Anti-Immigrant Zealots Lose Hastert’s Seat For Conservatives
Anti-Immigrant Zealots Lose Hastert’s Seat For Conservatives
[Our guest blogger is Henry Fernandez, a Senior Fellow at the Center For American Progress Action Fund working on state and municipal issues.]
Jim Oberweis lost former House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s previously solid Republican seat to Bill Foster. In so doing, he drove one more nail into the conservative anti-immigrant strategy. Oberweis is an anti-immigrant zealot who has served on the board of NumbersUSA, an organization which seeks to dramatically limit even legal immigration. (NumbersUSA is part of a coalition of organizations founded by John Tanton that have demonized immigrants who are not white and built ties to hate groups.)
Despite voters’ concerns over the war in Iraq, economic recession, and the mortgage crisis, Oberweis’ website listed immigration as his number one issue. Among other draconian positions, Oberweis calls for denying children born in the United States to immigrants the right to U.S. citizenship, something which would require revoking the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
Oberweis’ staunch anti-immigrant views may have blinded him to the changing demographics of Illinois’ 14th Congressional district. Over the last decade, increasing numbers of Latinos and Asians have moved into the 14th, while the number of naturalized citizens grew from 25,224 to 40,159. The Latino population was already 18.5 percent in 2000.
Oberweis, a wealthy owner of dairy stores, was targeted by grassroots supporters of comprehensive immigration reform. They found he had the same problem as erstwhile Presidential candidate Mitt Romney — he employed undocumented immigrants while bashing them on the campaign trail. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and the Chicago Workers Collaborative uncovered Oberweis’ hypocrisy. According to Joshua Hoyt, head of ICIRR:
Jorge and Rosa, two undocumented immigrants, were cleaning Oberweis ice cream stores and being paid $3.23 an hour. America does not respect hypocrites who bully undocumented immigrants and then turn around and profit from their labor; America does not respect politicians who do not tell the truth.
Many conservative politicians hope that attacking immigrants is a magic electoral bullet. But facts on the ground do not bear this out. In a precinct-level review of Latino voters, the conservative Americas Majority Foundation found that anti-immigrant rhetoric will cause conservatives to lose House seats and potentially the Presidency. The Foundation’s Richard Nadler argues that Latinos who voted for conservatives like George Bush will not vote for immigration demagogues. He concludes: “Any policy that induces mass fear in illegal aliens will induce mass anger in legal aliens (sic).”
Hoyt reports that the Latino vote did come out to defeat Oberweis. “There is no question immigration was central to Foster’s 5,000 vote victory. In the bellwether city of Aurora, he won by just over 3,200 votes by scoring big margins in Latino neighborhoods. Latino and immigrant activists worked hard to get this vote out.” This in a district where Hastert had beaten his last three opponents by margins of 48, 38 and 20 percent respectively.
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
T’anks, Hastert… and oh, Pasta la visa*, Baby…
*(means “Please put this spaghetti dinner on my credit card” in Crapola…)
March 10th, 2008 at 7:38 pmOh please do keep doing what you’re doing. The less Oberweiss types we have in public office the better off we all are!
GO GOP (keep running your disgusting party into the ground)!!
March 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pmFoster pounded Oberweis on the Iraq war/occupation and linked him to George Bush. The commericals were relentless.
This formula worked in Haster’s district. It should work almost anywhere.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:45 pmFoster pounded Oberweis on the Iraq war/occupation and linked him to George Bush. The commericals were relentless.
This formula worked in Haster’s district. It should work almost anywhere.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 10, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
Oh yeah, and Barack Obama came in late in the game and ran some commercials endorsing Foster. Like bringing in your closer in the 9th inning for the save.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:47 pmIf we could just put the disgusting white fat bigots behind a fence, this could be a decent country.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:50 pm…was targeted by grassroots supporters of comprehensive immigration reform.
I think this is the scariest part of the story for rethugs. The voice of the people speaking with the sound of an informed citizenry on a dedicated course. This is not an isolated incident, as Donna Edwards victory also shows. The rethugs fear the power of the people massing against them, and have no answers, in their dirty tricks grab bag, that are working. This victory continues the growing pealing of the bells sounding the death knell of the neocon/rethug power.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:55 pmThe dow closing today at 11,740 today and other indicators of the failure of the highly acclaimed fiscally responsible party are helping too. Sad that this was all predicted and predictable……
Maybe the American people will wake up now and see them for what they are…….my electric cooperative announced a 23% increase in rates effective immediatly……how can that be?
