Immigrants
Anti-immigrant fever has not infested the federal judiciary -- at least not yet. Yesterday in Texas, a federal judge ruled a local ordinance prohibiting apartment rentals to illegal immigrants unconstitutional.
Strong piece today on the right-wing media, Obama and illegal immigrants by Ruben Navarrette of the San Diego Tribune. Click here to read it.
There's no question the right has created a new Red Scare with its obssession with our estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. It's probably the main reason Congress failed to make the comprehensive, sensible reforms proposed by President Bush last year. The other day on Midday, where most of our callers are informed and thinking people, one spoke with a kind of breathless concern about illegals moving to Maryland by the busload to take advantage of our "welfare" benefits. (She must listen to some other radio station most of the time; hot talk about illegals is the rage there.) The people engaged in this debate claim to honor the distinction between "illegal aliens" and "legal immigrants," but the end result of all the angry rhetoric is a tragic blurring of the line in the minds of many. There's not much of a leap from the anti-illegals obssession to Pat Buchanan's clarion that white Christians have lost their dominance in America, dooming the country.
Discovered, in an old weather-beaten paperback titled, American Ballads: A little poem called "America Greets An Alien," by poet unknown. The poem probably dates from the 19th century. Imagine such a sentiment expressed on national televison or radio today:
"Hail, guest! We ask not what thou art.
If friend, we greet thee hand and heart;
If stranger, such no longer be;
If foe, our love shall conquer thee."
Comments
What, is it too much to ask to follow the rule of law when it comes to immigration? The U.S. has one of the most generous immigration policies of any country, so it's not like we've stopped legal immigration.
However, as a sovereign nation, we have a right to determine who can and cannot be here, just as all other nations do.
That "strong piece" you refer to is a piece of something, alright, but it ain't journalism. Wow, so no other than the esteemed Geraldo Rivera referred to Lou Dobbs as a "hatemonger". Coming from him, that's a compliment.
I won't defend Limbaugh, but his indictment of Lou Dobbs is fairly substanceless. So a bunch of people in favor of illegal immigration are critical of someone who isn't - what a surprise!
And, as the article points out, Sen. Obama's claim of a doubling in hate crimes against Hispanics is overstated to say the least, but that didn't stop him from saying it, nor from linking it to Dobbs and Limbaugh, two easy targets on the campaign trail. Politics as usual, and not "change we can believe in".
As for immigration policy: what do you propose, no restrictions? And if you do favor any restrictions, should there be any means of enforcement? Careful, get too restrictive and you'll be branded a racist, xenophobe, etc.
I'd say the left is just as guilty as - if not more than - the right in fostering xenophobia surrounding the immigration issue in that they too often accuse those who oppose illegal immigration (which involves breaking laws, how controversial) of being anti-immigrant, xenophobic, racist, anti-Latino, etc. The left too often blurs these distinctions just as they accuse the right of doing the same.
Posted by: Justice For All | May 29, 2008 2:58 PM
Your reading of the issue of immigration is rather simplistic and wrong. There are many Republicans, George Bush and John McCain to name two, who support immigration reform. They realize the need to legitimize the underground economy.
And there are many Democrats who oppose immigration reform because it hurts the lowest paid legal workers the most. (Hanging sheetrock would be a good job for people coming out of prison and could introduce them to other construction fields, but they can't get that job)
Much of the popular debate is xenophobic, but the issues are not.
Posted by: Ted | May 29, 2008 3:08 PM
Another BS article spinning the pro illegal alien amnesty rhetoric. It's time to adopt a ZERO tolerance towards ALL illegal immigration. Vote out all pro amnesty politicians regardless of party. The free ride is over. You will be arrested, jailed and deported for breaking our laws.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 29, 2008 4:25 PM