Baltimore residents, leaders, and decent folks from all walks of life are forcefully striking back at trump’s despicable racist attack on Rep. Elija Cummings and the city of Baltimore earlier today. The Baltimore Sun wrote this scorching and incisive editorial, which in a few paragraphs, lays bare the tactics trump and his cohorts are increasingly adopting to keep their base frothing at their mouths. And concludes with these stinging words -
“Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.”
xThis excellent @baltimoresun editorial ends with 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/xnCd5B7c4vpic.twitter.com/GRjGR1O04S
— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) July 28, 2019This paragraph in the middle of the editorial is especially illuminating.
In pointing to the 7th, the president wasn’t hoping his supporters would recognize landmarks like Johns Hopkins Hospital, perhaps the nation’s leading medical center. He wasn’t conjuring images of the U.S. Social Security Administration, where they write the checks that so many retired and disabled Americans depend upon. It wasn’t about the beauty of the Inner Harbor or the proud history of Fort McHenry. And it surely wasn’t about the economic standing of a district where the median income is actually above the national average. No, he was returning to an old standby of attacking an African American lawmaker from a majority black district on the most emotional and bigoted of arguments. It was only surprising that there wasn’t room for a few classic phrases like “you people” or “welfare queens” or “crime-ridden ghettos” or a suggestion that the congressman “go back” to where he came from.
Here are a few more responses from leaders and pundits.
xBaltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack†Young slammed President Trump’s racist comments towards the city and Rep. Elijah Cummings https://t.co/Kz0VOTKB1O
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) July 27, 2019 x.@RepCummings is a champion in the Congress and the country for civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague. We all reject racist attacks against him and support his steadfast leadership. #ElijahCummingsIsAPatriothttps://t.co/2LG8AuQrHh
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 27, 2019 xDonald Trump’s tweets are ugly and racist. They’re purposefully designed to turn us against one another. We cannot let that happen. Instead, we must follow my friend Elijah Cummings’ example and keep doing the work for the American people. https://t.co/t7heu6k3wq
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 27, 2019 x.@RepCummings is one of the finest people I’ve ever served with. It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this way. Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 27, 2019 xElijah Cummings grew up facing racist bullies like Trump and learned to confront them with qualities unknown to Trump: courage and integrity. The great people of Baltimore have something Trump craves but will never have as he degrades the Office of the President: dignity.
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) July 27, 2019 xPeople would do well to note that Trump is adopting the vermin & infestation language used in Nazi Germany about Jews, Romas & others. Trump will ultimately come for everyone who won’t kowtow to him & acede to his plans.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 27, 2019 xIt's this kind of boldness that our country needs! Keep calling him out. I'm not from Baltimore- but I know countless people who are. Teammates, family, hardworking employees. All People that represent the best qualities of what it means to be American! & who want to live there!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) July 27, 2019 xEverything Donald Trump knows about Rep. Elijah Cummings and his Baltimore congressional district comes from the Fox & Friends segment he just watched. pic.twitter.com/Fy4RmkD5Pz
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) July 27, 2019 xTrump lied about Baltimore -- here are the facts about the city's homelessness, rats and crime using actual numbers #WeAreBaltimorehttps://t.co/cTEPJ0xmlQ
— Raw Story (@RawStory) July 28, 2019Words to live by -
xYou may shoot me with your words,You may cut me with your eyes,You may kill me with your hatefulness,But still, like air, I’ll rise.-Maya Angelou https://t.co/46jcXSXF0B
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2019We Are Baltimore!
x“The reporter hat [is] off, because this is ridiculous… There are awful references that this President is making, and it needs to stop.â€ÂWatch @AprilDRyan react to President Trump's attack on Baltimore, criticizing his use of the word “infested.†https://t.co/vEi5YUBRKhpic.twitter.com/QeBOa8I5V4
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) July 28, 2019Obama jumping into the fray as well. It’s about time. The future of the world is at stake.
xI’ve always been proud of what this team accomplished during my administration. But more than what we did, I’m proud of how they’re continuing to fight for an America that’s better. https://t.co/0cfDltjueP
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 27, 2019 xMy home town #Baltimore#WeAreBaltimorepic.twitter.com/Vj1pDhJDqQ
— Evan Kirstel (@evankirstel) July 28, 2019trump’s vile and heinous crap is obviously targeted at his supporters who need a daily fix of racist tweets to keep them going. I am quite sure the right-wing blogosphere is full of statements like this. But none of this will increase his support level and hopefully will drive some white women and independent voters away from the republican party. There is some evidence that he is losing white women voters.
Let’s keep the pressure up. The tide is turning. trump is getting more desperate, since he has nothing else to offer but racist rhetoric and appeals to the baser instincts of his base. Let’s make the entire GOP pay for this descent into the sewer by sending them packing home in 2020. Let’s spread the message, GOTV, donate and stand strong and united.