Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders Slam Trump, Republicans At Latino Conference

Presidential candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination addressed the country’s largest Latino organization on Monday at a convention in Kansas City. No major Republican candidate spoke the event, the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) Annual Conference, according to the WSJ. While no Republican took the stage in person, one candidate was on the tip of every presenters lips: Donald Trump. Following comments calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and a reluctance for his GOP colleauges to repudiate those comments, Trump became a uniting enemy. His offensive remarks were mentioned in every presidential hopefuls’ speech, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).

“The Los Angeles Times ran a headline the other day: ‘Republican field divided on Donald Trump’s Comments about Mexican immigrants.’ Divided. As in, not sure he’s wrong?” O’Malley said in his 30-minute address, according to an advance copy of his remarks. “Two days ago, Mr. Trump attracted a crowd of over 4,000 people to listen to his hate speech rant against New American Immigrants. What does it say about the direction of today’s Republican Party that Donald Trump calls all New Americans from Mexico ‘rapists’ and ‘drug dealers’ and ‘murderers…’ and the best their leadership can summon up is that they’re ‘divided.’ There’s nothing to be divided about here!”

Trump’s comments did not divide Democrats addressing the NCLR, who avoided attacking each other especially over immigration. Instead, they played to their strengths. O’Malley’s speech focused on his support for Dreamers when he was governor of Maryland. In his speech, he used the word “immigrant” 6 times, preferring the term “New Americans,” which he used 11 times.

“For many years I have very intentionally and repeatedly used the term ‘New Americans.’ The genius of our country is not so much about where you came from, it’s where you’re going -- and where we’re all going, together.”

Self-styled socialist candidate Bernie Sanders often avoids the personal politics of race. After all, he serves a mainly white working-class constituency in Vermont and his most radical ideas are about the economy (tax the rich), education (make college free) and healthcare (institute single payer). However, Sanders opened his speech with an address on racism in America, in which he scolded Trump.

“Not Donald Trump, not anyone else will be successful in dividing us based on race or on our country of origin. America becomes a greater nation, a stronger nation, when we stand together as one people and in a loud and clear voice we say no to racism and bigotry,” Sanders said, according to excerpts released of the speech released by his campaign.

Hillary Clinton has already criticized Donald Trump’s comments, though not by name. She wasn’t so shy in front of the NCLR.

“It was appalling to hear Donald Trump describe immigrants [the way he did]. I have just one word for mister trump ‘basta’ -- enough.”

Julian Castro also took a swing at Trump, telling the crowd that Americans “will not stand” for his inflammatory speech. The prominent Democrat is currently Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Many, including myself, have speculated that he could become a VP pick in the 2016 campaign.