'Not an ounce of racism in Trump': Why some minority groups dispute bigotry accusations

He's been called a kiss-up anda Mexican Uncle Tom, and he has felt anger from many within the Hispanic community, but Marco Gutierrez, a member of Latinos for Trump, forges ahead with full-fledged support for the Republican presidential nominee.

In many ways, he's no different from supporters here at the Republican National Convention who admire Trump's business credentials, who see him as a natural leaderand who believethat he will, as the campaign slogan boasts:"Make America Great Again."

And he planned to be one of the delegates and guests flooding into the Quicken Loans Arena Thursday nightto hear from the candidate.

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But Gutierrez's background does make him stand out in this party, somewhat of a political pariah among some members of the Hispanic community, considering Trump's past comments concerning illegal immigrants.

He's not exactly thrilled at the idea that a Trump presidency could mean that some of hisfriends and family, who are illegally in the U.S., mayface deportation. And he agrees that some of Trump's past musingswere not said "in the nicest way."

Still, Gutierrez, who counts 20,000 Hispanics as part of his online organization, thinks there's a larger issue here. "The issue is not so much that we got offended. The real issue is there's not a healthy balance of Republican and Democrats in the Hispanic community."

The small number ofminorityvotersin generalwho count themselves members of theRepublican Party has been agrowing concern.

A post-mortemfollowingthe loss of former MassachusettsgovernorMitt Romney to Barack Obama in 2012recommended a better outreach to non-white voters and women. The autopsy of the party revealed that political victory dependeduponRepublicans' ability tocourt more of those voters.

Trump's controversial remarks

Yet the candidate the Republicans have chosen seems to have ignored that reportandhas made a series of controversial remarks that have offended those very groups.

Of the number of disparate groups whohave come to this city to protest Trump's nomination, most agree on one messagethat Trump is a bigot and a misogynist.

But those accusations seem to be largely ignored by the Republican minority voters here.

For example, American MuslimSajidTarargave the closing prayer at the convention Tuesday night.He told the Washington Post that heconsiders himself "part of the angry Americans against the traditional politicians"and that Trump is "an outsider. He says whatever he feels like. He doesn't have some staffer writing his speeches. He says whatever he feels like."

Republican-Hindu Coalition

ShalliKumar, chairman of the Republican-Hindu Coalition, believes many of the accusations against Trump arejust propaganda from the left, believed mostly by uninformed youth. His own daughter, he said, has asked him how he can support a "racist" like Trump.

"There is not an ounce of racism in Trump," he said.

"There are a lot ofpeoplewho have come out and told mebefore we got on the Trumpbandwagon that 'Shalli,make sure you'refor Trump.' That'sfrom theHindu-Americancommunity, a lot ofbusinessmen,they told me that."

C.J. Jordan,deputy director of political and community affairs for the Republican National Convention, said people need to understand that what is said during the heat of political battle does not necessarily represent one's views.

A proud 'black female'Republican

"Here's what youhave to look at. There was a primary. I don't think those things were indicative of who he is and where he's going," she said.

"I'm anentrepreneur, I'm a black female, I'm a Republicanand I'm proud."

She said many will be surprised by the number of supporters Trump will get from the African-American community, particularlythose who believe inentrepreneurship.

Trump, thoughhe came frommoney,is a great role model as hestill worked his way up and had to earn what he has achieved,she said.

"And that's what the American people are looking for:opportunityand hope andentrepreneurshipand that's what Mr. Trump is."

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