Republican Insults All Immigrants, Everywhere.
And notice I do not use the term “illegal immigrants.” I am talking about all immigrants. Anyone who has ever walked across the border of the United States to live a better life. Anyone who has ever come here to this country for peace, liberty, and freedom.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) says “It takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen. It’s what’s in our souls…”
Well, that’s true, it does take more than just walking across the border to become a citizen. There is a legal process and you do not become an American just by coming to America.
But, how does Mr. Hunter know what is in anyone’s soul other than his own?
I suppose what Mr. Hunter is talking about is the yearning for freedom, opportunity, and liberty. Well, how does he know that an immigrant does not possess an “American” soul as described above? Indeed, many immigrants do possess an American soul by default since that is why they come here in the first place, for opportunity, liberty and freedom.
Perhaps what Mr. Hunter means by an “American soul” is that he knows who an American is by looking at them. Kinda like that wonderful porn definition from the Supreme Court: “You know it when you see it.” Mr. Hunter is comfortable with people who look like and act like him. And anything different from what makes Mr. Hunter comfortable must be alien and illegal. They must not possess an American soul, since they make Mr. Hunter uncomfortable. That does not make Mr. Hunter a racist. It makes him a xenophobe.
Mr. Hunter would also deport American citizens who just happen to have illegal immigrant parents.
“Would you support deportation of natural-born American citizens that are the children of illegal aliens,” Hunter was asked. “I would have to, yes,” Hunter said. “… We simply cannot afford what we’re doing right now[.]” Hunter made his comments at a “tea party” rally in the San Diego County city of Ramona over the weekend.
Steve Benen quickly destroys this evil, immoral and unconstitutional statement by Mr. Hunter:
Let’s be real clear about this. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that those “born … in the United States” are “citizens of the United States.” It also says that no state can “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
For that matter, the Supreme Court ruled in 1898 that a baby born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants was legally a U.S. citizen, even though federal law at the time denied citizenship to people from China. The court said birth in the United States constituted “a sufficient and complete right to citizenship.”
I simply cannot believe that Mr. Hunter, or the GOP at large, is this stupid politically. If they keep it up with statements like this, anyone not a white male will never vote for the GOP again in life. But sometimes xenophobia is a powerful impulse.
These guys really don’t believe in the Constitution. It’s just a word they carelessly toss around.
Duncan Hunter wants to deport babies. He’s a monster.
I find it strange that America, the land of immigrants, is turning into an immigrant-hating land. Immigration is what makes America great. We’ve had the ability to get the best & brightest to come to our shores and stay.
I know one of my ancestors was an Irish sailor who stayed in America after shore leave. I assume that makes me at least partially “illegal.”
Our ancestors didn’t have papers when we came and I’m pretty sure Hunter isn’t native American. Where does he get off talking about American “souls?”
Wouldn’t it be something if native Americans were harassed in Arizona?
Actually, the ellipsis omits some important words — “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…” — that some argue would mean the children of illegal aliens are NOT properly citizens (I reject that reading, by the way).
But this does raise a question — what do we do with the citizen children of illegal aliens. Should parents get to stay because the woman manages to drop a kid out of the birth canal on to American soil? Or should the kids be sent back to wherever their parents came from? Foster care? Require illegal alien parents to renounce their parental rights or renounce the kid’s citizenship? What are the realistic possibilities?
woman manages to drop a kid out of the birth canal on to American soil
Stay classy, Moose. Actually, your wording is quite revealing. Are you the kind of guy who also says things like… well, she should have kept her legs closed?
If you remember. TNJ ran a Mother’s Day article on this very thing last year–illegal mother facing deportation, years after giving birth to 2 children I believe, who would be permitted to stay (they were around teen years). Pandora, this was a VERY familiar problem in San Diego area, and I’m sure the Southwest border towns too. Pregnant woman would board the bus, in early labor, get across the border per usual, present in the ER to deliver–voila– US citizenship for baby. I lived it for 6 years. Border patrol at one point were to refuse passage to obviously late stage pregnant women–but I have no idea, what the protocol is now.
Joanne, I found Moose’s wording offensive.
I hear ya, we drop babies, not kids:). Then we dust ’em off from that American soil, and take ’em home.
I gotta tell ya DelDem, this is one of your more civil impassioned postings. Must be that American soul coming through:).
Turning over a new leaf, Joanne! LOL.