March 10th, 2008 at 7:56 pmGood post, Henry. Solid.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pmOberweiss ran a down and dirty campaign, his platform is very pro-Bush, anti immigrant (with the hypocrisy as stated above), his ads were extremely negative, and said little about himself because there is not much positive to say: he is a nasty, and wealthy businessman who also runs an investment business. McCain’s support gave him nothing.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pmFor many reasons he did not deserve to win, but to lose in Hastert’s district is a huge defeat.
The guy who won, Bill Foster, is a physicist, and entrepreneur — a decent guy and a supporter of Democratic causes, supported by Durbin and endorsed by Obama.
It was reported that the NRCC poured 1 million bucks into this race, as well as a visit from McBush. They needed this seat badly and the loss has left them really down. This was considered a bell weather seat for the November election.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pmThis was considered a bell weather seat for the November election.
Comment by Merlin — March 10, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
One more reason to be that much more concerned whether there WILL be a vote in November.
Dirty bomb anyone? Bio attack anyone? Martial law anyone?
March 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pmJorge and Rosa, two undocumented immigrants, were cleaning Oberweis ice cream stores and being paid $3.23 an hour.
This is way lower than minimum wage!
He should have to pay more of a price for this than simply losing the election!
And McBush supports this bas•ard???
March 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pmThere was actually a lot more to it than just immigration. I think the post overplays that issue.
Obie has lost four races (he is probably best known for losing to Jack! Ryan, who was replaced on the ballot by Alan Keyes, who “ran” against Barack Obama). In Illinois, many consider him a perennial loser. Somehow he squeaked out a primary win on this one.
Obie is a very bad candidate — personally unlikeable and prone to odd statements. His earlier campaign made up “headlines”, which helped to cause the Chicago Tribune to bash him.
Foster ran a nice campaign. He is not quite an “A” list candidate, but is definitely a solid B.
Also, turnout was tiny. A lot of people who voted against Obie in the primary stayed home Saturday.
The bottom line is that although this was a very good day the Dems, I’m not sure it says so much about the immigration issue nationally. McCain is definitely not Obie, and Obie had a ton of negatives.
Another interesting issue not mentioned: This was nice local proxy battle of Obama v. McCain. All the big names were out. If Obama is the nominee, look for the Dems to hold this one and also take Kirk’s and Weller’s (that one is practically a lock, since the weak GOP candidate dropped out and the Dem is definitely A list).
The bottom line is that it was a great win, but I’m not sure it has as much to do with immigration as the post suggests. It actually is moer important to show Obama’s coattails than anything about immigration alone.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pmThe Conservatism cult is heading towards extinction. Amen.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pmSorry about using “the bottom line” twice on that last one. Good thing for me that they were nearly identical.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:09 pmBoth the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have failed us. I would remind you that the Democratically controlled House and Senate are completely inept.
And Merlin, you really need to open your eyes. Both parties stoop to “dirty tricks,” but right now the only dirty tricks are coming from the Democratic candidates and their supporters (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87933961).
As Progressives you need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Clinton and Obama are not the answer.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:09 pmIt was reported that the NRCC poured 1 million bucks into this race, as well as a visit from McBush.
Comment by Merlin — March 10, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
Expensive election poison, baby! Yeah!
March 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pmAs Progressives you need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Clinton and Obama are not the answer.
Comment by Sheep Dog Jeff — March 10, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Thank you for your wisdom,
Captain ObviousSheep Jeff.Care for a cup of snark?
March 10th, 2008 at 8:13 pmOh yeah, Jeffy Baaaa Snark
Who is the answer?
~Hussein Zooey
March 10th, 2008 at 8:14 pmThe Democratic slim majority in congress has been obstructed by the remaining Republics. After the coming election, we’ll see. The people are demanding change from the GOP losing scammers.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:14 pmComment by Sheep Dog Jeff — March 10, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
And Merlin, you really need to open your eyes.
Babble on, projectionist!
