Bill Frist is on a “listening tour” of Tennessee, and his PAC - VolPAC - has launched a site: Secure America’s Borders. The conblogs are already humming about this, and expect this to be the Republican gameplan come 2006 and beyond. They’ll certainly use it if Democrats are smart enough to begin strenously questioning the Iraq war and making demands of the President and his party (in ‘06 and ‘08 Democrats are running against the Republican party - not George W. Bush).
I could be wrong, but on first glance the nativist overtones of the border argument could seriously hurt the gains the GOP has made among Hispanic voters (especially if a psycho like Tom Tancredo becomes a legitimate threat during the primaries), but Dems need to actively campaign for these people and not assume they (or any constituency, like blacks or single women) is a given.
Why is it that when the Democratic governors attempt to address the issue of illegal aliens, you cannot seem to conjure up some not so subtle insinuation that there is an underlying element of racism to the actions, but have no problem doing so when speaking about a Republican? Just asking …
Why is it that when the Democratic governors attempt to address the issue of illegal aliens, you cannot seem to conjure up some not so subtle insinuation that there is an underlying element of racism to the actions, but have no problem doing so when speaking about a Republican?
If the GOP wanted to tackle the issue of illegal immigration–as you say–why not do something effective, as opposed to putting armed fat rednecks and nazis on the border to hassle and intimidate poor people?
If the GOP is deeply troubled by illegal immigration–there is a very simple and effective way of curtailing the bulk of it. Simply go after the employers who hire them. Put ‘em in jail or hit ‘em with just knee-buckling fines. Illegal immigration would just about dry up overnight.
But, you see, the GOP kind of likes the idea of cheap, cheap labor. They like that a head of lettuce doesn’t go for $5 or that they can get their frontyards landscaped for under a $100. And, boy oh boy, do they love the fact you can get a dozen workers and not have to worry about pesky OSHA laws or employee benefit packages; when you’re done with ‘em–you can just terminate them without so much as a letter.
No, JD, this is about appealing to those who don’t like people with dark skins and different languages.
So is that what Governor Richardson was doing ?
Governor Richardson is addressing it as a crime/security issue, the usual GOP response is to talk about shutting out the darkies.
In NM and, to a certain extent, AZ–the problem isn’t so much illegal immigration as it is one of criminals coming across the border to steal livestock and or commit a crime and then ducking back across.
The GOP doesn’t even pretend it’s a crime/security issue—they always maintain it’s Mexicans coming to steal US jobs and benefits.
It’s not subtle.
Absolutely; the difference could not be more clear.
For example, many stores employ security guards to prevent theft of merchandise. When a guard sees someone pilfering items, the gurad acts to apprehend the culprit.
What the GOP proposes is having said store security guard hassle, intimidate, and hector based on skin color.
Actually, I think that they refer to it as enforcing our laws, but apparently to you, that is simply some codeword for subtle racism.
If a Republican addressed it as a “crime/security issue”, as you put it, it would just be evidence to you that they thought that illegal aliens were prone to be criminals, and just more evidence that they were racists, but when a Democrat does it, it is a noble effort.
Yet one of those positions is racist, and the other is principled ?
piffle … What they are proposing is that people obey the law, precisely the same thing that the Democratic governors are doing. Your visions of conservatives and Republicans being racists, either overt or covert, skews your vision to see that in the R’s, and your blind loyalty to those on the left makes you see similar actions in the exact opposite way. Sad.
Oliver, great post. I agree about the racist undertones. I also think it’s a labor issue, too:
It’s a supply and demand problem. If there weren’t the demand for low-wage workers to fill jobs that most Americans wouldn’t take, there wouldn’t be the influx of undocumented workers you see now. It’s not an immigration problem at work here, it’s a labor problem. If we continue to reward employers for violating the law and also violating the human rights of their undocumented workers while not doing anything to improve the employment outlook for Americans, the long-term effects will be disastrous.
If we do take serious action against those employers, we’ll regain our footing with everyday, working Americans, choosing them over profit-hungry, rule-breaking corporations championed by the right. Taking a strong stand would also further highlight the fractured nature of the Republican party, pitting the xenophobic bigots against the pro-business, profit-at-all-costs corporatists. Plus, by shifting from the immigrants themselves to the people who employ them, we diffuse the right’s use of the dog whistle to conflate this issue with terrorism.
Instead of spending time scapegoating immigrants as an electoral strategy, the right would be far better suited to look in their own backyards. Perhaps instead of reckless vigilantism, we should focus our consternation on the people enabling illegal immigration the Americans doing the hiring. So, before the right’s chattering class pulls another fast one on everyone, let’s try a little experiment: Every well-heeled pundit who hasn’t employed a undocumented worker as a nanny, gardener or so on, please take a step forward. No, seriously, go ahead and take a step forward. I thought so.
