A New Hampshire GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate targeted Chinese students, among others, in discussions throughout his campaign, Business Insider reports.
Bryant ‘Corky’ Messner, won the Republican nomination Tuesday with an 8% margin over his opponent, retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc. According to The American Independent, Messner has a ‘history of racist statements’ and is a ‘lifelong conservative.’
In a virtual May town hall, Messner recommended that Chinese international students only study ‘economics, the American constitution, freedom’ as opposed to the hard sciences, Business Insider reports, to reduce the possibility of the U.S. becoming China’s personal ‘research and development arm.’
“Let’s educate them in freedom and individual liberty,” Messner said, according to Business Insider. “They’re exerting their influence throughout the world and it is time for us to be serious about the Chinese Communist Party.”
In a separate instance, also in May, Messner suggested banning Chinese international students completely.
“We also have to, I think, not allow Chinese students to attend American universities, because they come here and they become educated, and they go back with our intellectual property,” the Trump-endorsed candidate said, Business Insider reports.
According to The American Independent, it’s not the first time Messner has made controversial racial statements. Messner had encouraged ‘smart African American folks’ to oppose Black Lives Matter back in June.
“It’s very clear that Black Lives Matter has a leftist agenda and it’s very clear it’s a revolutionary agenda and sadly, the African American community will suffer because of it,” Messner said, The American Independent reports.
Messner’s comments on the Chinese community have prompted swift backlash from Chinese international students and Chinese Americans alike, according to Business Insider.
One anonymous Chinese American student said Messner’s statements were clear examples of ‘dangerous rhetoric.’
“Where do you draw the line with our connection with China? I’m a Chinese American, but I identify more ‘American’ because I grew up here,” the student said. “It’s just labeling all people who may look Chinese as someone who may have alternative motives for a good education.”
“As a Chinese American, I would never want my motives for receiving an education to be questioned,” the student continued.
When asked for comment by Business Insider recently, Messner withdrew his previous remarks, stating that international students add to ‘campus diversity.’
“We cannot allow Chinese students to be blamed for their government’s actions,” Messner said in a statement, Business Insider reports. “The Chinese Communist government’s professed goals to use any means to gain access to American research and technology, including through academic contacts, pose a threat to our national security, but I oppose discriminating against or targeting students from China.”
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Slug: New Hampshire Republican nominee for U.S. Senate has history of racist comments, raises concerns over Chinese international students stealing U.S. intellectual property as heavy backlash ensues
