Attorney General Jeff Sessions joined the list of high-ranking Republicans whose choice of food makes the news of the day at Univision, with anchor Jorge Ramos reporting that a Mexican restaurant in Houston faced calls for a boycott after its chef posted a selfie with Sessions on social media stating that it was an honor to serve him.
The report of close to three minutes where Ramos said that many people considered the compliment “insensitive” because of his migratory policies against Hispanics - Univision correspondent Vilma Tarazone wrongly stated that Sessions was in Houston for an anti-immigrant event; he was at a U.S. Attorney’s Office activity to outline his goals for combatting violent crime- , even pointed out that Sessions, “at least likes the food of Mexicans”, since earlier that day he had also eaten at a Mexican restaurant, something that one 'pro-immigrant' activist couldn't seem to handle.
JORGE RAMOS, ANCHOR, UNIVISION NEWS: A Mexican restaurant in Houston faces a barrage of criticism after posting on Facebook that it was an honor to serve Attorney General Jeff Sessions in their establishment. Many people describe the praise to Sessions as insensitive, as he is harshly questioned for his migratory policies against the Hispanic community.
The Univision coverage of the “shameful” praise to Session, contrasts with reports of other Republican officials who were judged by their taste in food, only not for being commended, as Sessions was, but for being forced to leave the eateries of their election. One was Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, who had to cut her dinner short at a Mexican restaurant after protesters against family separation at the border approached her table, and the other, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who was asked to leave a restaurant in Virginia because LGBT employees there objected to her politics.
Back then, Jorge Ramos had a field day praising the accosting with Univision fawning over Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Waters infamous call “If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant … you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”
The shaming of the owners of El Tiempo Cantina for calling it an “honor” to serve Sessions, forced them to delete all social media accounts. However, it was not the first time they faced criticism from leftists: previously, Latinos for Trump filmed a video there and much to the mortification of their “haters”, for El Tiempo Cantina, it has been business as usual. As it has for Sessions.
Below is the complete transcript of the above-referenced report, as aired during the August 13, 2018 edition of Noticiero Univisión.
JORGE RAMOS, ANCHOR, UNIVISION NEWS: A Mexican restaurant of Houston faces a barrage of criticism after posting on Facebook that it was an honor to serve Attorney General Jeff Sessions in their establishment. Many people describe the praise to Sessions as insensitive, as he is harshly questioned for his migratory policies against the Hispanic community. Vilma Tarazona has the controversy.
VILMA TARAZONA, CORRESPONDENT, UNIVISION NEWS: Sessions´ visit to this renowned Mexican restaurant, El Tiempo Cantina in Houston, would have gone unnoticed if not for this selfie taken by the chef and son of the owner, and published in his social networks where he wrote "We had the honor of serving Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the United States. Thank you for allowing us to serve you". This sparked the anger of many immigrants including this Mexican and community leader and regular customer.
CÉSAR ESPINOZA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR “FIEL”: How should we honor a person who speaks against the principles of our restaurant, one that serves Mexican food that was brought to the United States by immigrants, and who hires immigrants and receives money from the immigrants.
The business owner said he saw no problem in serving the Attorney General.
RONALD LAURENZO, RESTAURANT: I totally regret it because it is inaccurate in terms of the….
TARAZONA (TRANSLATING OVER LAURENZO): But said he was sorry to post the picture on social media. Ironically, that day Sessions came to an event about illegal immigration.
ESPINOZA: In Houston, the community is outraged, because we have received messages from people who came to this restaurant this week and who are undocumented.
TARAZONA: The reactions are from both sides.
WOMAN: I thought like it was a slap to the community….
TARAZONA (TRANSLATING OVER WOMAN): It seems to me that it is a slap in the face for the community that goes to the restaurant and for the people who work in the restaurant.
SECOND WOMAN: I think it´s great…
TARAZONA (TRANSLATING OVER WOMAN): I think it's OK, we must serve the people who are helping us in the Government. This incident would seem to evidence at least that of General Attorney Sessions likes the food of Mexicans, since earlier that day he ate at a Mexican restaurant.
ESPINOZA: For me it's something very painful because it turns out to be one of my favorite places that me and my family have frequented since arriving in the United States in 1991.
TARAZONA: Well, El Tiempo Cantina restaurant had already been subject to criticism by the immigrant community, when in the past they allowed the use of one of its buildings to record a video of the Latinos for Trump Campaign.