Exactly what “human rights” are being denied these workers? Is providing them with a job that they do not have in their homes a denial of human rights? I suspect that if they knew that they would have their human rights violated, they would not be streaming across the borders.
Republicans can so easily be divided into two camps ? If you are a Republican, you are a xenophobic racist or a pro-business profit at all cost corporatist? And one wonders why it is so difficult to have a civil conversation about politics …
Scapegoating immigrents as an electoral strategy? Maybe some might describe it is seeing that our laws are enforced.
You cite reckless vigilantism, but since I know of no such incidents, I suspect that is your brain hoping for an instance of same.
I am not a pundit, nor well heeled, but I can assure you that I have not hired an illegal alien, nor have any of my family. I would not presume, unlike you, to have the ability to speak for others in regards to same.
Why doesn’t the GOP-controlled Congress and the Republican President increase the size of the Border Patrol? Why not have trained professionals handle the border, and beef up their patrols. Also, make sure there is better information sharing between the DEA and INS - the big issue for Gov. Richardson is drug smuggling, not missing bovines. And then, make hiring illegal aliens a very serious criminal offence. Of course, none of this will really help. 41% of Mexicans want to come to the US. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I am not a pundit, nor well heeled, but I can assure you that I have not hired an illegal alien, nor have any of my family.
In reality, you have–you just don’t realize it.
When you go to the grocery, you probably buy fruits and veggies. A contributing factor as to why the prices of those fruits and veggies are low is because they were picked by illegals. When you go to a restaurant, the man or woman who washed your dishes, utensils, glasses and cups may well have been an illegal.
If you work in an office, chances are the offices and restrooms were cleaned by illegal immigrants.
Then I shall expect to see jadegold to be first in line to volunteer to no longer eat fruits or vegetables, or eat out at restuarants, or work in an office, or use the restrooms. As we all know, you cannot support something with only words, you must actively do your part to contribute.
Chickendove.
Then I shall expect to see jadegold to be first in line to volunteer to no longer eat fruits or vegetables,
You’re very confused, JD. I don’t have a problem with illegal immigration; in fact, I’d like to see those workers who come across our borders given a better shake WRT healthcare and legal protections. Personally, as someone who has relatives who came to this country illegally–I fully understand and appreciate those who seek and sacrifice to make a better life for themselves and their families.
The point I merely make is that if one does have a problem with illegal immigration–one should advocate for a policy that actually has a chance of working. IOW, address the problem (employers seeking below-market labor)–not the symptoms (illegal immigrants).
The problem is not that they are employed once here, and the assertion that is the problem shows a fundamental misunderstanding of it. Illegal immigration is a problem, because … drumroll … it is freaking ILLEGAL ! (thought I would try to moonbat all caps thing there).
“I do not have a problem with illegal immigration”. You should probably add “I do not really care much about national security”.
Maybe their problems begin at home? Maybe their own government and their own country have done nothing to help stop the flow of ILLEGAL immigrants and drugs from crossing the borders. In re. taxes, nice change of course there. The bottom line is that these people are criminals from the moment they enter our country.
Apparently you have no concern whatsoever about terrorists entering our country through these pourous borders. As such, should another terrorist attack occur, you will not be allowed to complain or criticize if the terrorist entered the country illegally.
The problem is not that they are employed once here, and the assertion that is the problem shows a fundamental misunderstanding of it.
Baloney. Not only are they employed when they get here, they start paying taxes as well. Virtually every study done WRT illegal immigrants and taxes/benefits show illegal immigrants pay more into the system than they take out.
You should probably add I do not really care much about national security .
When we go to war against poor Hispanics, I’ll be more concerned.
Maybe their problems begin at home?
Deflection. So what? Let’s assume what you say is true–Mexico is unable/unwilling to deal with the problem. Where’s that leave us?
The fact is illegal immigrants come to this country to make a better life for themselves and their families. That’s the bottomline. The fact is US employers actively encourage this.
Now, since you seem to think this is such a big problem, how do you address it?
Do you put fat, racist Nazis on ther border to menace poor people looking to work or do you cut off the demand?
I think Democrats need to do two things; get serious about illegal immigration, and point out that Republicans are no more serious about it than they’ve been. Talk about it as an issue that affects citizens at all levels. Propose intelligent and mature approaches - then point out the mindless nastiness behind some of the Republicans. On the other hand, proudly stand up for adult behavior, regardless of who it comes from.
I was somewhat surprised to hear Newt Gingrich speaking about immigration (today, CSpan) in a way that seems sensible. He pointed out that we need to do something about businesses hiring illegals - heavy fines the first time, jail the second. No wonder he’s not elected right now; the corporate “overlords” would crucify him for that. He also talked about just fencing off the border. There are some problems with that, but the concept of just protecting the borders, PLUS going after businesses, sounds like a solid approach.