BwaaaaHaaaaHaaaa
March 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pmThe dow closing today at 11,740 today and other indicators of the failure of the highly acclaimed fiscally responsible party are helping too. Sad that this was all predicted and predictable……
Maybe the American people will wake up now and see them for what they are…….my electric cooperative announced a 23% increase in rates effective immediatly……how can that be?
Comment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
I predicted on TP about a month ago a 10% fall in a single day coming soon. There is no net to stop this drop. None. Fed rate cuts have no effect. They make the situation worse by greasing inflation. Then inflation powers a spike in crude. A spike in crude kills profits for almost every industry.
We’ll know they’re serious about dealing with the economy when they end the $12 billion a month occupation of Iraq. And when someone dares to demand that the Defense Budget be cut a MINIMUM of 25%. Until then say hello to the abyss.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:16 pmSit Stay Quiet.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:17 pmAs Progressives you need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Clinton and Obama are not the answer.
Comment by Sheep Dog Jeff — March 10, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
This advice from someone whose blog features a quote and a photo of Ronald Reagan as the header, and whose content is entirely dismissive of Democrats. Thanks for your concern.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:17 pmOh, and sheep dog, Who are you backing and what is your answer? Do you have the courage to tell us? Or will you continue to hide and simply whine and knock those who don’t believe as you do?
Surprise me and make yourself known! You know where we all stand, here. We are out front with our beliefs.
Be forthcoming now, or forever hold your peace.
Pssst: Only a troll won’t speak out his truth…
March 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pmI am in IL14 and Oberweis actually was running ads stating that a vote for Foster was a vote for more of the same. He is the one that was endorsed by Hastert, but he was wording his attack on Foster as a liberal in such a way that someone not paying attention would just read that a vote for Bill Foster was a vote for more of the same.
He also had a nugget in there about Bill Foster being “for” raising taxes by an average of $3914 a person. A commentary in my local paper noted that the average increase per person is a lot like the old joke about when Bill Gates and Warren Buffett walk into a bar, the average income increases by about a billion dollars a year.
I think that people are just starting to pay more attention and reading the literature more carefully. I hope!
-OptimisticMF-ing Hussein
March 10th, 2008 at 8:26 pmSkeeter1 makes an interesting point that this win was more about Oberweis the slug than about immigration.
But what is very clear is that immigration is no longer the magic bullet for desperate Republicans. Every anti-immigrant bigot in the district definitely voted for Oberweis, and it was not enough to put him over the top.
This immigration issue does not need to be something Dem’s run from either. Foster’s position was positive and balanced — and he slammed Oberweis hard on his hypocrisy. Dem’s no longer need to hide, even in R leaning swing districts.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:27 pm‘Ol sheep dog
Silly me, I just read your blog. I assume its yours. And this is what I am supposed to open my eyes to. The opinion on your blog? With envy this deep you have a big problem.
From your blog:
First we learned this week that one candidate trying to be the next President of the United States raised 200 MILLION DOLLARS for their campaign. Was it Romney, nope. It must have been Giuliani, wrong again. How ’bout McCain? Not by a long shoot. The owner of this staggering war chest is none other than the man of the people, Senator Barrack Obama:
My, my. And for th first time in eons the Dems are out moneying the big money party. And it bothers you no end, eh?
BTW, talk about opening eyes! You better take the blinders off about your obvious hero RayGun. Read some history about his knowledge and involvement in the Iran Contra affair.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pmRead some history about his knowledge and involvement in the Iran Contra affair.
Comment by Merlin
Raygun…..you mean this guy:
Reagan was the worst president in history. He was addled, mean spirited, savagely hurt the common people, savaged the government and economy, and traitorously dealt with our enemies for profit.
killing the Fairness Doctrine. It was Reagan’s refusal to enforce the statute that led to the Right’s ascendency on talk radio, and eventually to Fox News.
busting of the Aircraft controller’s union?
the lobby system which for the first time under raygun was exapanded from a hand full of people who were very restricted in what they could legally offer became the largest industry in the world……..votes for sale…..legally and now there are thousands of them. They even have their own street in dc…..K street…….
add your crime here…
March 10th, 2008 at 8:44 pmActually we have a new contender for worst predident ever…….another republican of course.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:51 pmLooks like Jeffy Baa Baa Dork Sheep was a drive-by.
