Jill Biden's 'breakfast tacos' comment in speech stirs controversy
By: Scott Gleeson (USA TODAY)
Isn't just Joe it seems................
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Scott GleesonUSA TODAY
First lady Jill Biden drew backlash for saying Texas Hispanics are as "unique" as "breakfast tacos" in a speech Monday in San Antonio.
Her comments come a day before President Joe Biden meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the White House amid record migration in the hemisphere and high inflation in both countries.
Biden, speaking at the conference "Siempre Adelante: Our Quest for Equity," was complimenting the work of Raul Yzaguirre, who is president of the UnidosUS, the country's largest Latino civil rights advocacy group.
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"Raul helped build this organization with the understanding that the diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength," the first lady said.
People also scrutinized Biden's pronunciation of "bodegas" on social media. The crowd lightly cheered after her reference to breakfast tacos, and she shared a light laugh. The backlash came fast after the speech, namely from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
"Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region," the organization wrote. "NAHJ encourages Dr. Biden and her speech writing team to (take)the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities.
"We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by various diasporas, cultures & food traditions. Do not reduce us to stereotypes."
Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio responded to the first lady's comment by changing his Twitter profile picture to an image of a taco.
Janet Murguia, president and CEO of UnidosUS, did not address the controversy over the speech and tweeted that the group was "honored" to host Biden, noting: "She has been a great educator in, and a great amiga to, our community for years. Privileged to call her a friend."
Biden issued an apology Tuesday morning, regretting that her words conveyed anything but "pure admiration and love for the Latino community."
The first lady will be the keynote speaker Friday at the American Federation of Teachers Convention in Boston.
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Must run in the family ....................
I see the usual suspects are racing to defend her racist remark. The left is so out of touch with reality.
What's a bow-duh-gah?
She is hanging with Joe, it's starting to rub off. Soon she'll need a note to tell her to sit down.
Basically much ado about nothing. Every ethnic group gets reduced to stereotypes now and then.
But I wonder if the right was this critical when Trump ate a taco salad on Cinco de Mayo that was described as not authentically Mexican. Hmmm, they werent.
Don’t I know it. Every now and then I get told I’m as unique as a cannoli.
Have to wonder where this "controversy" falls in seriousness. Is it more serious or less than Obama's brown suit controversy?
Whataboutism noted.
“Every ethnic group gets reduced to stereotypes now and then.”
… like, “All the Hymies in Hymietown.”
Here JR, I summarized your comment.
There’s nothing “authentically Mexican” about any taco salad. It was invented in the 50s by Elmer Doolin - the guy who founded Fritos. They served his “Ta-Cup” at Disneyland.
Petty partisan crap. This is the nature of modern politics.
The best part of this story is watching the same people who would be screaming hate crime if a Republican said this do the " nothing to see here" routine.
Expected but still funny.
Maya Flores, just elected Republican from Texas, had a nice response.
"As per CNN: I'm not the real deal. Maybe I'm not the right type of taco
"
People need to get over themselves. These stories are usually stupid. If some people can be “as American as apple pie” then someone can be as Mexican or Latino as a freakin taco. Cultures have traditional foods. It’s not disrespectful to point it out. Be glad they’re talking about you at all.
Exactly, I like breakfast tacos, what’s wrong with that?
I'm as British as a Spotted Dick.