Md. Dems Vote to Condemn Trump’s Racist Remarks Toward Congresswomen

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Tuesday night voted largely along partisan lines to approve a resolution that condemns President Trump’s “racist comments directed at Members of Congress.”

The resolution passed the chamber by a vote of 240-187, with four Republicans and one independent joining their Democratic colleagues in publicly condemning Trump after he suggested that four Democratic congresswomen “go back” to the “places from which they came.”

Trump’s comments — which targeted Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — have dominated the political discourse on Capitol Hill this week. Democrats have overwhelmingly excoriated the president, while many Republicans have defended him or sought to avoid the issue.

The resolution, a stinging rebuke against the president, states that the House “strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color by saying that our fellow Americans who are immigrants, and those who may look to the President like immigrants, should ‘‘go back’’ to other countries.”

The four House Republicans who broke ranks with their party to support the resolution were Reps. Susan Brooks of Indiana, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Will Hurd of Texas and Fred Upton of Michigan. Justin Amash, a Michigan independent who recently abandoned the GOP, also voted in favor of the resolution.

Here’s how the Maryland delegation voted on the resolution:

Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-1st): No

Harris told WBAL’s Bryan Nehman that Trump’s remarks were “clearly not a racist comment.” Trump “could have meant go back to the district they came from — to the neighborhood they came from,” Harris said.

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2nd): Yes

“It’s a sad day when people ask you if you think @realDonaldTrump’s tweets are racist,” Ruppersberger wrote on Twitter. “Of course they are. They are completely unacceptable and beneath the office of the President. He must apologize to my colleagues and our country.”

Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-3rd): Yes

“President Trump’s racist and offensive comments about my colleagues in Congress are an insult to our values and an affront to proud communities of color everywhere in this country. Nothing is more patriotic than entering public service and working tirelessly to serve others. Reflecting the rich diversity of our nation makes Congress a stronger institution and ensures that the laws we make lift up all Americans.”

Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-4th): Yes

“There is no question that the President’s words are racist,” Brown wrote on Twitter. “His actions are repugnant, and his administration is morally bankrupt. He is unfit for the office he holds.”

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-5th): Yes

“The resolution to condemn @POTUS’s tweets is not about partisanship. It’s about confronting prejudice,” Hoyer wrote on Twitter. “No matter whether one believes he’s a racist or not, Members should vote for this resolution that condemns the words he spoke. They hurt. They are not American. They are not us.

Rep. David J. Trone (D-6th): Yes

“The comments made by the President this weekend were racist and just plain wrong,” Trone wrote on Twitter. “Our diversity is our strength, and we should be united behind one another to make our country stronger. This type of language is unacceptable.”

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-7th): Yes

“Today, I voted to condemn the President’s racist, xenophobic, and hateful tweets,” Cummings wrote on Twitter. “Americans—and the entire world—deserve better than this. We must be so much better than this.”

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th): Yes

“Trump’s racist rant against our colleagues unifies all patriotic Americans against him. It would make a lot more sense for him to go live w/ the corrupt kleptocrats filling his pockets w/ illegal Emoluments. While he consort w/ despots, @HouseDemocrats are fighting #ForThePeople,” Raskin wrote on Twitter.

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