Hey, Mike Pence! This Is #ThatMexicanThing You Should Pay More Attention To
Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence metio la pata last night during the vice presidential debate. No, we aren’t talking about how he lied and denied all the questionable things that Trump has said about women, Latinos, African-Americans, et al. Toward the end of the debate, Pence made the now-infamous gaffe of telling Tim Kaine that he “whipped out that Mexican thing again” when mentioning Trump’s first speech when he called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. Of course, Twitter responded with a clapback hashtag.
Here is the moment Mike Pence inadvertently created #ThatMexicanThing.
Pence: “Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again.”
America: “I’m sorry…what?”
So, immediately, folks took to Twitter to share stories of what #ThatMexicanThing really is and made sure the world knew who he was running with.
Disrespectful: One calls Mexicans "rapists" and "criminals" and the other refers to #ThatMexicanThing". Two peas in a pod. #VPDebate https://t.co/U2y0cjP2zo
— Samy Nemir Olivares (@Samynemir) October 5, 2016
Like, are Trump and Pence really that obsessed with us that they can’t stop talking about us?
Some people are letting Pence know that #ThatMexicanThing means paying your fair share of taxes.
#ThatMexicanThing is millions of Mexicans that live in this country and each one of them pay more taxes than @realDonaldTrump..
— Alberto Mercado (@albermercado) October 5, 2016
Let’s admit it. Trump has no ground to stand on there.
There is also the little thing called education.
Here's a picture of one of my friends doing #ThatMexicanThing aka graduating from college! #VPDebate #Pencedejo pic.twitter.com/5Li12vVKd0
— Jeronimo Saldaña (@JeronimoSaldana) October 5, 2016
Voto Latino took the social media reaction and created a website dedicated strictly to voting: thatmexicanthing.org.
Just for the record, Mexicans are truly welcoming and helpful people.
#ThatMexicanThing is when my immigrant parents opened their home and hearts to central american refugee kids
— Kanye Asada (@fidmart85) October 5, 2016
^^This is everything! ❤️
Mexican parents, and in fact most immigrant and minority parents, will always put their child’s education first.
#ThatMexicanThing where my parents sent all 4 of us girls to college. We have 5 bachelor's, 6 master's, and almost 1 Ph.D (writing my diss). https://t.co/8Fuxtk8r1x
— Toni Salazar L. (@MexHistorian) October 5, 2016
Seriously. What is so bad about #ThatMexicanThing, Mr. Pence?
#thatmexicanthing is my mom who immigrated to this country, pays her taxes and put two kids through college while managing a business ❤️????
— Frank Ramirez (@frankemilio) October 5, 2016
There were some heartbreaking and empowering stories of how hard people are willing to work.
#ThatMexicanThing is my abuelita who moved to San Antonio without speaking English & slept in a barn while picking lettuce every summer.
— Matthew Duarte (@matthew_duarte) October 5, 2016
Raise your hand if your immigrant grandparent struggled and worked hard to give you what you have now. ?????
Some people dropped historical knowledge on people.
#ThatMexicanThing is the uncomfortable realization that Mexicans were here long before a lot of y'all.
— hysterical & useless (@perryjoyce) October 5, 2016
D R A G H I M!
This person even shared a photo of their father’s military grave.
#ThatMexicanThing was my dad proudly serving in the US Army pic.twitter.com/mOS2ebdqNW
— Nicole Huerta (@mamaluvsdev) October 5, 2016
See. It seems that #ThatMexicanThing includes fighting for your freedom to speak negatively about those who fought for you. ?☕️?
There were also some people who shared stories of super hard working single mothers who refused to use government assistance.
#ThatMexicanThing is my single mom working 3 jobs to support her 3 kids because she refused to be on welfare!????
— ✨Reina✨ (@DesiBabyx33) October 5, 2016
There was some praise for Pence finally saying the line that would strengthen Mexicans, and Latinos, into an unstoppable force.
With one statement the Trump campaign killed the Mexican ? in the bucket syndrome #thatmexicanthing #thankyoutrump #mexicansmakeamericagrear
— Ana Lydia Monaco (@analydiamonaco) October 5, 2016
Even non-Latinos joined in to show support against Pence’s statement.
I'm a Black American, but I'll stand by right with my Mexican brothers and sisters any day of the week for this !????#ThatMexicanThing
— James Hendricks Jr (@James1972) October 5, 2016
It is becoming more and more important that we come together to vote for our familia and raza.
#ThatMexicanThing are my two rays of sunshine in a dark, dark world. pic.twitter.com/qzGOyfwMRq
— Pablo Valdevious (@PabloValdivia) October 5, 2016
Our parents did not work this hard to get this far for a president to talk down to them and make them feel worthless. VOTE!
READ: A Trans Mexican Immigrant Is Suing The GOP VP Candidate To Have Their Name Legally Changed