Buh-bye!
March 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pmActually we have a new contender for worst predident ever…….another republican of course.
Comment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Not even close Fred. Reagan was no saint and laid some of the foundation the Bush’s built upon, but, the Chimperror is a raving sociopath.
Worst President ever by a huge margin.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:17 pmComment by Fred — March 10, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
That’s the guy! (Lucky us, here in California, he was a bad governor here before being a terrible president.) He was the first successful salvo fired by the reich wing conservative neocons at this great country. BushCo will be the last!
March 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pmComment by pete — March 10, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
Worst President ever by a huge margin.
Yes, but…
As you point out BushCo built on RayGun. Bush is extreme because he could be and get away with it. RayGun would have been as extreme as Bush has the situation then, been as it is today. He was extreme in his time. Firing the air controllers was considered really extreme at the time.
I really don’t separate RayGun, 41 and 43. (Clinton was there, but on the fringe.) They are all part of the same cloth. Corporate controlled, neocon run, heading in the direction of the nineteenth century where regulation did not exist and the Federal Government was in the pocket of the super rich. “libertarian” capitalists.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pmImmigration isn’t really the issue. It’s the loss of a national identity, where we can all converse, discuss, exchange ideas, in the same language.
People showing up and having babies in the USA should not be grounds for citizenship. That idea was put in place to make citizenship a right for children born to slaves. That history is long gone.
Go to Mexico as an American, or to Australia, or England, or virtually every other country, and have your baby in that country — do you think it will be an American or will it have the citizenship of the country where the delivery occurred?
When you go to Mexico, ask to see the election ballots published in English, Tagalog, Korean, Chinese, Irdu?
If we want an exchange of ideas, and the ability to discuss issues, how are we to do this of millions of people cannot understand each other, don’t speak the same language, and have no idea what is being said on non-English speaking media, newspapers, books, etc.
At one time we had the idea of a “melting pot” where people came to America to become Americans. Now we have multiculturalism where people come to America to change it to some other culture, some other country, or to create isolated neighborhoods where the language is non-English, and English speaking Americans are just visitors, not citizens in these neighborhoods.
Liberals can claim tolerance, but look at the way they belittle those who want to retain a common language, they are called bigots by the liberals.
It’s your country, if you don’t care whether you understand your neighbor’s language, can’t discuss issues because you don’t speak the same language, how is this going to work?
Does it work for you now? Are the results good? Do you really understand what they’re saying on Korean TV, Spanish TV, Russian neighborhoods, Middle eastern people, is it okay that you have no clue about their language, and no way to debate them about their ideas?
Good luck America, we once had a country you could understand, in the next 50 years, the USA will be a collection of distrustful groups, speaking different languages, with different cultures — this, my friends, is what eventually leads to civil wars and ethnic cleansing. It can happen here, and it will if we go down this path of multiculturalism.
It never worked historically, and it won’t work this time. That’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
Dr. Rogers
March 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pmI can’t help but wonder how much immigrant’s actually do for our economy. People are always fussing about them getting money, but they never look at the jobs these people have and they work they do for us.
I say down with the haters.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:33 pmLiberals can claim tolerance, but look at the way they belittle those who want to retain a common language, they are called bigots by the liberals.
Dr. Rogers
Comment by DrRogers
And you are bigots. How would you justify your claim when 1/5 of your population speaks a different language.
I think you have never been out of your basement as you claim that ballots in other countries are not in multiple languages is false.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:37 pmLiberals can claim tolerance, but look at the way they belittle those who want to retain a common language, they are called bigots by the liberals.
Comment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Nice trial balloon, “Doc” **cough**
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=282
Bilingualism Persists, But English Still Dominates
By Richard Alba, Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional Research, State University of New York at Albany
February 2005
Because of renewed immigration, fears about English no longer being the linguistic “glue” holding America together are common. Some commentators envision speakers of other languages seizing economic and political power in large regions of the United States, creating disadvantages for English-speaking Americans.
In a very different vein, multiculturalists hope new immigrants’ native languages will persist. They believe bilingualism and language pluralism could usher in a new era that breaks the hegemony of Anglo-American culture.
