Balint faces criticism after vulgar comments at Newport town hall

NEWPORT — Rep. Becca Balint is facing calls to apologize after using vulgar language during a May 28 town hall meeting in Newport while discussing immigration policy.

“If we don’t have avenues for people to come here legally to work or to build a home here, we’re not going to have anybody around to wipe our ass because we don’t have enough people,” Balint said.

A recording of the video first surfaced after being posted online by the Vermont Daily Chronicle.

The Democratic congresswoman made the remarks while discussing the need for immigrant workers and legal immigration pathways.

Vermont Republican Party Chairman Paul Dame criticized both Balint’s language and what he called the “disturbing sentiment” that immigrants should primarily serve in roles “she deems beneath the dignity of others.”

“The way Congresswoman Balint reduced Vermont’s hardworking legal immigrants to little more than ‘ass wipers’ is embarrassing,” Dame said in a statement. “She owes them — and all Vermonters — an apology for such a shameful characterization.”

Halifax resident Pam Baker echoed the criticism in a Rutland Herald opinion piece, calling Balint’s remarks “highly offensive” and arguing they perpetuate stereotypes about immigrants only being valued for low-wage work.

“This crude metaphor perpetuates a bigoted stereotype that immigrants are only valued for low-wage, undesirable jobs like personal care,” Baker wrote. “Such rhetoric is disturbing and dehumanizes immigrants.”

Balint’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the Newport town hall remarks.