By Kaitlan Collins
This Monday, the Washington Watch’s Terry Gross released a fun and light-hearted article titled “Getting to Know Our Senators.” This article aimed to provide everyone with information and fun-facts about senators that you may not know. However, the article quickly took a dark turn when it was later revealed that Senator Cornyn decided to impersonate Senator Padilla and answer his questions for him.
Cornyn’s comments as Padilla were anything but fun and light-hearted. Many of his comments could also be considered as racist. The most severe answer Cornyn offered was for Padilla’s favorite movie, stating it was The Birth of a Nation. The movie The Birth of a Nation is widely acknowledged as the movie which reignited the white supremacist KKK movement. Senator Padilla himself is a Latino and Senator Cornyn making fun of a movie which has largely contributed to racism and hatred in the United States is anything but acceptable in today’s society.
Cornyn also used racial stereotypes in his answers. For the favorite food section of the article, Cornyn said that Padilla’s favorite Thanksgiving food is Benny’s tacos. Could he not atleast come up with something more creative instead of resorting to racial stereotypes?
Cornyn also made light of the women’s struggles and immigration rights struggles we have seen lately. Cornyn stated that Senator Padilla’s typical Saturday consists of conspiring with Republicans to restrict access to abortion rights and to deport immigrants. Padilla, who is outspoken on both immigration and women’s rights, was rightfully angry by this answer. It is absolutely not funny at all to joke about so many people who have lost there lives due to these struggles.
Many people were confused why Cornyn would do something so disrespectful to one of his colleagues. Cornyn stated, “I wanted to get back at her for her slandering me as opposed to interracial marriage in Foreign Affairs Committee, which is patently untrue… However, I see the error in my thinking and I regret ever submitting a response.”
Cornyn has been especially critical of Padilla, especially on Twitter, despite Padilla being a Democrat who is especially committed to bipartisanship. Many in the Senate credit Padilla as one of the most effective Democratic leaders currently in the Senate. Despite being questioned about this pattern of actions, Cornyn insisted “I do not have a personal vendetta against Senator Padilla.”
When confronted with the inherent racism of his action Cornyn stated, “I unequivocally denounce racism in every form. I did not mean to belittle Alex Padilla’s ethnicity. I thought it was an inoffensive, jokey answer. I wish Padilla would focus on the real issues facing America, such as inflation, the border crisis, and the opioid crisis rather than throwing around false accusations of racism.” Isn’t it concerning that Cornyn, an elected official, doesn’t realize the difference between a joke and racism?
Padilla responded to Cornyn’s impersonation with a press release condemning Cornyn’s actions. He stated, “It is disturbing that another member of Congress would impersonate me in such a defamatory manner…Senator Cornyn who should be held accountable for impersonating me in a defamatory manner, but I guess, like his favorite sports team the Astros, the only way he could beat me was by cheating.”
Republicans should think about taking a close look at who represents their party. Do they truly want someone who thinks of these racist remarks as funny to be a representation of their party and its values?
Commentaires