President Obama has “inflamed racial tensions” and Vice President Joe Biden has used “incendiary rhetoric” that has “divided us rather than bringing us together,” said Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“President Obama, when he was elected, he could have been a unifying figure,” said Cruz. “He could have chosen to be a leader on race relations and bring us together. And he hasn’t done that, he’s made decisions that I think have inflamed racial tensions, that have divided us rather than bringing us together.”
“You know in the last election cycle, when [Vice President] Joe Biden said on the campaign trail to an African American, ‘They’re gonna put you back in chains,’ that kind of incendiary rhetoric… is deliberately dividing and enflaming tensions.”
President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber Javier Palomarez asked Cruz: “As President, how would you address the racial tensions that stubbornly still exist in this country?”
“What’s been happening in Baltimore is heartbreaking,” replied Cruz.
“America’s original sin was slavery,” Cruz said. “It was a grotesque and immoral institution. Indeed the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, was elected on a campaign to end slavery. But we have paid the consequences, the vestiges of that evil institution in this country, but I think we need leadership that brings us together instead of trying to divide us."
While conceding that there are “bad actors” Cruz said, “The vilification of law enforcement has been fundamentally wrong, and has hurt the minority."
When asked what he would do to improve race relations, Cruz said he backs criminal justice reform, and that he would also focus on “tone and language and rhetoric. Not have the president inflaming racial tensions, rather have the president working to appeal to our shared values.”
Cruz is the son of a Cuban immigrant and is against “amnesty,” but to this Hispanic audience, he used a different tone, saying that Republicans should be able to win the Hispanic vote because both groups believe in family values and hard work.
“It is a lie” that Republicans “are the party of the rich,” he said.
Cruz spoke passionately about Hispanic small businesses and their prodigious work ethic.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Hispanic panhandler. And the reason is: In our community it would be shameful to be begging on the street,” said Cruz, a remark he’s made before.
Jeb Bush is also courting the Hispanic vote and flew to Puerto Rico Tuesday for several events.
Palomarez asked Cruz about a Time magazine article that criticized Cruz for his Spanish language ads. His Spanish ads did not mention his opposition to Obamacare and Obama’s executive actions on immigration, while Cruz mentioned those issues in his English language ads.
“I have not been ambiguous on my views on Obamacare,” said Cruz. “And I promise you… I intend to make 2016 a referendum on repealing Obamacare and adopting a flat tax so we can bring back growth and economic opportunity.”
Asked if he would mention these positions in his Spanish ads in the future, Cruz said, “Absolutely.”