Jill Biden: Latinos 'As Unique as the Breakfast Tacos Here in San Antonio'; Sullivan on the 'Pariah' Saudis (July 11-12, 2022)

First lady Jill Biden flew to San Antonio to address a Latino civil rights group and ended up apologizing. Her prepared remarks described the community’s diversity “as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio,” according to the text the White House published for her speech on July 11, 2022 [1].

“She also badly mispronounced ‘bodegas,’ small stores in urban areas typically specializing in Hispanic groceries,” the Associated Press reported [2].

The video above shows the first lady’s remarks on July 11, 2022, and the next day’s White House briefing. Quotes are from the White House, the Associated Press via KSAT and the American Presidency Project [1][2][3][4].

”We Are Not Tacos”

The backlash came fast. “The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and others registered their offense on social media, with the journalists’ organization tweeting that, ‘We are not tacos,’” the AP reported [2].

“Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region,” the journalists’ group said [2].

The group said the first lady and her speechwriters should “take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities.” [2]

“Anything but Pure Admiration”

The next day, her office apologized. “The first lady apologizes that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community,” her spokesperson, Michael LaRosa, tweeted, the AP reported [2].

She had been speaking to “the annual conference of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights and advocacy group formerly known as the National Council of La Raza,” the AP reported [2].

The AP also noted the political backdrop: “Separately, last month, Republican Mayra Flores won a special congressional election in a usually Democratic area of South Texas.” [2]

“They Didn’t Feel Heard”

In the speech, the first lady said Latinos wanted leaders who listen. “A few years ago, I met with a group of bright, ambitious young Latino leaders. And they told me that there were times when they didn’t feel heard,” she said in the prepared text [1].

“Yes, the Latino community is unique. But what I’ve heard from you again and again is that you want what all families want. Good schools. Good jobs. Safe neighborhoods,” the text said [1].

”Pumping Enough Oil”

At the White House the next day, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan previewed President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. “Does the President believe right now that Saudi Arabia is pumping enough oil to bring gas prices down?” a reporter asked [3].

“So I’m not going to get into a specific characterization on what constitutes ‘enough.’ What I will say is the President believes that the price of gas is too high and that we need to do more with respect to global energy supplies,” Sullivan said [3].

Asked what output increase was possible, Sullivan said: “Ultimately, that will be up to the OPEC countries to determine. And so I don’t have anything to say from this podium right now because those discussions are best, you know, confined behind closed doors.” [3]

He said human rights would come up. “He also has a long and consistent record — going back to his days as senator, including his years as Vice President, including his time as President — where human rights is going to remain a feature of his agenda,” Sullivan said [3].

”A Pariah State”

Another reporter brought up Biden’s campaign promise. “You know, during the campaign, the President said Saudi should pay a price. He referred to them as making them a pariah state. When it comes right down to it, isn’t this trip proof that strategic interests, including oil and gas, when it comes right down to it, are always going to override something like human rights?” [3]

“America’s values — human rights — are a strategic interest of the United States. So is energy security, so is stopping terrorism, so is seeking peace in a place like Yemen,” Sullivan said [3].

A reporter asked if Biden “will the President be photographed shaking hands with the Crown Prince or meeting with him while in Saudi?” Then: “And as you’ve been planning this trip, has the President expressed any regret for the language that he used to describe Saudi Arabia on the campaign trail?” [3]

“The President has not expressed regret about his statements,” Sullivan said [3].

By the Numbers

3: comparisons in the first lady’s line: bodegas, blossoms and breakfast tacos [1].
1 day: before her office apologized [2].
10 million: barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve the White House announced after the OPEC+ cut [4].
$3.29: the most common gas price the White House cited on Oct. 5, 2022 [4].

What Happened Next

OPEC+ cut production anyway. On Oct. 5, 2022, the White House said: “The President is disappointed by the shortsighted decision by OPEC+ to cut production quotas while the global economy is dealing with the continued negative impact of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.” [4]

“At the President’s direction, the Department of Energy will deliver another 10 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the market next month,” the statement said [4].

For the Saudi crown prince mocking Biden in private, see HYGO News’ page on Oct. 24, 2022. For Kirby on unused drilling permits a month earlier, see the page on June 15, 2022.