Be offended, pandora. I merely spoke the truth, as observed by a resident of the southwestern part of our nation where we are facing an invasion anchored by infants.
As for the phrase you suggested i use — yep, i do. Along with a suggestion that some guys need to keep it in their pants. After all, I’m well aware it takes two.
Words from someone who is against abortion rights and claims to respect life: “the woman manages to drop a kid out of the birth canal on to American soil” and “we are facing an invasion anchored by infants.”
What a phony.
Viva Aztlán! I for one welcome our Mexican baby overlords.
Viva La Raza! Si, se puede!
Supposedly my grandfather came over here on a forged Greek passport after being drafted into the Czar’s Army in 1903. I guess that makes me illegal, too.
“the woman manages to drop a kid out of the birth canal on to American soil”
If they are dropped on their heads they grow up to be Republicans.
… the GOP at large…
I take it you’re not visiting the new pad, eh?
A comment I made over there:
…Supreme Court ruling on public education and US-born or otherwise children of illegal aliens:
PLYLER V. DOE, 457 U. S. 202 (1982)
It’s one of many cases to clarify interpretation the 14th amendment. This one stood out to me given it’s very specific handling of actual and perceived-to-be illegal immigrant children in a public school system. It held the earlier ruling that a Texas law withholding funds from a public school system for accepting children fitting that description was not enforceable.
There are many sites out there that heavily slant interpretation one way or the other on the 14th, so the best avenue to take is the actual reading of the amendment itself and Supreme Court cases that ruled upon it. On that, Hunter and those who interpret the 14th and associated cases with closed-minds (on any side of the argument) are wasting everyone’s time, including their own.
I am not happy with the AZ law, even though there are great pains being made now to explain that this can not be done without engagement with law enforcement being made for another purpose. Yeah, still skeptical. Cheech Marin parodied this exact scenario with his “Born in East LA” video many years ago. (hmmm…Cheech the prophet…who knew?) In it, he is a US citizen, but he forgot his ID one fateful day where he landed in a situation with law enforcement (can’t remember what it was, but it was minor). With no ID, the assumption was he was illegal, and off he went. Yes, that was an attempt at comedy and nothing more, but how far-fetched would it be in AZ if a legal immigrant (naturalized, temporary worker, etc) one day forgot his/her ID (it happens, we are human) and gets pulled over or something else?
Read also this comment from that same post.
Asis so often the case, folks here chose to avoid the serious questions in the interest of whining about word choice. I’ll put them out there again — what do we do with the citizen children of illegal aliens. Should parents get to stay because the woman manages to [give birth] on to American soil? Or should the kids be sent back to wherever their parents came from [when the parents are deported]? Foster care? Require illegal alien parents to renounce their parental rights or renounce the kid’s citizenship? What are the realistic possibilities?
Anyone care to take them on?
Seems like a decision based on the individual parent and child – in a Sophie’s Choice sort of way. Regardless, if the child leaves the country with the parent the child remains an American citizen. They were born here.
Two of my great-grandparents sent their children to America alone at the ages of 8 and 12 to live with other family members in this country. My grandmother spoke of that experience often, and the cramped, disgusting conditions she endured below deck.
I am a second generation American, on both sides of my family tree, and I’m beginning to think that’s about to matter in this country. I’m beginning to think we’ll soon be rating “real” Americans by how long their families have been in this country. Seems like the next step in this nasty game of real Americanism we’re suddenly playing.
The AZ law is a disgrace, and soon to be a failure. It won’t work as long as we keep giving those who employ undocumented workers a pass. If AZ, or any other state, seriously wants to solve this problem they must go after employers. As of now this law is simply another dog whistle – only applicable for a bumper sticker.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/opinion/29kobach.html?hp
Maybe we should just have all Republicans rounded up and shot, huh, Dem?
It’s very interesting and touching to see the empathy some people have for the illegals in this country.
You would not get the same empathy or treatment if the shoe was on the other foot, and you were in their country competing for jobs. Your gringo asses would be sent packing or worse, and by worse I mean shot beaten or stabbed.
Nine to one that Rep. Hunter means by “American soul” a white one.
FBH, you must be goin for racist commenter of the century. IS that what you think? All people in mexico are savages like the badass twins on Breaking Bad (seriously, does anyone else watch that show? those guys are INSANE!) OR that all Americans who have empathy are white? Cause THAT ain’t true.
