Biden rips Trump’s ‘sick message’ on immigration

Vice President Biden slammed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s remarks on immigration Tuesday before a crowd of Hispanic leaders.

During a Hispanic Heritage Month reception at the Naval Observatory, Biden called out Trump by name for spreading a “sick message” that has led to a rise of “xenophobia” within the GOP.

{mosads}Biden, who is considering a run for president in 2016 himself, urged the audience to stand strong against Trump.

“What’s going on with the other side … folks, this will not prevail,” he said. “So folks, don’t be down. This is going to be a fight. But in the meantime, don’t be down.”

Biden went further than President Obama, who teed off on the Republican field for fueling an “anti-immigrant sentiment” during a stop on Monday in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Obama called the rhetoric “contrary to who we are” as Americans. “Unless you are a Native American, your family came from someplace else,” he added. 

White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Tuesday, however, stressed Obama’s comments were not only aimed at Trump, who has called for mass deportations and the construction of a wall across the entire U.S.-Mexico border.

Tough language on immigration has come from an “alarming number” of Republican candidates, Earnest said.

The vice president’s strong language fired up the crowd of around 100 at his home.

“Run, Joe Run!” they chanted at one point.

But, as he has during recent public appearances, Biden offered few clues about whether he will enter the 2016 race, brushing aside the cheers.
 
“Oh, no, no, no, no,” he said in response.