Rep. Debbie Lesko says Americans, not Hispanics, need vaccine first; draws outrage [View all]

Rep. Debbie Lesko said Hispanics are "very good workers" but implied they are not Americans in comments she made last week during a congressional hearing on vaccine distribution plans.

Lesko, R-Ariz., who represents a West Valley congressional district that includes Sun City, said she had compassion for Hispanics, but also equated them with illegal immigrants in a broad statement condemned as insensitive from at least one of her House colleagues.

"I worked with people that are Hispanic. I mean they're very good workers," Lesko said during the hearing. "You know, we're compassionate people, but for goodness sakes, we have to take care of American citizens, or people that are here legally, first."

"I'm just not going to be able to explain to my senior citizens that we're giving away the vaccines to people that (are) here illegally. I just think that's totally wrong."

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2021/02/15/rep-debbie-lesko-says-americans-not-hispanics-need-vaccine-first/6755426002/