The underlying claim of both viewpoints is that the past pattern – children and grandchildren of immigrants who rapidly accept English – may be breaking down. Although some changes have occurred, testing this claim using Census data reveals that such beliefs are greatly exaggerated.
English is almost universally accepted by the children and grandchildren of the immigrants who have come to the US in great numbers since the 1960s, which means these children have high levels of linguistic assimilation. Moreover, by the third generation (grandchildren of immigrants), only a minority in any group maintains bilingualism.
Among Asian groups, these minorities are so small that the levels of linguistic assimilation are scarcely different from those of the past. Among Spanish-speaking groups, the bilingual minorities are larger than was the case among most European immigrant groups.
Nevertheless, speaking only English is the predominant pattern by the third generation, except for Dominicans, who are known for frequent back-and-forth travel between their homeland and the US.
Try again… and this time, try some “facts”. They go a long way towards selling an opinion, “Doc”.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pmDr, Rogers:
Liberals can claim tolerance, but look at the way they belittle those who want to retain a common language, they are called bigots by the liberals.
This “common language” you speak of has hundreds of regional dialects, some near incomprehensible to non-locals.
Strike one.
It’s your country, if you don’t care whether you understand your neighbor’s language, can’t discuss issues because you don’t speak the same language, how is this going to work?
See answer above.
Strike two.
Does it work for you now? Are the results good? Do you really understand what they’re saying on Korean TV, Spanish TV, Russian neighborhoods, Middle eastern people, is it okay that you have no clue about their language, and no way to debate them about their ideas?
I also wouldn’t fare well speaking with locals in an Italian or Irish, or Polish neighborhood. Your point is nonsensical.
Strike three.
Head for the showers, Casey.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pmI can’t help but wonder how much immigrant’s actually do for our economy.
Comment by deezero — March 10, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
Well, seeing as we’re all immigrants, or descended from immigrants, unless you’re a native American (for lack of a better term…).
March 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pmIt never worked historically, and it won’t work this time. That’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
Dr. Rogers
Comment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Not your shitty, fascistic, low-class values. You have no understanding of how America was built, or what it means. You must be a Republican, which means antiAmerican.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:46 pmThat’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
And how many of these immigrants enlist? What more must one do to demonstrate their willingness to “share our values,” than to fight for our country?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:50 pmComment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Good luck America, we once had a country you could understand, in the next 50 years, the USA will be a collection of distrustful groups, speaking different languages, with different cultures — this, my friends, is what eventually leads to civil wars and ethnic cleansing. It can happen here, and it will if we go down this path of multiculturalism.
It never worked historically, and it won’t work this time. That’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
BwaaaaaHaaaaaHaaaaa (wiping tears of laughter away.)
My father was German, my mother Irish. I was raised in a German, Irish, Jewish, Italian neighborhood on Long Island, in Queens, New York.
You have your head in the sand. New York was and still is a melting pot, and despite all the difficulties it is surviving quite well, thank you. And there are many other “multicultural” (ooooh, there is that scary word,) successes around the country. Wake up, read your American history, and join the rest of the country in the vibrant present, instead of the frightened and racist past.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm“People showing up and having babies in the USA should not be grounds for citizenship. That idea was put in place to make citizenship a right for children born to slaves. That history is long gone.”
DrRogers
If you don’t like it amend the Constitution, otherwise STFU and take your racist, scared, uneducated, crap elsewhere. Doctor, my ass, you pathetic troll. Maybe we should respond in another language, really piss you off.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pmComment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Good luck America, we once had a country you could understand, in the next 50 years, the USA will be a collection of distrustful groups, speaking different languages, with different cultures — this, my friends, is what eventually leads to civil wars and ethnic cleansing. It can happen here, and it will if we go down this path of multiculturalism.
It never worked historically, and it won’t work this time. That’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:58 pm……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
By your logic India should be in perpetual civil war, and historically….for a long time now. Instead they look to be the second in line of economic superpowers in the world within 20 years….right behind China, not the USA. Wake up man.
El Dr. Rogers vive debajo de un puente.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:00 pmRepublicans are racist scum, and deserve citizenship less than the workers that come here from other countries.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pmRepublicans are racist scum, and deserve citizenship less than the workers that come here from other countries.
