Heller Campaign Must Denounce Former Washoe County GOP Chairman's Comments

Press Release

Former Washoe County Republican Party Chair: "What's with the Spanish moderator nonsense? Hey, Jacky, this is America. Speak English!"

A former chairman the Washoe County Republican Party published deeply offensive comments today in the Reno Gazette-Journal criticizing Congresswoman Jacky Rosen's campaign debate proposal from last week calling for at least one debate in Nevada's U.S. Senate race to be hosted by a Spanish-language TV station. Sam Kumar dismissed the call for a Spanish-language debate moderator as "nonsense" and concluded: "Hey, Jacky, this is America. Speak English!"

Sen. Dean Heller's campaign has yet to respond to the Rosen campaign's debate challenge.

Sam Kumar in the Reno Gazette-Journal: "Right after winning the primary, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jacky Rosen called for three debates, one moderated by liberal journalist Jon Ralston who has been very critical of Dean Heller, the second moderated by another highly liberal journalist Steve Sebelius and the third by a Spanish moderator. It appears that Rosen cannot take Heller one-on-one and needs some help from her liberal friends in the media. What's with the Spanish moderator nonsense? Hey, Jacky, this is America. Speak English!"

Rosen for Nevada deputy campaign manager Mariela Hernandez released the following statement:

"Dismissing our campaign's proposal for at least one debate to be hosted by a Spanish-language media outlet as "nonsense' is offensive to Nevada's Latino community, and it further underscores why this should be a non-negotiable priority in any debates this fall. This is part of a pattern of insulting rhetoric and anti-Latino policies from Nevada Republicans, and Sen. Heller's campaign must immediately and publicly denounce these comments."

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