Congressional Black Caucus members reacted to Donald Trump announcing he believes President Obama was born in the United States by condemning the Republican presidential nominee as a “disgusting fraud” and a “con artist” during a Friday afternoon press conference.
“This is a disgusting day. Donald Trump is a disgusting fraud. By any definition, Donald Trump is a disgusting fraud,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C. “He is an insult to the intellect of the American people.”
Congressional Black Caucus PAC Chairman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., said it is “a “sad day for America when we have a presidential candidate who has utilized a birther issue against the first African-American president.”
Calling Donald Trump a “con artist” for his “deplorable” failure to apologize for spreading the birther theory and instead blaming Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for it should be an “insult to all Americans.”
“He’s been doing this for over eight years. And then as he continues to do, he continues to con the American people. He’s a con artist,” said Meeks, who then referred to the veterans who appeared with Trump at the morning announcement, saying Trump “used them basically to be a part of his con to the American people.”
Rep. Val Demings, D- Fla., condemned Donald Trump for having the “audacity to demand” that President Obama “show his papers” amid calls by fellow Democrats for the billionaire to provide documentary proof he is being audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
“To delegitimize the first African-American president, to criticize him, to demand — the audacity to demand — that he show his papers? We can do better than that, and we’re going to hold Donald Trump accountable,” said Demings. The congresswoman was an early Clinton supporter.
“At a time where people are struggling, they’re hurting, they’re suffering, they’re afraid,,” Demings added. “Instead of coming up with solutions that will make people’s lives better and improve the quality of life for Americans, Donald Trump is doing everything that he can to divide. He is a hater, he is a bigot and he is a racist.”