Comment by Lefty Patriot
They make much better neighbors and they do understand family values, unlike republican.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:04 pm“Noble Lies” and demagoguery is all that these haters know!
March 10th, 2008 at 10:21 pmIt wasn’t Hastert’s seat it was the people’s seat. Denny boy was just a pimp for Bush…he hasn’t had an original thought since he first played with himself. This guy spent his time trying to figure out how to get up to the lodge in Alaska to see his lobbyist buddies. This man has damaged America. He has damaged the Constitution and I hope Denny has a fine ol’ time sitting on his ass but not in our seat. The people’s seat.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:24 pmPut all the fat white racists behind a fence and this could be a decent country. Of course the GOP would be severely depleted.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:33 pm35 - that’s how India, in spite of generations of war, colonialism, and crushing poverty can have a vibrant democracy in a country of a billion people who speak and write 100 languages, right Rogers - because they have no “national identity”??????????
nothing more heinous than a well-spoken fool.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:33 pmThat will be one of many challenges for our country. Moving forward as a group of people with many backgrounds, religions and cultures. We can’t return to segregation. We can’t just expel all of the non-white, non-Christians. We need to figure out how to form a cohesive grouping. Think of it as you don’t want to go to the store so you work with what you have to make dinner. Only exponentially harder.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:58 pmLike I said the other day, we’ll need 25 gallon drums of 409, several hundred square feet of steel wool, and an industrial strength sand blaster to get Hastert’s seat ready for an honest Democrat to sit in.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:05 amthere’s a difference between “anti-immigrant” and “anti-immigration”.
i, myself, am all for limiting legal immigration. it’s not like i’m “anti-immigrant”…..after all, sweden’s immigration policies are far more conservative than ours, yet sweden is a very liberal country, by american standards.
and how about france? how do you think the old french workers feel about immigration? are they anti-muslim?
March 11th, 2008 at 1:38 amI don’t want to pay higher taxes for illegals. call me crazy. I guess you just like giving your money away.
Welfare, Schooling, Medicare, Uninsured (I guess universal health care can solve that, but os really paying for it?) jobs from your children (if you didn’t abort them like a coward), crime, border enforcement, anchor babies…. If you don’t have a good job why should they come here illegally and get a better one because thats whats happening. Maybe we should just give them a free college education too, so they can have another one up on us. wake up
They don’t pay taxes why should you pay for them?
March 11th, 2008 at 2:33 amHowever they do construction nice and have good food.
Comment by drock234 — March 11, 2008 @ 2:33 am
Anybody understand what this idiot is saying?
March 11th, 2008 at 3:08 amI’M A-SKEEERD OF DEM FORNERZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Rogers
Comment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
One wonders how a bigot like you managed to achieve a doctorate of medicine or philosophy.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:46 amIntolerance and hate for non-believers is the hallmark of liberalism and so-called “progressives” — Radical liberals simply spew hate filled messages intended to silence those who disagree with them.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:17 amComment by DrRogers — March 11, 2008 @ 7:17 am
Riiight… whereas as a gentle soul such as yerself merely spreads misinformation…
It never worked historically, and it won’t work this time. That’s what’s bothering those who want are concerned about being overrun by immigrants who really don’t want to be Americans or adopt a common set of values.
Dr. Rogers
Comment by DrRogers — March 10, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
We are a nation of immigrants. And I doubt yer a “Dr.”
What’s Rogers? English? Irish? Scottish? Scandinavian?
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=282
“English is almost universally accepted by the children and grandchildren of the immigrants who have come to the US in great numbers since the 1960s, which means these children have high levels of linguistic assimilation. Moreover, by the third generation (grandchildren of immigrants), only a minority in any group maintains bilingualism.”
It’s called ‘assimilation”. Look it up. You might learn something.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:48 am“They don’t pay taxes why should you pay for them?”
