Rove: Hispanics are `real Americans'

SF Gate ^ | July 11, 2006 | MICHAEL R. BLOOD

[managusta]

White House political strategist Karl Rove said Tuesday that the highly charged immigration debate has "clouded" the views of some Americans, leading them to dismiss the importance of immigrants and their contribution to the nation's success.

"Everything that this country is, everything that we have achieved, everything that we hold, everything that we promise, is because we are a nation of diversity, brought together by immigration, and sharing a common dream," Rove told members of the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights group, the National Council of La Raza.

Rove ticked off enforcement elements of the president's proposal, but added, "All these measures will come to naught without a temporary worker program. ... It's not enough to say send them home."

He also warned that critics against were confusing the debate with catchwords, rather than solutions.

"Too many simplify the problem into one word, "amnesty," Rove said. "In an issue this vital, we cannot allow words to be misused."

[Arizona Carolyn]

Are you talking about the American Indians or the Spanish?

[brytlea]

Here we go again....
susie

[buccaneer81]

YAWN!! To debate with you would be terribly boring...for me.

Well, then I'm sure the words Quisling and Vichy are in your vocabulary. Enjoy the Reconquista. I'll be opposing you people to my last breath.

[raybbr]

Rove: Hispanics are `real Americans'

Dang it Karl. Get with the program. They are not real Americans they are the "new Americans".

THE "NEW AMERICAN"

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.

George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

You can read the speech here.

Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:

In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster

[brytlea]

I really am appalled he spoke to them. Would he go speak at a Klan rally?
susie

[MamaDearest]

Rove made far too much sense for the growing anti-hispanic brigade here on FR.

No you don't! Some of us have hispanics in our families (including me) - most of whom immigrated here LEGALLY. Those hispanics (and us) are pro-legal immigration and anti-illegal immigration! Si?

[SeaBiscuit]

Thanks for the ping.. lol, just posted right under you.

[Shermy]

"Virtual border" was a good one too.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I saw that... rather redundant than not, I guess.

[Wolfie]

Two things:

1) Amnesty is coming. Lay back and enjoy it.

2) You'll pull the "R" lever like always. Can't let the "other side" win.

[no-to-illegals]

well we have a war on two fronts. the islamists and the illegals. and now our own politicians want to help one of fronts against the citizens......wow. aid and comfort.

if Iraq can have a secure border why can't America, dear politicians? Is it because you intend to lose the war for us, dear politicians?

[dennisw]

I'm not going to say most, but many Hispanic (whatever that means) families in the USA predate the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Very few Hispanics fit this criteria. Your assertion is ridiculous. Shoot for how many Hispanic families can trace their linage here to the time of the US Mexico war

[buccaneer81]

for the growing anti-hispanic brigade here on FR.

You're apparently another idiot who can't differentiate between LEGAL and ILLEGAL.

[brytlea]

What a cop out. If you don't have the guts to defend your position, why bother to post?
susie

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Looks to me like social and fiscal conseratives have been dumped the night after putting out at the senior prom, and the homecoming king has left on vacation with his friends from the rich side of town.

[NormsRevenge]

.

Karl Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, addresses the National Council of La Raza in Los Angeles July 11, 2006. Rove spoke on the Bush administration's plans for immigration reform. Rove's speech was disrupted twice by protestors. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)

[Melas]

Sigh, so much name calling so early in the thread. It's hard to keep track of. So far, I've been called a democrat, a POS, and now an idiot. ad hominem seems to rule the day with you guys.

[Clara Lou]

There's something that we citizens of the US need to consider. We say that our nationality is "American." In fact, we often say that we're from "America," which really only indicates that we come from one of two continents--North America or South America. Anyone who is from North, South, or Central America is American, and we acknowledge that it all the time when we say "South/North/Central American." Other languages actually have nationality words for us that are the equivalent of "United Statesian." Saying "You are true American" carries a different meaning to non-citizens of the US than it does to citizens.