LIHUE — Cheers erupted Tuesday at Mariachi’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant, as President Donald Trump made his way to the podium in Washington, D.C., for his first State of the Union Address.
About 70 people from the Republican Party of Kauai gathered to watch.
As the camera panned to 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the crowd clapped and yelled, “feel the Bern.”
During his speech, Trump talked of the four pillars of his immigration reform.
“What I think is good about his immigration policy is he is giving a path of citizenship to those who want to be Americans,” said Ron Heller of Lihue.
One thing Heller said he didn’t understand is how someone can live in this country for 20 years and not become a citizen.
“I don’t know why they wouldn’t want to,” Heller said. “Both sides of my family are immigrants. They came to this country and wanted to be citizens.”
The good thing about Kauai, Heller said, is there are residents here who are from other countries, but they have become citizens.
“We’re living in a wonderful place on the planet,” he said.
Jo Thompson, who has lived in Hawaii for 30 years and teaches in Kilauea, said she thinks Trump’s tax reform bill is a good thing.
She said she originally moved to Hawaii from Dearborn, Michigan, where the car industry once thrived.
“I see these companies coming back to America,” she said. “It’s great.”
Trump’s corporate tax reform, she said, will trickle down and benefit all Americans. She said tax reform will end up with more citizens being employed and less handouts.
“Let’s not forget about these companies giving employees raises because of the tax reform,” she said.
GOP County Chair Steve Yoder said he loved that Trump talked about immigration reform.
“The theme when Trump ran was to obey the law, rather then to bend the law,” he said. “If we want to change the law, it needs to be through legislation, not a pen and a phone like it was under the Obama Administration,” Yoder said.
Yoder said people who immigrate to America need to benefit our country, not take away from it. People quote the poem from the Statue of Liberty, he said.
“When people came to this country between the 1880s to 1921, they came with the expectation they would be working hard, because there was no welfare,” Yoder said.
When you come to America, Yoder said, you’re American. That’s what is trying to change, the uniqueness of being an American.
“People who come to America aren’t afro-Americans, they’re not Arab Americans, they’re not Hispanic Americans, they’re just Americans. I don’t believe in hyphenating. There’s no division, we’re just Americans.”
“There shouldn’t be this division in our country,” Yoder said.
Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Yoder said, “people should be judge by the content of their heart.”
The irony of the Republican party guys watching Mr. Trump’s address from a Mexican restaurant is rich.
once again republican supporting diverse economy
Interesting. Did the Kauai Republican “crowd” (more like a modest gathering) clap and yell, “feel the Bern” because they like Bernie and his ideas (which are basically the complete opposite of Trumps) or because they felt like jeering instead of cheering, proud that “their man” had won the election?
Will Trump and his sycophants, who are happy to take credit for the healthy economy created by President Obama, take responsibility when Trump’s policies result in the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, the air and water becoming fouled, and the sad level of our education system diminishes even further? Somehow, I think they will try desperately to find a way to blame the black guy.
And Mr. Yoder, if you feel the need to quote a great man like Mr. King, please do so accurately. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Can you honestly defend the character of DJT?
The Statue of Liberty has a more notable saying…
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Who says immigrants do not contribute to American society. Mexicans are the hardest working laborers I’ve encountered. they are skilled and work long hours to get the job done, with no complaints. Southeast Asian kids excel in school and after school work in their parents shop till late. How can hard work not be contributing to American Society. I submit to you that our citizens are lazy and feel entitled and they should step up or shut up.
The theme that Trump ran on was white nationalism. The guy he put in charge of immigration reform is a racist pure and simple. If you think car manufacturing is coming back to Dearborn because of “tax reform” you’ve had wool pulled over your eyes. Maybe we should talk about those raises mentioned. Really.
Actually, this is what Dr King said:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.
Not that facts have ever been any impediment to GOP leaders who love to twist and misquote REAL leaders for their own ends.
Pathetic and antiintellegence
Is the norm for the idiot FAKE POTUS!
Perhaps the reverse psychology will transform into a true republic in 2020…..
If we all don’t get blown away by the “friendly” misguided missiles!!!
You guys all need to get a grip… and practice a little ‘Aloha’. You’re all foaming at the mouth!
MAGA!
Many
Are
Getting
Arrested
Come on steve. An illegal probably made the burrito you just ate. Supporting Donald Trump is being on the wrong side of history. Pray that he doesn’t nuke the planet, but your grandkids should be ashamed of you. You are all probably rich and need the tax cuts, I get it. I know the garden island won’t publish this comment, but please send it to Steve if you can, thanks.