Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Trump Thrashes Susana Martinez

No honor among thieves:
1. The riff underscored the hollowness of Trump’s promises to unite the fractured Republican Party. He has routinely attacked GOP governors this year. Recall his criticisms of Scott Walker before Wisconsin’s primary or Nikki Haley before South Carolina’s. But this is the first time he’s done so as the presumptive nominee of his party. And this is not just any chief executive. Martinez chairs the Republican Governors Association, one of the party’s most important organs.

2. Attacking the most prominent Latina in his party will make Hispanic outreach even harder. There are many conservative Latinos who might be willing to hear Trump out, even if they are uneasy with his talk about the border wall and Mexican immigrants being rapists. But showing disrespect for conservative leaders in the community — mixed with tone-deaf outreach (taco salads!) — means that whatever else he may have to say will fall on deaf ears.

3. Last night’s rally further illustrates why Trump is on track to get clobbered among women. Martinez is not just Hispanic; she’s also the first female governor of New Mexico. Tellingly, she was not the only target of Trump’s ire. Several other women were in his crosshairs, as well, and his language was quite gendered.

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