First Lady Jill Biden apologized for saying the Latino community was as “unique” as “breakfast tacos” at the UnidosUS’ “LatinX IncluXion Luncheon.”
Summary
First Lady Jill Biden apologized for saying the Latino community was as “unique” as “breakfast tacos” at the UnidosUS’ “LatinX IncluXion Luncheon.”
- The First Lady said, “the diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas [which she mispronounced] of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.”
- The National Association of Hispanic Journalists chided Dr. Biden, saying, “We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by a variety of diasporas, cultures, and food traditions, and should not be reduced to a stereotype.”
- After the firestorm of criticism from the left and the right, the First Lady apologized.
- Her spokesman said, “The First Lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.”
- Politico’s coverage of the taco gaffe included Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s lighthearted criticism of the First Lady. Rubio changed his Twitter profile picture to a taco on the day of the controversy.
- The Washington Post called the incident a “minor flap,” although by Tuesday a clip of her remarks had already attracted 2 million views. The Post quoted Republican National Committee communications director Danielle Alvarez, who said “Their attempts to pander are disrespectful and derogatory.”
- CNN chose to highlight another section of Jill Biden’s remarks where she praised Raul Yzaguirre, the former president of UnidosUS, the host organization for the conference. President Joe Biden awarded Yzaguirre the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week.
- National Review mocked “Jill Biden’s ‘LatinX IncluXion Luncheon’ FiaXco” and the bizarre rules of woke language where “Latino” is offensive – except when the First Lady refers to “the Latino community” in her apology – and an “archaic,” gendered, “Western-imperialist” term like “First Lady” is somehow okay.
- Fox News rounded up statements from Republicans’ historic class of Hispanic Congressional candidates, who slammed the First Lady’s comments as “offensive” and “beyond the pale.”
- The Commentary Podcast crew poked fun at the First Lady and reveled in the fact multiple speechwriters and staffers had to approve that inane line before it ever made it onto Doctor Jill Biden’s TelePrompTer.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