Of course they pay taxes. If they have false documentation, they are on payroll and taxes are withheld that they don’t get back because they don’t file returns. They also don’t collect on the social security taxes that are withheld. They also pay sales taxes and if they’re only making $3.23/hour, I’d say most of that is going right back into the economy.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:58 amMerlin and Zooey you caught me, I don’t think like you. I use to, but broke free from some the failures of the Progressive propaganda. Isn’t amazing your first reaction is to insult or belittle me, not very “tolerant.†Merlin you know exactly where I stand if you have read my blog, I am former- Progressive much like you. Thanks for visiting my site. We may not always agree, but I bet if you read further you might actually find something we agree on. And yes, I do admire Ronald Reagan, a far cry from the day when I actually applauded his assassination attempt. Careful about throwing stones, no candidate is perfect.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:23 amHow courageous is it of you to hide behind other people’s rhetoric? I vote for the person, not the party. Always have. I haven’t decided who I will vote for, but I do know that I would never vote for Clinton. I want to see what running mates are chosen by Obama (should he win the nomination) or McCain. It would also depend on what third-party options are presented.
Jorge and Rosa, two undocumented immigrants, were cleaning Oberweis ice cream stores and being paid $3.23 an hour.
Denny needs a job now. Tie his hands behind his back and let him him clean-up with his tongue. All you have to do is put some head cheese somewhere, and he will find it and clean up too. I assume only RePUGs go there for ice cream, they won’t care, in fact it’s kind of like oinkers picking out truffles.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:47 amWhat an exciting victory for those who support fair and workable immigration reform. Hopefully, Republicans will finally realize that running anti-immigrant candidates who use hateful rhetoric will not be successful in the upcoming elections. It has not worked in the past, and it will not work now.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:01 amI’ve read many of these posts - are you all in favor of letting any and everybody come here? Do you not care about ILLEGAL immigration? Millions of dollars are sent out of the US economy tax free every year. And you think that’s ok? I don’t care if immigrants are here, but if they want to reap the benefits of living in the US they should pay taxes just like the rest of us. Illegal immigrants undermine the effort put in by legal immigrants to gain citizenship. I don’t believe in birthright citizenship. It’s just an invitation to come here illegally. Do you know who pays those hospital bills for illegal immigrants to have babies, and who pays the bill for those kids to go to school? We do. Not them, but the taxpayers. It would be nice if I didn’t have to pay taxes, but I’m a legal citizen.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:21 amAnd i’m sick of the argument “oh, but they do the jobs that americans won’t do.” Are you sure? Do you know how many americans are losing their jobs? Is it that they won’t do the work or that they won’t get hired because they’re employer BY LAW would have to pay them more than can pay an illegal immigrant. If we didn’t have illegal immigrants employers would have to pay everyone at least minimum wage and all those americans who “won’t do” those jobs would have a chance to get hired. It’s not the american workforce that creates an environment the caters to illegal immigrants, it’s the employers trying to save money. Illegal immigrants do no good for the US.
Stormkrow, there’s so much WRONG w/ yer rant… where to begin?
If you want to be taken seriously, and not laughed outta here, git some facts into yer tirade, okay?
March 11th, 2008 at 11:59 amThis is further evidence the anti-immigrant rhetoric isn’t going to work. Americans see through the old tactics of playing on our fears and using wedge issues. Simply put if Republicans continue to use anti-immigrant messaging 2008 is going to be tougher than 2006 was.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pmMore proof that if Republicans don’t come up with any ideas besides rounding up and deporting 12 million people, their fortunes aren’t going to change any time soon.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pmOberweis’ latest defeat proves that whether he is running for the governorship or a Senate or House seat, his anti-immigrant message simply does not resonate with voters.
Let him keep spending all of his money on campaigns, his zeal of bashing immigrants only helps demonstrate why Latinos are abandoning the GOP in droves.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:11 pmRepublic of the Stupidity
March 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pmYou claim that there was “so much wrong†with Stormkrow’s comments, yet you failed to regale us with your keen insight and wisdom. I love the fact that you find humor in belittling a person by making sure your response included words written as if they were spoken down South, or are we seeing the spelling skills of a liberal education. Just like a quasi-Progressive, write of the indolence’s in the world while displaying your own prejudices.
As far as the moniker you use, it is very fitting for you. Your truly are a member of the Republic of the Stupidity.
Stormkrow
Are you okay with the Millions of Dollars sent out of the US every year by corporations to the Cayman Islands, tax free?
Thanks
March 11th, 2008 at 7:07 pmCrazy Hussein Cat Lady