When Gov. Nikki Haley steps forward Tuesday night to deliver the Republican Party’s response to President Obama’s final State of the Union address, she won’t just be confronting the president’s agenda. She’ll also be pushing back against the narrative that the GOP is now the party of bombast, outsiders, and, of course, Donald Trump.
In Haley’s speech, excerpts of which were released Tuesday night, the 43-year old proudly embraces her status as the daughter of Indian immigrants. And without naming Trump, who has called Mexican immigrants rapists and suggested a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the United States, Haley suggests a need for a more inclusive tone for a largely party dominated by older white men.
“Immigrants have been coming to our shores for generations to live the dream that is America,” Haley was to say. “Today, we live in a time of threats like few others in recent memory. During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.”
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