Besides how to you know all of us are Gringos? I can personally attest we’ve got all SORTS of racial slurs who think the White Trash that make up the Arizona legislator are bigoted fascists.
FBH’s new motto for the USA: We don’t suck as much as other countries!
So much for exceptionalism.
Of course everyone is not a savage a.price, but that being said, they would burn your house down, and kill you.
I literally have nothing to say to that.
WHO would burn my house down? What causes “these people” to become arsonists? Would they do it with flaming arrows? tequila Molotov cocktails? Or would they just set my home ablaze with their Firey Latin Salsa Music?
and your comment USED to end with “just being realistic” did you change that because you are in fact being racist and imaginative?
sheltered much ?
Two paragraph response below, please read through…
In one aspect, FBH is right (I am taking how FBH inferred this) in that, among industrialized nations, I believe we are the most complacent in enforcement when it comes to illegal aliens. In contrast, other nations, not necessarily among the industrialized nations, being caught as an illegal alien can be dangerous to your health and potentially life.
That said, just because they do it (other nations), we absolutely and certainly do not need to do the same, so the correlation is wrongly placed. Now, do I think we just simply say, “Hey, illegal immigrant, come on over and screw the johnny law!” No. My attitude is, “Go and get yourself right. This is a great country and you have potential here, but get on the level and make it right.” Obviously, it’s not that cut-and-dry, but it’s the attitude. Nowhere do I feel illegal immigrants are sub-human to me, as many in opposition tend to infer. Wisely, they don’t make that explicit, but it isn’t that hard to see. A friend of my wife…her daughter’s fiance was (“WAS”) an illegal. She had a baby by him. He got detained one day, the story a little unclear if he got caught or turned himself in, but he was detained. He was very cooperative, went back to Mexico and worked very hard to come back with papers and he did and it took less than a year, although close to a year. Everything I have heard before made me think it would be longer, but he was back and legally so. He’s currently working toward citizenship while working here legally AND being an involved father. That is a story for the “go and get yourself right” argument.
(yeah, I know, I said two paragraphs) I think many of us agree, though, that not much will advance until the porous border issue is resolved. I don’t mean a wall, either, but far better enforcement.
FBH, your lack of an answer proves you dont have one. BUt i’ll ask again. WHO is going to burn my house down?
No, i am not sheltered. CLEARLY your impression of the Mexican people comes from Fox news, so clearly YOU are the one who has no real world experience. Yes, of COURSE i know there are dangerous people in the world. Cartels are a HUGE problem in Mexico and they d in fact kill people. Hell, in some parts of some American cities, wearing a red shirt can get you shot. Of course you probably ARE the type to say “all back people on Compton re CRYPS. But to make the assumption that a white person in mexico gets treated how conservative white people here WISH they could treat mexicans only affirms what i’ve been saying about conservatives all along.
What is it with you people? It is either “American” or evil. “christian” or evil. White or “evil” If it isn’t going to church and driving a hummer and doent need SPF 50, it might as well be Osama beating a little white girl who just won a spelling bee while using an american flag as a diaper.
If you think everyone else in the world is out to get you and destroy your life, YOU are the one with a problem.
KAY THANKS BYE!
Let me chime back in here. I am more conservative in my approach to immigration reform that most of my colleagues here, just because believe in the process, and illegals disrepect the process.
RSmitty, your attitude of “Go and get yourself right” is precisely mine. Any reform can’t involve amnesty, where illegal immigrants are just forgiven their crime without any penalty. And remember, that is the only thing that is anmesty. Conservative xenophobes will call anything less than killing illegal immigrants on the spot or deporting them amnesty, which is not serious and of course, as always, conservatives should be ignored for that opinion if not shamed for possessing it.
I find myself favoring a six month process where all illegals can register as an Documented Worker / Guest Worker or whatever the hell you want to call them. They are given a choice: either apply for U.S. Citizenship or permanent resident or for an worker visa legally at that moment, or face immediate deportation. Of course, most if not all will apply. Once that grace period ends, if caught illegal immigrants would have to be deported and they will be denied access and citizenship for the rest of their lives. Sure, they may find themselves back here illegally again, but you can’t stop that. No high fence, moat, or armed guardpost will prevent illegal immigration. Build a fence if it makes you feel better, but fences can and will be gotten through.
