
Other than Rauner’s comment, did you hear anything about this from any Republicans? Paul Ryan pushed back on Trump, so i think it’s OK for House Republicans to pile-on. Just curious if any bothered to share their feelings.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
Totally spineless response from people like Rodney Davis. A clear difference in leadership, and really basic humanity, from Democrats and Republicans. DJT is a disgrace.
https://goo.gl/tBZMCW
- MorkNMindy - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:47 pm:
Quinn: https://www.facebook.com/quinnforillinois/posts/1528983420524372
- Mongo - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
Rich, didn’t Rodney Davis issue a sort-of supportive comment?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
Well, if you ever wondered if there was anything Trump WOULDNT say, wonder no more. All accelerator, no brakes.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Wow, the “both sides” thing again. Lame indeed.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
“…at least he said something.”
Yep, as little as possible after touting himself for nearly 4 minutes on how great he’s been on veterans and schools. If it’s not a political conversation he can control or manipulate, he’s not interested in talkin’. If Madigan had said something like that, the attack ads would be going out today.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
I would never use such language with members of the Legislature. They don’t give me any effing problems.
I would have phrased it differently, something like “those countries are in deep yogurt.”
Fake Bruce Rauner
- a drop in - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
I would imagine the challenge to ending the Temporary Protected Status designation for Haiti (and other) refugees will have to include the President’s racial state of mind.
- Glengarry - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
Rodney should be thankful I don’t live in his district any longer, because I’m not voting for such a lame congressman.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
Rodney appears to lack a couple of things generally found on both sides of something else.
Why advertise it?
- Moe Berg - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:09 pm:
Can someone wake up the Kennedy campaign? Nothing?
- Anon - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
Trump’s words and sentiments are repugnant. IMO, the only one that should hold his head high today is Sen. Graham. He challenged Trump at the meeting. Durbin didn’t speak up at the meeting where the comments were made or immediately after. Only after it became public did he speak up. Typical.
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
I’ve never been a fan of Schakowsky but her silence is complicity comment hits the mark. Republicans are going to have to cut ties with Trump it’s just a question of win.
Davis on the other hand shows exactly not how to handle this. His response is the equivalent of “there are bad people on both sides”.
- Wattaboutaburger - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:26 pm:
Davis’s “tone down our rhetoric” kick he’s been on is the most disingenuous thing I’ve seen in a while. I’m surprised he even addressed what Trump said, for someone who bragged about his access to the president, he sure doesn’t seem to want to address the bile djt spews.
That both sidesism he spouts is even more lame and offensive
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
A politician deals with this outrage by weighing the political effect of saying ‘X’ vs’Y’. It may take minutes or hours to come to a “statement” moment. A very few will just pipe up and say the right thing, to hell with the fallout. There are so few of them to praise these days. (Does anyone remember Larry Pressler?)
- Gone, but not forgotten - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
Pundent - @3:18 pm: “just a question of win” - really? How Freudian.
- IRLJ - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Ives…anybody talk to her?
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
Why does Senator Durbin want to blow up immigration reform by leaking Trump’s intemperate remarks in their private meeting?
Does he want the DACA situation resolved or do the Democrats want to continue to use this as a political issue?
Why didn’t Senator Durbin and President Obama resolve this when the Democrats had total control of Washington for two years? We can’t keep deferring action on these people forever.
Democrats are playing both sides of this issue without regard tp consistency. We can’t send the refugees back to Haiti because the country is still a disaster but when Trunp calls Haiti a #$%^hole they go ballistic.
- Been There - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:47 pm:
===Durbin didn’t speak up at the meeting where the comments were made or immediately after. Only after it became public did he speak up. Typical===
Sometimes when negotiating you need to decide what is more important at the time. Do you blow up the pending deal while in the room over the other sides repungnant rants or do you try and keep the deal going and try and get the results. That is more important to me.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
==Why does Senator Durbin want to blow up immigration reform by leaking Trump’s intemperate remarks in their private meeting?==
You have no idea what’s going on, do you?
