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In reply to the discussion: Wanna Know Who Made Racism ''Acceptable Again'' in the good ol' USA? [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)August 17, 1988|Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS A bristling Vice President George Bush today defended his description of his three Mexican-American grandchildren as "the little brown ones," saying, "This heart knows nothing but pride and love" for the children.
"For anyone to suggest that that comment of pride is anything other than what it was, I find it personally offensive," Bush said at a news conference with his running mate, Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana.
Bush on Tuesday introduced his grandchildren to President Reagan at a brief airport meeting.
"These are Jebby's kids from Florida, the little brown ones," the vice president said. The three youngsters are the children of Bush's son, Jeb, and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.
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But in Los Angeles, Al Belmontez, vice president of one of the local labor chapters of the Mexican-American Political Assn., said Bush's remark reflected insensitivity.
"Just saying that means he knows they're different. He didn't say, 'Those are my grandchildren.' He didn't just refer to the kids by their names," Belmontez said. "That just shows that he's . . . insensitive."
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Treasury Secretary James A. Baker III, Bush's campaign chairman, told reporters, "The vice president is extremely proud of the fact that his grandchildren are 50% Hispanic."
SOURCE: http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-17/news/mn-655_1_pride