Somalis in Maine strike back after Trump’s comments at rally

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Donald Trump’s characterization of Somalis as dangerous and a drag on resources could undo years of work that they have done to establish themselves in the country’s whitest state, Somali residents said Friday.

Trump told a packed audience in Portland on Thursday that Maine is a “major destination” for Somali refugees and that they’re coming from some of the “most dangerous” places. All told, about 10,000 Somalis lives in Portland and Lewiston, Maine’s largest cities.

The Somali Community Center of Maine said the Republican presidential candidate’s remarks were a setback for immigrants who have worked hard to become part of the state’s fabric over the past two decades.

“It is damaging to the psyche of our youth to hear a major party presidential nominee insult our culture and religion, especially while standing next to the governor of our state,” the community center said in a statement. “We condemn his name calling, scapegoating and the lies perpetrated by his campaign.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2016/08/05/somalis_in_maine_strike_back_after_trumps_comments_at_rally/

[Hortensis]

1. His despicable staff assisted in this. Trump wouldn't know a Somali

from a tamale, or Maine from Scotland for that matter. He does know how to appeal to the worst in voters, though.

[oberliner]

2. He read it off a sheet of paper

Clearly had no idea what he was saying.

[Hortensis]

3. He didn't understand what he was saying, but absolutely

he did understand what he was doing.

[oberliner]

4. Yes, indeed

But clearly this was prepared by someone else for him to read.

You should've heard him struggle to pronounce "Uzbek" and try to make sense of what the word even meant (he clearly had no idea who are what that was).

[Hortensis]

19. Lol. Didn't hear, unfortunately, but heard comment

that someone should teach him to pronounce the names of these nations.

[awoke_in_2003]

22. I think he does know what he is saying

His speeches are not written by speech writers. They sound like they are the rantings of an angry 15 year old boy. That is what he has always been, and that is the mentality most of his white male supporters have.

[oberliner]

23. Not they stuff he was reading

They were definitely written by speech writers, and he had no idea what he was saying.

When he talks off the cuff, of course, that's a different story. That's all him.

But over the past two days or so, he has had these sheets of paper that he has read from that are clearly not his words.

As an example, he tried to say "Uzbek" and had no idea what it was or how to say it.

[MBS]

20. Perfect!

That's Trump, and his sordid campaign, in three perfect sentences.

It's bad enough to be racist oneself , or to condone racist attitudes in order to appeal to racist voters.
But Trump actually goes out of his way to foment racial hatred.

Scariest election in my lifetime.

[riversedge]

5. Trump needs to his trap. Period!! It is really sad--and dangerous what he is doing to

so many good people here in the US. damn!!

[treestar]

6. Dump is a mean, nasty person

Hateful scumbag.

[Coventina]

7. Hmmmm....yeah Trump, Somalia is an extremely dangerous place, that's why they are fleeing.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Believe Canada has taken more

refugees than us. And have not heard of any issues from the Great White North. But then,Trump lives in a parallel universe some where.

[Still In Wisconsin]

9. My son's soccer coaches- both of them- are Somali...

they are wonderful guys, and GREAT teachers of the game. They clearly love our kids. They work their asses off all week and then coach kids every evening for free.

Oh, and the team is 13-0

[awoke_in_2003]

10. We need to bring back

"E Pluribus Unum". This is what our country was built on, not "In God We Trust".

[eShirl]

11. good idea

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Growing up in Cleveland...

many of my neighbors were immigrant families who came here to get away from Italy and Germany. Both took a lot of time to recover after WWII. They were hard working people who took pride in what they achieved for themselves here. They tended to have the best looking houses and yards, too.

[kimbutgar]

13. i have met several Somali people and they are good hardworking kind people

In the schools I sub at the Somali children are the most respectful and best behaved kids in the class.

[jpak]

21. Agreed and some of my top students too

yup

[Augiedog]

14. Need new Wikipedia entry picture for definition is "asshole". Trump comes to mind for some reason

[Ilsa]

15. WTF is he doing in Maine, anyway?

He's pissed away leads everywhere, is sinking in predominately red states, but he's in freaking Democratic Maine? For 4 electoral votes when he needs to worry about PA, OH, MI, GA, MO, etc? As Bugs would say, "What a maroon."

[olddad56]

17. going after that on special electoral vote.

he has to go somewhere, he has sort of worn out his welcome everywhere else.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

25. Portland area (district 1) isn't where he could potentially win though.

Last edited Mon Aug 8, 2016, 11:04 AM - Edit history (2)

Trump only has a chance of winning in district 2, which is north and east of Portland. I have no idea why he was wasting his time in Portland.

[Gormy Cuss]

27. ^^This^^^

Must've been a favor to donors from the Cape or Foresides.

[Maine-i-acs]

18. Because we have a tool of a Governor and a small arena to fill

1,800 seats are easy for the despot to fill anywhere.

[smirkymonkey]

24. Hopefully the Somalis will register to vote and vote that pig LePage out of office!

That guy HAS to go!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

26. The ones I visited on Saturday had to be registered to vote.

We were only canvassing homes of people registered as dems or greens. Virtually everyone I met was Somali and they are all strongly supporting Hillary and really interested in voting. I think the dems can get more votes if we help immigrants like the Somalis with voting.

On edit: I thought you were talking about Trump there. There's no voting LePage out. He is on his second term as gov and we have 2 term limit for governors in Maine, so he can't run for governor again.

[jpak]

28. Charlie Webster will freak out if they are bused to the polls

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

30. Most of them live right in downtown area.

It is a close walk to city hall for them. They don't need to be bused. On election day there will probably be multiple different voting locations in Lewiston based on ward, but I told them there will be early voting some time in October and they could do that right at city hall.

[smirkymonkey]

29. Thanks for the info!

I wasn't aware about that about LePage. Well, at least hopefully we won't see the likes of him again!

[IronLionZion]

16. I keep hoping his candidacy was an elaborate joke gone too far

and any day now he's going to say "I can't believe you all fell for it" and drop out and leave it to Mike Pence.

Nobody can be such a slimy shithead.