for The Las Vegas Sun, March 16, 2017:
It’s safe to say that Donald Trump doesn’t have many fans in the Hispanic community.
But Hispanics shouldn’t take Trump’s election as a personal affront — or a signal that they’re unwelcome in their own land.In fact, polling data show that the United States remains far more united in its commitment to tolerance, diversity and fair immigration policy than at any time in our history.
Those who value these principles can’t afford to be distracted by their private contempt for Trump. On the contrary, now is the time for sober, loyal opposition focused on the legitimate policy threats posed by an erratic president.
That process starts with the recognition that Trump’s divisive tenor, particularly on immigration issues, isn’t representative of the nation at large. After all, his share of the popular vote was nearly 3 million short of his opponent Hillary Clinton’s. The “rigged system” that Trump spent much of the campaign decrying is what installed him in the White House.