The White House put a brick on the bipartisan deal around midafternoon yesterday. WaPo had the “****hole” story in the early evening. Durbin didn’t talk until this morning.
Maybe sit this one out while the adults are talking, huh?
- Politix - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
So Davis says there is blame on both sides? Where have I heard this before…
- Politix - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
Rauner’s response is equally disappointing. If you won’t acknowledge racism happening right before your very eyes, you are complicit.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:54 pm:
Perhaps instead of weakly urging Trump “to reiterate his commitment”, Roskam should actually find his spine, start standing up to the president and prove that the “6th district has been a welcoming place for people from every nation”.
- zatoichi - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 3:56 pm:
I am sure the Oval Office is a sanctified monestary of proper language, but I am also sure Johnson and Nixon fired off more than a few choice words that assaulted many people’s ears while in that room. They also knew what the job required and when to stop. Trump just has no censor to control his brain and mouth.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
==do the Democrats want to continue to use this as a political issue==
lol. Because immigrants aren’t being used as a political issue by Republicans either. At least be honest in your criticism. I know that’s a hard ask.
What about immigration isn’t a political issue Lucky?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:04 pm:
Dirty words being said in the oval office doesn’t hold a candle to some of the awful things done in that office. What was said isn’t good, but let’s not forget Bill Clinton. Any party trying to claim the moral high ground in this has got to be kidding themselves.
- Keyser Soze - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:06 pm:
I don’t care for crude commentary. But, I also don’t think that coarse language is uncommon among politicians, or among developers, contractors, etc, etc. Does anyone remember Lyndon Johnson, arguably the most effective politician of his generation? Or, how about Rahm Emanuel?
Donald Trump’s behavior doesn’t surprise anyone these days. I am actually more disappointed with someone’s sanctimonious race to the press in order to shame Trump. How do you conduct a closed negotiation with someone who can’t be trusted to honor the implied confidentiality that normally attaches to such matters?
- Demoralized - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
I’m disturbed just as much or more by the people that don’t have a problem with language such as this coming from the President of the United States. Trump has made the Office of the Presidency a s-hole with the way he speaks and acts.
- Saluki - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:09 pm:
Poor Daniel Biss. Always flailing around for attention.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
Are we sure the Guv isn’t referring to Trump’s comment about getting more immigrants from Norway? His immigrant grandparents from Sweden must be rolling over in their graves.
- askdyut;vn - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:18 pm:
“if true…disappointing”. or, “that language has no place” These phases are spoken by politicians who won’t acknowledge the elephant in the room. Seriously. It is not that hard. The President* does not believe “all men are created equal” and wants to make policy based on his view of which people are more or less worthy in his genius opinion. And don’t believe it just applies to immigrants from foreign lands and not different classes of U.S. citizens who deserve equal treatment under our laws. A political party dedicated to supporting that proposition used be called Democrats, in 1860, and now goes by another name.
- cdog - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:28 pm:
Did I miss the Pritzker family’s announcements about their new hotel ventures in Haiti? North Africa?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:31 pm:
And the Golden Horseshoe for most pathetic deflection goes to…cdog.
Congratulations and thanks for playing.
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:32 pm:
Not to be outdone by Davis, Roskam feels compelled to remind us how utterly out of touch he is. “If true”? Really? You’re suggesting that we give Trump the benefit of the doubt at this point? This is about as daft as Hatch saying that he had to find out what Trump intended to mean by his comments.
If you’re argument is that this is about crude commentary or language you do not get it. The president was once again making his true beliefs know. The fact that he chose to use these particular words is irrelevant. As Rich said it’s not the language it’s what’s behind the language.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:38 pm:
–Did I miss the Pritzker family’s announcements about their new hotel ventures in Haiti? North Africa?–
You’re missing plenty.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jan 12, 18 @ 4:40 pm:
==Did I miss the Pritzker family’s announcements about their new hotel ventures in Haiti? North Africa?==
You haven’t really wrapped your arms around the issue here, have you? You don’t have to build in one of these countries to understand that the people there are no less deserving of America than anyone else.