GOP Lawmaker Uses Racist Trope, Calls Chinese American Colleague Disloyal

A number of members of Congress condemned the lawmaker’s racist phrases, describing them as “disgusting” and “harmful.”

A far proper Republican is being referred to as out for suggesting the primary Chinese language American lawmaker within the Home of Representatives is disloyal to the USA.

Final week, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) recommended a person named Dominic Ng, who was appointed because the U.S. member of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation Enterprise Advisory Council final yr, harbored anti-U.S. viewpoints and had “existing Chinese Communist Party ties.”

Consultant Gooden and different Republicans made these claims based mostly on a report from The Each day Caller, a conservative web site that has been involved in a number of controversies regarding its distorting of details, in addition to its connections to white supremacists. The publication, for instance, allowed a famous white nationalist to write down a few of its information protection of the fascist-led rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

Quite a lot of lawmakers in Congress disputed that report, and Gooden’s claims, with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus writing a press launch condemning his assaults towards Ng.

The group wrote:

As with each presidential appointee, Dominic Ng, who’s Chinese language American, has undergone an in depth vetting course of and sworn an oath to assist and defend the Structure and serve the American public. No Chinese language Individuals — certainly no Individuals — ought to face suspicions of disloyalty or treason based mostly on their ethnicity, nation of origin, or that of their relations.

That prompted Consultant Gooden, throughout a Fox Information interview on Wednesday night time, to assault that cacaus’s chief, Rep. Judy Chu (D-California).

“I query her both loyalty or competence,” Gooden said, expressing a sentiment that has been a racist trope against Asian Americans for several generations.

Gooden additionally accused Consultant Chu of “standing up for China’s Communist Occasion,” with out offering proof of her connection to that entity.

“I’m actually upset and shocked that somebody like Judy Chu would have a safety clearance and [be] entitled to confidential intelligence briefings till that is discovered,” he added.

Chu responded on Thursday to Gooden’s clearly racist and misinformed commentary.

“Rep. Gooden’s feedback on Fox Information questioning my loyalty to the USA is completely outrageous,” Chu said in a statement. “It’s based mostly on false data unfold by an excessive, right-wing web site. Moreover, it’s racist. I very a lot doubt that he can be spreading these lies had been I not of Chinese language American descent.”

Others got here to Chu’s protection as nicely, blasting Gooden for his bigoted phrases.

“Attacking the loyalty of Asian Individuals like @RepJudyChu is a racist trope that has harmed Asian Individuals all through US historical past. Cease harming Individuals of Asian descent,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-California) said on Twitter, directing his remarks towards Gooden.

“My buddy @RepJudyChu is an American patriot and certainly one of our nation’s most interesting public servants,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-New York) said. “At a time when anti-AAPI violence is at document highs, @Lancegooden’s racist feedback will not be solely disgusting and unacceptable, they’re additionally harmful.”

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus additionally once more responded to Gooden, writing on Thursday that the Republican lawmaker’s feedback had been rooted in historic falsehoods.

“After centuries of being focused for not being ‘American sufficient’ and considered with suspicion based mostly on wanting ‘international,’ such a insinuation and worry mongering solely additional endangers our communities,” the group said in a statement. “We hope Republican Home management will be a part of us in condemning these sorts of assaults on Chinese language Individuals, elected or in any other case.”

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