PHILADELPHIA — California Rep. Xavier Becerra played an effective Latino surrogate for Hillary Clinton on Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention. He told the story of his upbringing as the son of Mexican immigrants and criticized GOP nominee Donald Trump.
“Anyone here an immigrant or the child or grandchild of immigrants? Anyone the first in your family to go to college?” Becerra asked the DNC delegates on Thursday night from his prime-time speaking slot. “This is what a GREAT America looks like.”
“This election is about us. It’s personal,” he added.
Becerra was once thought to be a contender to serve as Clinton’s running mate. Although Clinton chose another Spanish-speaking politician, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the California representative has been a vocal supporter of the Democratic nominee and has helped her to reach Latino voters.
Becerra used the opportunity to bash GOP nominee Donald Trump for failing to release his tax returns, joking, “I think it would be very revealing for Donald Trump to release his college transcript. Who here thinks he did as well as he says he did?”
“We’ve come a long way from the days when my dad couldn’t walk into a restaurant because of signs that read, “No dogs or Mexicans allowed,'” Becerra said. “Now is not the time to turn back. There’s a saying in Spanish – Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres – ‘Tell me with whom you walk and I’ll tell you who you are.’ Hillary Clinton has walked with us all her life.”
