De Blasio Has Harsh Criticism For Trump's Words In Front Of Republican Jewish Coalition
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio took a shot at Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Sunday, over remarks that he made in front of a mostly Jewish audience last week.
On Thursday, Trump and other Republican presidential candidates addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington.
The mayor called Trump's comments "dangerous" and said that they have no place in our society.
As The New York Times reported, Trump tried to create a link with his audience via family connections.
"My father, Fred was always a big support,"(of Israel), Trump said.
His daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism.
"The only bad news is I can't get her on Saturday," he said. "I call and call. I can't speak to my daughter anymore on Saturday!"
Trump didn't hesitate to invoke traditional Jewish stereotypes either.
As the Times reported, he made an attempt at flattery while discussing President Obama's deal with Iran.
"Look, I'm a negotiator, like you folks," he said.
Trump also cited his thrifty approach to campaign advertising.
"I think you, as business-people, will feel pretty good about this, and respect it," he said.
In a statement on Sunday, de Blasio said that Trump's comments were based on "hateful stereotypes of the Jewish community."
"As the New York Times makes clear today in a front page article, Donald Trump will go down as one of the worst demagogues in recent U.S. political history. His latest comments last week to a mostly Jewish audience are an example. Based on hateful stereotypes of the Jewish community, they simply have no place in our society. As with other shameful outbursts he has had about many ethnic groups, they are nothing short of dangerous. Others, including myself, have spoken out when political leaders in Europe have not risen to the defense of their embattled Jewish communities. It is equally important to call out American leaders who traffic in age-old negative characterizations of Jews. We should demand from our presidential candidates a standard that in no way echoes the voice of a George Wallace or Joe McCarthy."
The Times analyzed 95,000 of Trump's words over the period of a week in a review of the growth of "one of the most surprising political movements of the past century" even as he relies on language instead of policy, endorsements, donations, and other common 'campaign trappings' in a bid for the White House.