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.
He must hold some kind of record for being banned:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~dane/
This account has been banned or suspended.
My understanding of most of these “immigrants” is that they can’t even read and write in their native language. Someone here said he works with these people in LA and they’re proud if they made it through 3rd grade. That makes them illiterate.
My Dutch brother-in-law has a PhD and he had to go through misery to get into this country....but then, he wasn’t going to be doing manual labor and wouldn’t likely become a member of a dumbed down voting bloc.
True. Lawrence Welk for example.
It’s amazing he lasted as long as he did.
Definition - A peasant is an agricultural worker who subsists by working a small plot of ground. The word is derived from 15th centrury French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside. The term peasant today is sometimes used in a pejorative sense for impoverished farmers.
When will we have a constitutional amendment listing words one must not ever say? The list is getting longer.
Of course some us can be called anything you wish to call us - no problem.
Too many Californians moving to Colorado and converting it to their ways.
But a large percentage of english words are of germanic origin.
Also, the immigrants of the 19th and early 20th century wanted to be Americans. Their desire was first and foremost to be Americans and germans second or somewhat farther down the line. They wanted to be assimilated by our country. There was a time when being an American was a PRIVELEDGE, and people were PROUD of becoming one.
There are some today who still come to this country and value that.
But there is a certain contingency that view BEING IN the United States as a personal right and equivalent to being a citizen.
My great grandmother spoke read and wrote english and german fluently, she came here in the 1880's. My grandmother from the other side came here around WWI. She spoke wrote and read english and dutch fluently.
I maintain that the Rep. was referring to their ability in English. You may feeeeel that his comment was unfair, but that’s your opinion, not a factual matter, no matter your balletic spinning.
This, of course, is in addition to the unconvincing/unsourced matter of your statistics and, worse, how one reasonably may assume that folks who illegally come here from Mexico are likely to be average in their literacy. (You also do some nice assuming, because education has been free there since the 1970s, that therefore most young illegals in the USA have been made young Cervanteses thereby.)
I think you and I are done on this topic. Enjoy your planet.
People need to be more niggardly in their use of words that others don’t understand and take offense to because they don’t know the definition of the word.
Ahoneah, ahtwoah, ahthreeah... :)
Sure - they are literate - by MEXICAN standards.
NOT US standards.
For all practical aspects they are illiterate.
Then, they sure wouldn't like me. I call them "Criminal Trespassers."
If illegals aren’t illiterate, then we are pandering FAR too much with everything bilingually labelled. Why else would simple things like SOAP and OPEN have to be put in both languages everywhere?? The bilingual ads for products must mean SOMEONE is a blooming idiot if they can’t figure out that it’s BEER in that ad.
I have traveled in many lands where I don’t speak the language and somehow survived. I always felt it was great that I went home having learned a few words by necessity.
LOL! I loved it when he used to shill for Geritol!
Ok genius, are we talking about mexicans in mexico? No, we’re talking about mexicans illegally living in colorado. So they can speak, read and write spanish, great, but can they do the same with english? If not, they’re illiterate. And what jobs are they trying to do here illegally? What jobs do democrats want to create temporary work visas for, genius? Agriculture! What mexicans do in MEXICO does not pertain to the factually correct statement.
Are they illiterate? Are they peasants? Yes or no. Neither word is derogatory. We need to clearly see the situation as it is and not go through life with a bag over our heads.
*Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. :)
Douglas Bruce for President 2012!!
During the same time as the Iraq war,
more Americans have been murdered by Illegal aliens
on our highways than soldiers died in Iraq
LOL! My wife says I haven't exercised that option!
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