ICYMI: Hispanic Media Coverage Continues of Congressman Heck’s Refusal to Apologize for His Long-Time Aides’ Attacks on Cortez Masto’s Heritage
- Watch Coverage from Telemundo Las Vegas
- Read Metro Noticias, El Diario, La Prensa, La Opinión, La Raza, and Fusion
Background
Two former Heck aides, Tom McAllister, Heck’s former political director, and Mark Ciavola, Heck’s former campaign manager, attacked Catherine Cortez Masto’s Mexican heritage on Twitter.
Later, they doubled down and continued their attacks on Facebook, where Ciavola accused Cortez Masto of “hispandering.”
Congressman Heck’s campaign apologized for other offensive comments, but refused to apologize or condemn McAllister or Ciavola’s attacks.
Last week, former Nevada Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto and members of the Latino community held a press conference with leaders and members of the Las Vegas Latino community denouncing the racist and offensive remarks made by Congressman Joe Heck’s long-time trusted advisors, Tom McAllister and Mark Ciavola. Almost a week later, Congressman Heck still has not apologized for their reckless rhetoric. Spanish-language media has covered the incident and the subsequent press conference.
El Diario, La Prensa, La Opinión, La Raza: En Nevada, crece la batalla entre Heck y Cortez Masto por etnicidad y uso de español. (In Nevada, Growing Battle Between Heck and Cortez Masto over Ethnicity and Use of Spanish.) “The former Attorney General has called the idea that she is not Mexican enough because she does not speak Spanish ‘ridiculous,’ while noting that McAllister and Ciavola’s comments offend her and also offend many Mexican Americans who have contributed to the state.”
La Opinión: Trump Used to Attack Nevada Republican Senate Candidate
Rocío Sáenz, Vice President of SEIU, said in an interview that “Nevada voters are going to take an very important decision and we want to make sure that it’s clear that Joe Heck is not a friend of the community.” “There is no difference between Heck and Trump,” Sáenz added. “Both have used the same rhetoric and have had similar positions against immigrants and families. Heck has voted four times against DACA and DAPA, and has been against us. Additionally, he supports Trump.”
Telemundo Las Vegas: Carrera por el senado de Nevada se calienta
Racist comments by both Joey Heck, Congressman Joe Heck’s son, and former Heck staffers have tarnished Congressman Joe Heck’s image. Joey’s comments were sexist, racist, and homophobic, while Congressman Heck’s former staffer’s comments were racist and made fun of Catherine Cortez Masto’s Mexican heritage. Cortez Masto said, “Congressman Heck and his allies prefer to attack me – my heritage. This isn’t what this race is about, but we have seen that has happened constantly from Donald Trump, and up to now the ballot, and Congressman Heck refuses to denounce him.” The Heck campaign published a release apologizing for his son’s behavior.
Fusion: She’ll be the first Latina senator…if Latinx voters can rally to send her to Washington
The former political director for the Republican candidate running for senate has questioned Cortez Masto’s Mexican-American cred. The former aide tweeted: “quick question does @CatherineForNV speak Spanish?” Cortez Masto dismisses those questions as offensive. “Not just offensive to me, but it’s offensive to many Mexican-Americans, particularly in the state of Nevada where they have worked so hard and have provided so many contributions to our state and our communities.” …Spanish-speaking supporters of Cortez Masto say it doesn’t matter if she speaks Spanish. “Who cares if she doesn’t speak Spanish? Some people use their Spanish to deceive us,” says Fermin Ramirez, a musician and local church leader…
Metro Noticias Las Vegas: Redoblan ataques del legado mexicano de Cortez Masto. (Joe Heck Aides Double Down on Disparagement of Cortez Masto’s Mexican Heritage.)
###