Not-so warm Trump welcome in Allentown as Puerto Ricans swing away after offensive rally

[Dulcinea]

(USA Today) Victor Martinez’s radio stations were flooded with calls. Yesenia Westerband’s food truck customers were buzzing about it. Guillermo Lopez’s Facebook feed was full of comments.

"Como Puertorriqueño te diré que eso no tiene manera de disculparse!!!" one listener commented on Martinez's show. "As a Puerto Rican there's no apology that will do."

As Donald Trump descended on Allentown, Pennsylvania Tuesday for a rally, remarks by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at the former president’s Madison Square Guardian event Sunday calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” were rocketing through the community’s sizeable Puerto Rican population.

Martinez, Westerband and Lopez all are of Puerto Rican heritage and said Hinchcliffe’s comments were the talk of the majority Hispanic town, enflaming the community and likely moving votes.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/not-warm-trump-welcome-allentown-005507443.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id=DY_VTO&ncid=crm_19908-1202929-20241030-0&bt_user_id=0ZJi0HcBzAhf6rmXuv%2BkVGgCgAX7cPjfl1kRZDqnCC7cW3OqZlXEHKKiMaBO6vD2&bt_ts=1730289247382

[riversedge]

1. I just hope these upset voters Swing to BLUE!!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I'm sure this has blown up in Reading, PA too

which is now a majority-Hispanic town.

[Lucky Luciano]

3. I've never seen any group more patriotic about their homeland than Puerto Ricans.

If you’ve ever been at their annual parade by Central Park around the second Sunday in June, you’d know what I mean.

Proudest people I’ve ever seen! This will move votes.

[LisaM]

13. I was in Chicago one year when they were having the Puerto Rico parade.

It was a huge, joyous occasion.

[Olympian Hiawatha]

4. K&R

[70sEraVet]

5. The best apology would be to grant Puerto Rico statehood...

So that the island's residents can have a voice!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Not all want it. Best apology would be losing the election

If tRump wins he could facilitate them exercising the right to self-determination. He wouldn't do that.

Not all want statehood. Some want independence. Some (few?) like it the way it is.

[Akakoji]

8. ¡Wepa!

That will never happen until there are lots less Republican Senators!

[Farmer-Rick]

14. There are quite a few Puerto Rican nationalists

Who want independence from the US. They want their own country. So, we need to let Puerto Ricans decide.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. It's about what tRump didn't say

tRump thinks "I didn't say it, so I don't have to apologize". Republicons take their cue from him and are silent or hiding.

He didn't actually say the so-called joke. But he hasn't apologized or condemned it, as far as I know. I searched too, but news is full of nonsense about the Biden mis-statement.

It's so simple. tRump doesn't even have to apologize. He could have said "I didn't hear it or vet it, but I condemn it. Puerto Rican islanders are fine citizens."

[BattleRow]

9. Silence gives consent.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Lots of silent Republicons. . . . . nt

[BattleRow]

16. Acquiescent accomplices..and volunteer"victims".

I keep hearing the phrase turn the page.
I say,way past time to close the book..and then,throw it at him.

[Farmer-Rick]

15. Exactly right

Not saying or doing something is taking sides, usually the side of the rich and powerful.

[orangecrush]

11. KICK

[LilElf70]

12. And Trump proves how stupid he is, AGAIN

I'm pretty sure this dipshit said he hires nothing but the best. NOT!!!!... During his residency, he fired all of his best picks. He obviously learned nothing, as he continues to hire morons.

What a loser!!!!!

It's like he really wants to lose. And he's doing a mighty fine job at that.

[lees1975]

17. It riled up Puerto Ricans here in Chicago.

Flags came out, calls in to talk shows, social media posts. How many votes does it have the potential to generate? I'm not sure a pollster could answer that question. Puerto Ricans were solidly behind Harris already for the most part. But in Pennsylvania, if that picks up another 10,000 votes, that's a good thing. IT could do a lot more damage in Florida.

[Dulcinea]

18. Here in Atlanta, too.

https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/puerto-rican-community-in-metro-atlanta-condemns-remarks-at-trump-rally-in-new-york/UK72MJI7YZBTVKXU7HS2T7URUE/