Front-runner Donald Trump is standing by his recent comments that too many migrants from Mexico are rapists, drug dealers, and criminals.
"I've said very clearly that Donald Trump does not represent the Republican Party," Rick Perry said Sunday on ABC's This Week. "I was offended by his remarks. Listen, Hispanics in America and Hispanics in Texas, from the Alamo to Afghanistan, have been extraordinary people, citizens of our country and of our state."
Mike Huckabee, speaking on CNN's State of the Union, said Trump "made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican-Americans, and it is unfortunate."
While stumping Saturday in New Hampshire, Jeb Bush said that everybody wants to protect the borders, “but to make these extraordinarily ugly kind of comments is not reflective of the Republican Party. Trump is wrong on this.”
Responding to Bush, Trump said his focus is on illegal immigration and that “Jeb is mis-characterizing my statements only to inflame” people against him. “I believe in securing our border by building a wall, which will protect our safety, economy and national security,” Trump said.
At his campaign announcement last month, Trump said Mexico is not sending “their best” people across the border: “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
In an interview that aired on Fox News Channel's MediaBuzz Sunday, Trump stood by his controversial comments.
“I can’t apologize for the truth,” he said.
Business groups have cut ties with Trump over the comments, and his Republican opponents are pouncing.
“Trump’s comments are not just offensive and inaccurate, but also divisive,” Marco Rubio said over the holiday weekend.
Other candidates demurred on Trump.
Rick Santorum said on CBS' Face The Nation that he doesn't agree with Trump's "verbiage," but the businessman is raising legitimate questions about the problem of illegal immigration.
Ted Cruz, in an interview on NBC's Meet The Press, said Trump is "bold" and "brash," and that the Washington media is only interested in seeing Republican candidates attack each other.
Trump “has a colorful way of speaking,” Cruz said. “It’s not the way I speak, but I’m not going to engage in the media’s game of throwing rocks and attacking other Republicans — I’m just not going to do it.”
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