For the illegals who have registered, they will have to pay a fine or some kind of penalty for being here illegally in the first place. Since many may not be able to pay fines, I think some kind of probationary sentence is appropriate, and if they violate the probation just once, then they are deported. The terms of the probation will be equal to standard probation for other crimes, i.e. no committing violent crimes, no possessing any kind of weapons at any point.
At this point, they are given either driver’s licenses (if they pass a driving test) or ID cards. And then they go to the back of the line.
Next, we reform LEGAL immigration. Currently, H-1B visas allow foreigners, who have an undergraduate degree or higher, to work in the United States. But, only 65,000 visas can be issued each year, a number which is far too low. Too often, H-1B visa holders are caricatured as “taking American jobs” when the opposite is often true. The value of an H-1B worker is that they contribute a unique skill set, and can often create jobs by creating value and allowing for businesses to expand. For instance, hiring an H-1B worker who writes software code may cause an American company to hire more Americans because it has an entirely new product to offer. Indeed, many of America’s most innovative technology companies already rely heavily on high skilled immigrant workers. Increasing the H-1B cap will help these companies remain competitive in the world marketplace.
Heripheric and country based limits on immigration should be removed as well. Currently Eastern Hemisphere immigration is limited to 170,000 and Western Hemisphere immigration (120,000).
We need to streamline the process for gaining permanent resident and citizen status. Too much redtape and bureaucracy now, and too many exclusionary rules, which is why many come here illegally in the first place.
just be careful we dont let those arsonist Mexicans in. Mine, yours, and FBH’s houses are ALL in jeopardy. They will also kill us and give us leprosy.
Any reform can’t involve amnesty, where illegal immigrants are just forgiven their crime without any penalty.
Why the hell should I care if they pay a penalty or not? I don’t want them penalized. I want their jobs opened up for unemployed Americans.
What is the point of letting people keep illegal jobs while simultaneously paying unemployment benefits to Americans who need work, and real wages are flat? What are we, stupid?
And… Anybody remember the old cop shows where, when you catch somebody with drugs, you make them rat out their dealer, and you keep going until you get Mr. Big? (do cops even bother with that anymore?)
Same thing should happen with illegal immigrants. If we are going to offer them a chance to stay, at least make them tell who is their illegal employer, and who helped them get into the country illegally. And then prosecute Mr. Big.
but what if mr big is white? we cant do THAT. the only bad guys here are those house burning mexicans. you’re with me, right FBH?
What are we, stupid?
Ummm… 🙂 I think that Americans generally want to be perceived to be nice above all. If that bankrupts them then that’s fine for now, as long as bankruptcy is in an abstract future which their posterity has to pay for it’s a small price to pay for not being seen as “mean” or racist here and now.
The original post:
I suppose what Mr. Hunter is talking about is the yearning for freedom, opportunity, and liberty. Well, how does he know that an immigrant does not possess an “American” soul as described above?
You forgot yearning for a rule of law/language that makes all those things possible. If an immigrant is illegal and makes no attempt to be legal (abiding by language) then you can know that they aren’t interested in becoming a part of the “American” soul, as you put it. Why the quotes? Can you even define what constitutes being American?
Perhaps what Mr. Hunter means by an “American soul” is that he knows who an American is by looking at them.
No, that’s merely a projection of the way that the Leftist mind feeels about things. It tends towards imagery which tends to tribalism, naturally. If he is a Rightist then what he means is more iconoclastic, has no imagery and it’s more likely to be something defined by language.
It’s curious how quickly the Left has forgotten its history. It was progressives who thought that people could be judged empirically based on science and biology, i.e. “by looking at them.” This seems to be the natural tendency of the Left. After all, didn’t you evolve in a progression from ape-like creatures based solely on processes and mechanisms which can be seen empirically?
Well here we go, just give whomever another pass at stopping me somewhere to ask for my “papers” since at times I may speak my native tongue or even worse, may look hispanic or mexican. I came to this country in 1992. Since my entrance to this country, I’ve been stopped, searched for a myriad of reasons and not to mention that it usually only happens when I’m in jeans or casual as I guess I tend to look more like the lawn guys with my natural skin tone and even though I come from the pacific, to some I guess we all look alike anyway. But I digress, the point I’m trying to make is really rather simple. The Pres and the left have been villified by making bigger government, fascists, socialists that they are yet, a law gets enacted that it’s very concept in itself harkens back to the Nuremberg laws and at it’s very core puts a big gold star on me and those like me that aren’t blonde hair and blue eyed and it’s championed by those that called what Obama has done as a pursuit for his own SS and the right rallies behind it like it’s a rallying cry for the party. It’s a sad state when a bill as such gets passed merely because of the fact that there is so much hate, bigotry and fear being perpetuated to the masses.
