Republican Party presidential nominee hopeful, businessman Donald Trump, has rankled many with his comments on Mexican-Americans at a time when the GOP is seeking to widen its appeal among Latino voters.
"Donald Trump's comments are hurtful for the cause of Republicans who want to reach out not just to Latinos but across many different ethnic barriers, said The problem with those comments is made worse by the fact that people will continue to confuse Trump with a Republican, which he is not, as opposed to thinking of him as an entertainer, which he is," said Ben Domenech, founder of The Federalist, a conservative opinion website, and a co-author of a 2012 guide for Republicans on Hispanic outreach, according to CNN.
During the 2012 Presidential elections, 71 percent of the rapidly growing group supported President Barack Obama, as compared to only 27 percent who were in favor of Republican Mitt Romney.
In a speech marking his entry into the Republican race last month at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump said Mexican immigrants are "bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
While Trump refused to back down from his opinions, several businesses including Macy's have severed ties with the business tycoon following his derogatory remarks against Latinos, as previously reported by HNGN.
NBC said in a company press statement that it would no longer air the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants "due to the recent derogatory remarks by Donald Trump regarding immigrants," according to The Tribune Express.
The business backlash continued with NASCAR saying that it would not hold its season-ending awards ceremony at the Trump National Doral Miami.
Former New York Gov. and Republican hopeful, George Pataki, expressed opposition to Trump because of his comments about the Latino population. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, son of Cuban immigrants, also criticized the businessman. saying his statements were "not just offensive and inaccurate, but also divisive."
While Hispanic leaders await a response from the many GOP presidential hopefuls, political analysts opine that Trump, despite being one of the most recognizable faces in America, is a long shot for the Republican Party nomination.
