Sure, she did say that the Latino community was unique, like breakfast tacos are unique, but that’s not really the same thing. Here are her actual words.
“[W]ith 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.”
It’s really sad to see conservatives jumping all over these comments as though they are racist. She compared the diversity of the community to three things. Is she also saying that Latinos are bodegas? Or flowers?
It’s bad enough when the left rushes to be the first offended whenever a conservative says something that might be mis-heard or misunderstood, for example when a black student was offended and outraged at the word “niggardly” being used in a college lecture. It’s not a racial epithet, nor is it the “n-word” yet the professor was branded a racist over it. But when conservatives jump on the faux-offended bandwagon over what was clearly meant to be a complimentary statement it just goes to prove that we don’t talk to each other anymore, instead we talk past each other.
Could the first lady have chosen a better simile? Perhaps. Was she being deliberately racist? I don’t think so.
I don’t she was, either. I find it hard to stomach that anyone would make much of her clumsy expression regardless of what side of the divide one is. I laughed when I heard it. That’s about as serious as anyone should take it, and frankly, right wing responses I’ve heard are similar, though I admit I haven’t heard that many.
First line should have said “I don’t think she was, either.” But you knew that.
Typos and omissions in comments happen all the time. Thanks for the clarification though.