The justification behind it is that it’s “really for those here illegally”… So it justifies the harassment and prejudice that I or others like me will encounter? Can’t wait till the time comes when America will become color blind…
i had a good idea. what if there was some kind of reimbursement system for people wrongfully harassed?
example. let’s say a US citizen is profiled by racist Arizona State SS, is asked for their papers and, like everyone doesnt carry a copy of their birth certificate and social security card, is detained until they can prove they are a citiznen. For that, the cop and a state representative who voted for the bill (they will be on a simple rotation) has to tend their lawn for a year AND cook them a hot meal one day a week. They are also allowed to drive as fast as they want forever.
A legal immigrant who is not yet a citizen but a permanent resident gets lawn care for 6 months and one meal a month.
Aliens legally in the country but not on a path to citizenship get a 1/2 time extension on their visa and are awarded a 100 dollar gift card to Outback Steak House which comes half out of the officer’s pension and half from the bank account of a randomly chosen state representative who voted for the bill.
this should make the officers think twice about who they stop.
Just a reminder of what illegal immigration means to those of us in the border states — http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6982169.html
I realize it is all well and good for you folks out of the line of fire to be empathetic and compassionate, but at least inform yourself what the real situation is.
Evil savages running around burning down houses right?
the “line of fire”?! you conservatives have such a hardon for war.
Good grief, a.price. you are such a wuss!
But I’ll be sure to tell my friend whose daughter was murdered by a couple of illegal aliens who were students at the school where mom taught and where the daughter had just graduated six months before in a drive-by (before they jumped the border back to Mexico) that we are not in the line of fire down here. She’ll be relieved.
By the way, how much money did your county spend last year supplying free medical care to illegal aliens, none of which is reimbursed by state or federal dollars. Mine topped $100 million. That does not include unpaid bills from private hospitals.
Hey Nony Nuts,
People are killed by LEGAL citizens all the time, what do you want to do ban those too? Should we ban hypocritical war mongering conservatives because they’ve killed plenty in there time? Or should we just lock up the hate mongers like yourselves before you cross the mississippi river?
As far as supplying free medical care, that’s a crock of shit just so you know. No hospital will turn down anyone, they are NOT ALLOWED to turn anyone away. Why don’t you actually find out what is/isn’t given to immigrants before you rant on. For starters, if you do not have an SSN, YOU CANNOT GET BENEFITS, ANY BENEFITS. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? SO, this country ISN’T spending millions on illegals, it’s spending millions on those that DON’T HAVE health insurance THAT ARE CITIZENS of this country like me and my two sons a few years back when I lost my job and had to go on a waiting list to get on CHIP for my kids and supplemental for me. Wait, wait, wait… Before you get your tighty whities in a bunch, I have, always have paid taxes, paid into social security and unemployment benefits too just like you do, but I SURE AS SHIT KNOW THAT YOU AREN’T GOING TO GET STOPPED IN AZ AND BE ASKED FOR PAPERS…
Wrong, shortstuff.
Here are the figures from 2005.
http://ktrh.com/pages/houstonnews.html?feed=121300&article=392502
Numbers have increased since then.
Is there a shred of evidence that, were those immigrants legal, they would be paying for their health care instead of obtaining it free? In other words, is this a problem of illegallity or one of low-income people needing health care?
The point of the question is that if these people were given amnesty, the hospitals would still have the same problems, wouldn’t they?
Like I said a crock of shit..
“The district does not directly ask patients if they are in the country legally, but infers their status from other information gleaned during patient screenings, officials said.”
I guess they also infer the same thing from treating uninsured whites the same way?
FACT- most illegal immigrants won’t even step foot in a hospital for fear of getting deported. If your going to throw the health care costs around than hopefully you were out there picketing for universal care since that would make the whole issue of illegals getting insurance a no factor….
And like most you still haven’t addressed the fact that your own citizens, born and raised right here would get harassed for no other reason than they may “look” like they are up to something… It’s almost as hilarious as me getting pulled over in my drop top because of my ez pass not being high enough and impeding my view… Give a jackass an excuse to pull me over because I don’t look like I should be driving the car.