Democratic nominee for President Joe Biden was speaking at a Hispanic heritage event in Kissimmee, Florida to appeal to Latino voters in the state. Yesterday, September 15th kicked off the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States and Joe Biden was in attendance at this event to celebrate the start of the month and speak to voters. During his speech he stopped and took at moment to play the Latino song "Despacito", which is a hit song that appeals to the Latino community as well as the larger mainstream audience. He directly said: "I just have one thing to say..." as he's fiddling with his phone to start playing the song.
Biden was introduced by one of the very artists who is behind the song "Despacito", Luis Fonsi, so it appears this was clearly a nod to the artist. Despite the buttering up of Fonsi and with that the Latino community, people are comparing this moment to being the equivalent of when President Trump took a photo on Cinco de Mayo of his lunch being a taco bowl salad. Is there a double standard going on here? Is what President Trump did when he tweeted out a picture of him eating a taco bowl saying: "#HappyCincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in the Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!" "insensitive" or "racist" but Joe Biden playing "Despacito" to a crowd of Latinos when clearly it's pandering towards them, acceptable? Or is both inappropriate?
Overall, I don't have a problem with either example. I think politicians appeal to the crowds they are targeting in whatever way they can and in the words of VB quoting this, "lighten up Francis". I get why they both did what they did. Is it slimy? Sure. Is it racist? No. That's my take, what's yours?
-Producer Lightning