Websites and hashtags commented on the Indiana governor’s reaction to Tim Kaine repeatedly referencing the Republican’s line during the VP debate

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Using #ThatMexicanThing, the Latino community flipped the script on a comment made by Indiana governor Mike Pence during Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate.



“Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again,” Pence responded to Virginia senator Tim Kaine at one point.

Kaine brought up Donald Trump’s controversial past statements many times during the debate, including when the Republican nominee said that Mexico was sending criminals and rapists across the border in a June 2015 speech. He continually asked Indiana governor Mike Pence to defend his running mate’s remarks.

By the time the debate was over, someone created thatmexicanthing.com. The link, when clicked, redirects to Hillary Clinton’s campaign website. According to Wired, it was set up by a man from Portland, Oregon, named Danilo Alfaro, who set it up without any contact with the campaign. Thatmexicanthing.org redirects to a voting website by VL Action Network.

On Twitter, #ThatMexicanThing quickly became used to react to Pence’s statement, with users instead sharing their own stories of hard work and sacrifice.

Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) #ThatMexicanThing when you're the proud son of immigrants & support pro-Latino and pro-American policies to promote working families.

That Mexican Thing (@jpbrammer) #ThatMexicanThing my abuela picked cotton and dropped out of the 5th grade bc she couldn't speak English. My mom was first to go to college.

That Mexican Thing (@jpbrammer) #ThatMexicanThing is having to work twice as hard because other people see you, your work, and your culture as cheap or unworthy.

MonicaFloresRichart (@MonicaRichart) #ThatMexicanThing when your parents told you at 6 you could go to college wherever you wanted, and you end up with two Ivy League degrees.

Frank Ramirez (@frankemilio) #thatmexicanthing is my mom who immigrated to this country, pays her taxes and put two kids through college while managing a business ❤️💪🏾💪🏾

rachel elliott (@okie_elliott) "Honey, where'd you put #ThatMexicanThing ?"

"It's on the shelf, next to the #BindersFullOfWomen."

Juan Altamirano (@altamirajuan) #thatmexicanthing where we work hard, play by the rules & continue to be discriminated. While .@realDonaldTrump cheats the system #VPDebate

Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) #ThatMexicanThing where my mom has worked as a housekeeper for 25 yrs because her dream is to see her family's dreams come true. #VPDebate

Progressives4Hillary (@Hillary_45) #ThatMexicanThing will be voting on Nov 8th. pic.twitter.com/x2b7D1yjbZ

As Kaine often brought up Trump’s tax returns in the debate, and others used the hashtag to note how much undocumented immigrants have paid in taxes. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), undocumented immigrants pay around $12bn in taxes each year. Stephen Goss, the chief actuary of the SSA, confirmed that number, according to Vice.

Trump has not released his tax returns, though someone anonymously sent the Republican nominee’s 1995 return to the New York Times. According to the paper, he legally may not have paid federal income tax for 18 years after declaring a $916m loss.

Pili Tobar (@pilitobar87) #ThatMexicanThing where undocumented immigrants pay more taxes than @realDonaldTrump does. #VPDebate