Republican Governor Nikki Haley Uses GOP State Of The Union Response Speech To Bash Trump
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was chosen by the GOP to give the party’s response to President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address. However, some Republicans are criticizing the governor’s choice to use the response to bash one of their own, GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
Haley was allegedly selected to give the address to combat “diversity” issues in the conservative party, but that choice may have backfired as she sharply criticized her own party for “irresponsible talk” and for being some of the “angriest voices.”
Today reports that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was selected as the Republican representative to give the party’s response to Obama’s final State of the Union address. The governor was speculated to be chosen because she is an outspoken female conservative figure from Indian roots which the party wanted to use to show the GOP’s diversity. However, the choice seemed to divide the Republican party further, as Haley used the moment to call out her own party for having some of the “angriest voices” regarding immigration and for being irresponsible in their choice of words.
“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.”
Following her address in which she called for people to avoid “the siren call of the angriest voices,” Today’s Matt Lauer asked the governor if she was referring to the controversial GOP front-runner Donald Trump. Haley confirmed that she was talking about Trump when she called out the GOP’s “angry voices” but notes that he is not the only one.
“[Trump] is one of them. There’s other people in the media, there’s people in my state, I think we’re seeing it across the country.”
Haley spoke to the entire Republican party when she said that the Democrats aren’t the only ones to blame for the issues in America. She said that Republicans need to “look in the mirror” and realize that they are also contributing to the problems.
“Republicans need to understand there are things we could do better that can help strengthen our country. I think it’s important that Republicans look in the mirror and realize, we also are to blame.”
Many Democrats and Republicans praised Nikki Haley for her speech, however, not everyone was happy that she left her harshest criticisms for her own party.
Too bad @NikkiHaley missed her oppty to stand w/ working ppl who want borders enforced, American workers put first, govt shrunk.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 13, 2016
Nikki Haley: “The best thing we can do is turn down the volume” Translation: Voters need to shut the hell up.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 13, 2016
Despite the backlash, Haley is standing by her comments and says that for the country to move forward, everyone has to take their “egos out of the room.”
.@nikkihaley: “It takes everyone to get their egos out the room” to move the country forward https://t.co/UhLIYiSH3a https://t.co/j8OMT9C2NK
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 13, 2016
Although many conservatives found Haley’s speech too much like a Democrats, others said it is exactly what the Republican party needed. One person who seemed to like Haley’s speech is presidential hopeful Jeb Bush. The presidential candidate called Haley’s speech “remarkable.”
.@JebBush on @nikkihaley‘s GOP response: I thought she was remarkable https://t.co/uPSOzxDspy
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) January 13, 2016
What do you think about governor Nikki Haley’s response to Obama’s final State of the Union address? Do you agree or disagree with the governor? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images]
