Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas, the first Mexican woman in Congress, says she has been the target of racist slurs because she is a Hispanic Republican, not a Democrat.
She recently took to Twitter to list the various derogatory names that have been thrown at her, such as “Miss Beans,” since she won a special House election in June, flipping a southwest Texas seat that Democrats held for almost a century.
“So far this summer, the far left has referred to me as a far right Latina, not a Real Deal, Breakfast Taco, unqualified opponent for being born in Mexico, Miss Frijoles,” wrote the Mrs. flowers “That’s what happens when you step away from their narrative and start thinking for yourself!”
She is not alone.
Hispanic Republicans have faced a barrage of racist attacks as the party has made significant inroads with Hispanic voters in recent years, resulting in more Hispanic GOP candidates and members of Congress.
“It wasn’t until I was in Republican politics in Washington DC that I felt discriminated against,” said Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif. “I’ve had people tell me that you’re not a real Hispanic if you vote Republican or if you believe in [conservative] values”,
Yesli Vega, a GOP candidate seeking to unseat Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, said she has been called a white supremacist and other harsh names since entering the political spotlight.
“It only comes from the Democrats,” said Ms. Vega “For so long, you have one [Democratic Party] who has been preaching to Americans that they are the party of acceptance and tolerance and that they want to encourage more women to come forward, especially minority women…and suddenly I’m not all those great things that once defended “
The Democratic Party has long made allegations of racism and bigotry a staple of its campaigns against Republicans, though it has been slow to condemn attacks on minority Republican candidates, including rhetoric that labels black Republicans as ” Uncle Tom” or “Oreos”.
Rep. Raúl Ruiz, a California Democrat who chairs the congressional Hispanic caucus, pointed the finger at Republicans.
“Democrats running, whether you’re African-American or Latino, are attacked with racially motivated attacks all the time,” Ruiz said. “In the House, we often see Republican members denigrating minority populations, especially immigrants, so this is nothing new.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., denounced racial slurs against Ms. Flores by a blogger who worked for a Democratic congressman.
“This racist and sexist behavior of the Democratic deputy Vicente Gonzalez is disgusting. She owes Rep. Mayra Flores an apology, and every other Democrat in Congress, including Speaker Pelosi, should condemn her conduct,” Mr. McCarthy tweeted.
The blogger had referred to Ms. Flores as “Miss Frijoles”, “Miss Enchiladas” and a “Cotton Liar”.
Mr. Gonzalez, whose Texas district borders Ms. Flores said he did not pay the blogger, Jerry McHale, for the political attacks and condemned that rhetoric.
“We will not be advertising on this platform again,” said Mr. Gonzalez told The Washington Post, adding that he also condemned former President Donald Trump for calling Mexicans “rapists and murderers.”
“If only Rep. Flores had the courage to do the same,” he told the paper.
Mr. Trump made the comment when he launched his presidential bid in 2015, referring to illegal immigrants by saying that Mexico was not “sending its best” and that murderers and rapists were among the border jumpers.
Other Democrats said the insults aimed at Hispanic Republicans are the same that Hispanic Democrats have endured for years.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said he has had plenty of experience with racist comments since entering politics, including comments telling him to “go back to Mexico” by Tea Party activists in 2010.
“I don’t care if he’s a Republican or a Democrat,” Cuéllar said. “These kinds of racist comments should not be allowed.”
