Thread: Backfiring boycotts make immig. the surprise issue of 2010

Southern Political Report
Backfiring boycotts make immigration the surprise issue of 2010
By Matt Towery

May 12, 2010 —

No one has been more startled than this pollster that immigration has burst onto the scene as an issue more significant to most Americans than health care, financial bailouts and the economy.

So maybe I'm a better pollster than prognosticator. But I do have enough horse sense to trace the trajectory of a new issue once it gets to be headline news.

Arizona's new illegal-immigration law requires that state residents have on their persons proof of legal residency -- but now they can only be asked for this proof under carefully restricted circumstances.

The law immediately ignited a firestorm of passionate opposition. Most critics hailed from states besides Arizona that have large illegal populations -- or from Americans who don't believe it's so important to determine people's legal status in the country. Actual and threatened boycotts against Arizona started to make the news.

Based on a series of recent public opinion polls, it appears to me that all this noisy outrage over the Arizona law is backfiring against opponents of the law. Consensus public opinion seems to be shifting in favor of a strict interpretation of what constitutes legal residency in the United States, and for stricter enforcement of the relevant laws.

It's my firm belief that if someone is in America illegally, they should be treated as such and deported. I also see cases that fall into a grayer area, such as that of a 21-year-old who is nearing graduation at a Georgia university. Through no choice of her own, she came to this country when she was 16. Now she is fighting to keep from being deported, at least until she finishes school.

Somewhere on the way to getting the immigration situation solved there must be room for compassion and empathy for our fellow humans of all backgrounds, ethnicities and circumstances. But it's important to note that this column isn't primarily about my opinions.

Here is a cold, hard fact for those who seek to oppose the Arizona immigration law through boycotts of the state or its products, services or even its sports teams: You're cooked. Your indignation is only hardening the resolve of those who've adopted a zero-tolerance stance toward people living here illegally.

Nor are many Americans being swayed by media stories, including a recent network TV segment, that seem to suggest the U.S. is deliberately, or at least negligently, making it dangerous for Mexicans to cross the border illegally.

Again, the results of public opinion polls are clear. Americans are frustrated with the nation's high unemployment rate. Mostly low-paying jobs that a few years ago they were content to leave to illegal residents and others, they now feel possessive of.

Think of the construction industry. When the economy was robust for so long, there appeared to be a belief across the country that denying these low-paying jobs to illegals might put a brake on the good times by unnecessarily driving up labor costs. Such reasoning was a poorly hidden justification for "compromise" legislation that winked at illegal immigration.

Now many local governments are fighting for revenue. Voters have little interest in supporting a workforce of illegal immigrants. And for many, there is no gray area or willingness to consider exceptions such as the one I noted above.

Politicians take note: Tea party fervor could have a synergistic effect with anti-immigration sentiment in stoking a huge voter turnout this year, both in contested primaries -- especially Republican ones -- and in November.

Immigration debate also provides context to otherwise anecdotal events. The Web is rife with outraged discussion about the high school students in California who were sent home for wearing clothes decorated with American flags on Cinco de Mayo.

Now throw in the boycotts of Arizona by various governments and organizations. Many Americans are not only annoyed, but also puzzled, by these actions. To them, the Arizona law is common sense. Now illegal immigration may move from being just another news story to a dominant political theme. America's mood in this election year is getting surly. We shall see.

Matt Towery is author of the new book, "Paranoid Nation: The Real Story of the 2008 Fight for the Presidency." He heads the polling and political information firm InsiderAdvantage. To find out more about Matthew Towery and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/ ... _1407.aspx

Americans are fed up!

It is our Sovereignty , our culture, and our identity as a Nation that is at stake in this fight...
We have seen all the dirty tricks, heard all the sob stories, endured all the accusations and insults. We are smarter than that. Much

When a Politician like Bill (Slick Willy) Clinton says "We need MORE immigrants" we know it means "We" as in HIS special interest...The Democrats/Progressives/Marxists need more Immigrants to further their political, ethnic, and social agenda and to bring us closer to their North American Union and New World Order...

No Thanks Slick Willy...shlub

Correction to the author of the article. Citizens were never content to give the low-wage jobs to illegals. We just were never allowed to say anything. The correct political thought was to have better jobs for citizens and to take pity on the poor illegals. Many of us felt this attitude was wrong all along. It has taken the pressure of this economy for us to finally speak our mind combined with the growing militancy and hate foisted on us by the "poor" illegals. This movement is not a result of the most recent economic disaster - it has been brewing for decades.

Pearce from AZ was just on FOX news and said AZ is getting overwhelming support from all over the country, he called the people boycotting AZ un-American and said we are going to take back the country state by state!!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Pearce from AZ was just on FOX news and said AZ is getting overwhelming support from all over the country, he called the people boycotting AZ un-American and said we are going to take back the country state by state!!

Really? Cool!!!

Those who point their finger and scream racist must know that those other fingers on their own hand are pointing back at them - the true racists. We speak for all displaced citizens - black, white, brown, yellow, red and even green!

Check out this link that lists "Stand With Arizona" rallies (ALIPAC mentioned):

http://www.ircot.com/events.htm

Cool Populists!!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Americans are fed up!

Yes we are and bring. it. on.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Gerald Celente predicted a high level of "anti immigrant sentiment" about 12 -18 months ago. Again, he hit the nail on the head. Im sure he knew how Americans were fed up with this IA BS, but they were too afraid to say much about it. Now all thats changed and I'm glad.