Posted on 07/09/2007 5:06:45 AM PDT by TLI
Bigotry and intimidation defeated the immigration bill more than anything else.
Right-wing media pundits and their ultraconservative followers spewed a systematic and steady stream of vitriol that was so extreme that even Senate Republicans complained.
"There's racism in this debate," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reacting to the tone used by the immigration bill's opponents.
Ever since the immigration issue picked up steam last spring, an increasingly nasty tone of hatred and intolerance has been directed at Hispanics in America.
Thought we should all know how evil we are...
The unrelenting numbers that are still being allowed to enter illegally killed the bill. If you are upset that the bill didn't pass..make a call to fire Chertoff.
Since Hispanics are not really a race, Geraldo and Sammy Sosa are not the same race, Morales should have framed his argument as a bias against Mexicans.
Demand a border fence! Build it NOW!! Beef up the border patrol and close our borders!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
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Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE Washington, D.C. 20003
phone: 202.863.8500 | fax: 202.863.8820 | e-mail: info@gop.com
Take a look at their hidden agenda: http://www.mexica-movement.org
There is, unfortunately, some truth to this statement, at least in perception.
Any argument against illegal immigration based on the undesirable characteristics of lower-class Mexicans will inevitably and quite reasonably be viewed by all (legal) Mexican immigrants and all Americans of Mexican ancestry as aimed at all Mexicans. It is only human nature to spring to the defense of “your people” when they are attacked.
The Democrats largely lost the South because they insisted on attacking and showing their contempt for all white southerners, alienating even those of them who leaned towards the politics of the changing Democratic Party.
I think racially/ethnicly based comments in opposition to illegal immigration, regardless of how accurate, are tactically self-defeating. Most Hispanics and many whites and blacks will be offended by them and tune out other perfectly adequate non-racial/ethnic arguments.
Hmmm...BS alert...I am Hispanic...I have yet to encounter any hostility...of course, I am a citizen and here legally...hmmm...
Most Mexicans are Brown and generally not liked by Americans so racism is a reality.
Pray for W and Our Troops
I usually agree with you on most things but on this you are dead wrong.
Horsecrap!
When the Left (including Lindsay Gramnesty) loses an argument their next step is always to claim their opponents are guilty of some “-ism” or another.
Don’t be so gullible as to fall into that trap.
Wrong.
Speak for yourself.
It may have been for you, not me.
Not me either..LOL.
*****************
Good grief.
Of course there’s no racism on FR. Those posters who wanted to put up gun turrets wanted to kill Mexicans out of love.
The outrage is a bit forced, like the belief there are not jobs most Americans won’t do. That line got more milage than a Prius. Drove past some farms and you wouldn’t believe it but nearly all the workers were Mexican?? How is that??
Pray for W and Our Troops
Sure there are probably racists that post here and there are probably Dem trolls posing as racists as well but since Jim Rob doesn't condone blatant racist remarks here, so there were plenty of other well founded reasons brought out explaining why people felt compelled to be against the bill. This author is trying to cherry pick possibly the least important factor.
Most of the real people I have met here are about National security, sovereignty and the love of their country. The vast majority that I have met are Vets.
I argued with some of my best friends here for the bill even though I felt it was lopsided in favor of one group of voters because I didn't foresee getting anything better out of this Dem controlled congress but I know for a fact that the racist claim by the supporters of the bill is a complete cop-out.
If 10 million mostly white or mostly black Americans illegally migrated to Mexico and set up shop, Mexicans would get into an uproar about it. Someone could point at them and say “bigots!” as well.
My opinion would be *exactly* the same if they were Canadians (or Brits,or Norwegians,or...) instead of Mexicans.
(Note: I didn't mention anybody's RACE.)
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