Republican Mayor of East Haven exemplifies GOP's problems with Latinos

Christ almighty:

When [reporter] Diaz asked [East Haven Republican mayor Joseph] Maturo what he planned to do for the Latino community in response to the arrests of four East Haven police officers on federal charges that they discriminated against Latino residents and others, Maturo said, "I might have tacos when I go home. I'm not quite sure yet." 

He initially defended the comment, saying: "When you ask me what I would do for Latinos, I may go out and have a Latino dinner in the Latino community. There's nothing wrong with that and you can twist it and turn it whichever way the press decides to do." 

He later apologized, saying it was his 12th or 13th interview of the day.[…] He went on to say that there were a lot "bigger things that we should be concerned about than that type of remark. […] If it harmed anybody or hurt anybody, I apologize," Maturo said. "Yeah, it's probably a little insensitive, but it was late in the day."

If you are a latino in East Haven who may be afraid of being systematically discriminated against by the authorities, worry not: Mayor Maturo will be having tacos for dinner!

Source.

The Daily Beast had a great post this morning, that basically highlighted how out-of-touch Republicans are with reality: "[Unless] Republicans win enough support from Hispanic voters, it doesn’t matter what happens in the rest of the campaign. The GOP will lose." Exactly right. Newt Gingrich saying that latinos and black people don't understand what the "key to future wealth" is? Rick Perry defending South Carolina's racial profiling laws while using militaristic terms? The teabaggers ignorantly booing Mexico (yes, the entire country) during the 16th debate? These are not isolated incidents.

Mayor Maturo (quite a misleading name, if you ask me) is an idiot who should consider resignation. However, his initial tone-deafness – coupled with the lack of response from the far-right Connecticut Republican Party – is absolutely offensive. It's not terribly surprising, though, with the current state of the oh-so-race conscious Republicans.