Colorado is about one "comprehensive migrant plan" away from becoming a third-world state.
Good luck to 'em all, because people like Curry are going to run that state straight into the ground.
Posted on 04/22/2008 1:13:22 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
DENVER (AP) ― Rep. Douglas Bruce was ordered to leave the podium of the Colorado House of Representatives on Monday after calling Mexican workers "illiterate peasants."
Bruce, a Republican with a history of provoking controversy with his statements and actions, made the comment during a debate on a bill designed to ease a farmworker shortage in Colorado.
It drew an audible gasp from the House.
"How dare you," said Rep. Kathleen Curry, a Democrat who was serving as chairwoman during the debate. She told Bruce he was no longer recognized to speak.
The bill under discussion would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary visas.
Bruce said the bill was about "having more aliens coming into Colorado" from Mexico.
"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado," Bruce said.
Rep. Mike May of Parker, the House minority leader and head of the GOP caucus, said legislative leaders were trying to determine what action to take against Bruce.
Rep. Terrance Carroll, a Democrat from Denver, said the remark could result in a formal ethics complaint that would require a hearing and possible suspension, censure or expulsion.
"There's no room for bigotry on the floor of the House," Carroll said.
Rep Jack Pommer said calling immigrants "illiterate peasants" is deplorable. He said even for the controversial Bruce, it's a new low.
"It's a horrible thing to say, but we've kind of gotten used to that with him," Pommer said. "He's just the sort of person who seems to enjoy insulting people, and enjoys the reaction he gets when he insults people."
Bruce defended his remarks later.
"I was expressing my view, which is a true statement, that I don't want up to 5,000 more illiterate peasants coming to Colorado," he said. "And I certainly don't want to have a government program to bring them here.
"I looked up 'illiterate' in the dictionary and it means somebody who is lacking in formal education or is unable to read and write," he said. "I don't think these people who are planning to come over here and pick potatoes or peaches are likely to have much of a formal education. I looked up the word 'peasant.' The word 'peasant' means a person who works in agricultural fields.
"These people, most of them, don't speak English. Most of them haven't had any formal education, that's why they're coming over here. I don't blame them for trying, but I don't think we should pave the way for more aliens to come here," he said.
In a statement, Consul General of Mexico in Denver Eduardo Arnal called Bruce's remarks "unfortunate" and "offensive."
"I believe these types of comments do not contribute to the discussion on immigration between Mexico and the United States nor in the search of solutions regarding this topic," Arnal said.
Bruce, of Colorado Springs, has had had other run-ins since arriving at the Capitol in January as a midterm appointee to fill a vacancy.
He became the first Colorado lawmaker censured by the House after he kicked a newspaper photographer for taking his picture during a prayer. Republicans later removed him the powerful State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee because he refused to co-sponsor a resolution honoring military veterans.
Bruce said he believed resolutions were a waste of time because they have no legal impact.
Before becoming a state lawmaker, Bruce was best known as the author of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution that limits taxes and government spending.
And yet I personally find nothing wrong with calling a spade a spade either....
The papers and TV stations quote the vacuous dhimmicrat female expressing outrage over Bruce (he is an ass, but not often wrong) . The talk show call ins are saying, “...what did he say that was incorrect?”
And one wonders why the MSM is collapsing.
I just love watching libs getting completely pissed off by a statement that is factually correct.
Political speech in government proceedings is the most protected speech we have. If that goes away....then I dunno.
Everyone knows most of these lettuce pickers are college educated.
Which word is bigoted? Illeterate or Peasants?
Have these legislators never heard of the First Amendment? The First Amendment right to free speech was first and foremost intended to protect political speech, which this obviously was. Why isn’t Rep. Bruce hauling Rep. Curry into federal court?
That said, Bruce really ought to refrain from things like kicking photogrpahers for taking his photo. That little snippet of his history will make it a lot harder for him to get justice in connection with this egregious infringement of his First Amendment rights.
Mexico's literacy rate among the under-45 set is about 95%.
Less than 18% of Mexico's population are peasants.
So his statement wasn't just infelicitously stated, it was also factually incorrect.
5,000 illegal immigrants from Mexico will, on average, yield you 4,100 city dwellers and 4,750 readers.
There’s a poll about this incident on www.9news.com that’s ripe for FReeping.
Yes, but this guy is a maniac. He has a long history of “acting out.” Some people there are sick of this man’s antics.
Even though he is right on some issues, kicking people and rejecting resolutions praising veterans is ridiculous.
He got into trouble for being a slum lord, in the past, and has many other brushes like this.
Loose cannon, IMO.
Colorado is about one "comprehensive migrant plan" away from becoming a third-world state.
Good luck to 'em all, because people like Curry are going to run that state straight into the ground.
The only claim to offense these people have is the politically correct climate they set up.
If they would figure out what the words meant and understand them (instead of dressing them up) they would recognize that some words are exactly what they mean.
Seems like Bruce nailed it, and the legislature hates the truth.
Thanks for your input, Dane.
I hope you don't have any Illegal Aliens driving drunk on your highways.
But how many can read ENGLISH?
Thanks for your 2 cents.I like his TABOR Bill.
Wow, you must be a statistician or something coming up with those impressive figures. Or you are an idiot.
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