Nikki Haley defends against Republican ire over State of the Union response
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Version 0 of 1. After calling on Americans to resist the “angriest voices” at a time of great anxiety, Republican Nikki Haley on Wednesday pushed back against the torrent of conservative criticism directed at her official response to the State of the Union. When Haley, a governor of South Carolina, used the Republican response to Barack Obama’s address to appeal for tolerance toward immigrants, supporters of real estate mogul Donald Trump swiftly rallied against the nation’s second Indian American governor. “Trump should deport Nikki Haley,” tweeted Ann Coulter, the far-right conservative commentator known to make provocative statements. Laura Ingraham, a prominent talk radio host in conservative circles, lamented that Haley missed an opportunity “to stand with working people who want borders enforced”. “The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART,” she tweeted. Haley acknowledged that she had Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner, in mind while issuing an emphatic defense of America’s openness to immigrants as one of its “noblest legacies”. “Mr Trump has definitely contributed to what I think is just irresponsible talk,” Haley said on the Today show Wednesday morning. She later stood by her comments when asked about the backlash, telling reporters was simply expressing what she believed. “I think that this country is better when we work together and acknowledge the fact that the fabric of America is based on legal immigrants of all professions, of all races, of all religions,” Haley said. During her response to President Obama’s final State of the Union, Haley spoke of American identity in terms that were strikingly similar to the president. After sharing her tale as the daughter of immigrants, the nation’s second Indian American governor drew upon the example of unity following last year’s racially motivated mass shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. “We didn’t turn against each other’s race or religion. We turned toward God, and to the values that have long made our country the freest and greatest in the world,” Haley said. Earlier in her speech, she acknowledged the threats that were the source of widespread fear before offering a clear rebuttal of the overheated rhetoric on the campaign trail. “During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation,” Haley said. “No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.” Trump responded by accusing Haley of being “weak on illegal immigration”. While Haley reflected a sympathetic attitude toward immigrants on Tuesday, she has by no means been a lightweight on the issue. Haley was among the dozens of Republican governors in November who requested the Obama administration not resettle Syrian refugees in their states, citing concerns over the vetting process in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris. She also emphasized to reporters on Wednesday the need to be open to legal immigration, but seemed to draw a line at how to deal with immigrants who were in the country illegally. While listing her policy differences with Republican presidential candidates, Haley noted that “Marco Rubio supports amnesty, which I don’t”. The soundbite garnered immediate attention, given Rubio’s support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants remains a key vulnerability for the Florida senator. Over the past year, Haley has nonetheless emerged as a voice of reason in a fractured Republican party. Her response to the Emanuel AME church massacre, in which a white gunman shot and killed nine African American churchgoers, was especially praised by members of both parties. Following the shooting, Haley promptly pushed for removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house grounds. Her return to national prominence has kicked off fresh speculation that Haley could be a top vice-presidential pick for the Republican ticket in 2016. Her name was similarly floated as a running mate to Mitt Romney in 2012, although she took herself out of contention at the time. South Carolina holds outsize influence over the Republican primary as the third early voting state, and at least one candidate praised Haley’s State of the Union response. At a rally in South Carolina on Wednesday ahead of the next presidential debate, Rubio told voters their governor did “a great job”. In a separate interview with Fox News the night before, he commended Haley’s “tone and her demeanor”. Haley has yet to make any endorsements in the race, but her support could prove influential. The governor’s approval rating, according to recent polling, was just shy of 60%. |