Thread: NC: James' Controversial Comments Stir Up Latino Community

James' Controversial Comments Stir Up Latino Community

Story Created: Apr 23, 2008 at 4:39 PM EDT
Story Updated: Apr 23, 2008 at 6:36 PM EDT

A Mecklenburg County commissioner issues some strong statements about illegal immigrants.

Tonight, some in the Latino community say he has gone too far.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James says he's not backing down after what he said about immigrants last week.

The Republican compared illegal workers who pay taxes to drug dealers and prostitutes who pay taxes.

Those remarks are not sitting well with the Latino Community.

WBTV's Sarah Batista has more on why they say he's taking his comments to far.
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It was all the buzz, the headline on the local Spanish-language newspapers and the topic on Spanish radio too.

It all stems back to last week's commissioner meeting.

"This isn't anything remotely at issue," James said, "unless the real issue is to coddle illegals, suck up to a certain segment of the community."

Commissioner James asked the county to make local contractors use a tougher social security verification system.

He says it would crack down on illegal immigrants using fake social security numbers to get a job.

But commissioners disagreed, saying the system wasn't reliable and would only create more stress on employers.

Then came these comments.

James said, "Illegal immigrants do pay taxes..so do prostitutes and drug dealers."

Latino advocate Maudia Melendez thinks the comments were offensive.

"This needs to stop deragatory statements, directed at the community should not come from an official," she said.

But Commissioner James says he doesn't care if he offended anyone. "I don't care what ethnic background you're from, you follow the law."

"Instead of building bridges we are breaking bridges," Melendez said. She agrees illegal immigration needs to be dealt with, but in a different way, "by intelligent, compassionate people."

James said, "if you want to drive home the fact of what's really going on, you got to give it to them straight.

http://www.wbtv.com/home/18059374.html

Latino advocate Maudia Melendez thinks the comments were offensive.

"This needs to stop deragatory statements, directed at the community should not come from an official," she said.

I wish these advocates for illegal aliens STOP with making this a latino issue! It's annoying and offensive to me as a US citizen and a latina! I am offended that Ms. Melendez wants to lump us with illegal aliens. There is a HUGE difference between the two.

His comments are about illegal aliens and last I checked they come in all colors, shapes, sizes and countries, so why does this woman keep on insisting that illegal aliens are only hispanic/latino? Pisses me off to no end!

She knows what his comment alluded to and so does any reasonable person, all three (illegal aliens, drug dealers and prostitutes are ILLEGAL!!!). Let's not let semantics get in the way.

It is offensive "miguelina" these pro illegals are useing a whole group of people and constantly tying illegal, legal and citizens together. The need to STOP.

miguelina wrote:

I wish these advocates for illegal aliens STOP with making this a latino issue! It's annoying and offensive to me as a US citizen and a latina! I am offended that Ms. Melendez wants to lump us with illegal aliens. There is a HUGE difference between the two.

I don't blame you for being offended. It's beyond me why more Hispanics aren't up in arms over the same issue.

You need to watch the video. A different commissioner says "illegal immigrants pay taxes". Then he says "so do drug dealers and prostitutes". And why are hispanic activists angry? He didnt say anything about illegal alien hispanics...

Well well someone got offended call 911.

The Republican compared illegal workers who pay taxes to drug dealers and prostitutes who pay taxes.

Well that ain't the truth.


Remember Illegals have always stated they pay taxes. I remember in one of the spanish news they interviewed people on the street and this young man stated that he was told by these Illegal Advocate groups that he pay taxes when he buys clothes, food, etc.


Hellooooo.......drug dealers and Prostitutes do also?


All 3 acts are Illegal however why don't they change the wording like with the word Illegal Alien.

Illegal Alien = Undocumented

Drug Dealer = Undocumented Pharmacist

Prostitute = Undocumented (not licensed) Relationship Therapist

Home Burglar = Undocumented Property Holder (who needs stinkin documents that your the owner)




I'm glad someone finally has the guts to say it like it is

Instead of building bridges we are breaking bridges," Melendez said. She agrees illegal immigration needs to be dealt with, but in a different way, "by intelligent, compassionate people."

Hmm, you mean by groups such as la raza?

Many "intelligent and compassionate" people are dealing with this issue and they have come to the same conclusion. They want the illegal invaders out!

Originally Posted by miguelina

Originally Posted by WBTV News

Latino advocate Maudia Melendez thinks the comments were offensive. "This needs to stop deragatory statements, directed at the community should not come from an official," she said.

I wish these advocates for illegal aliens STOP with making this a latino issue! It's annoying and offensive to me as a US citizen and a latina! I am offended that Ms. Melendez wants to lump us with illegal aliens. There is a HUGE difference between the two. His comments are about illegal aliens and last I checked they come in all colors, shapes, sizes and countries, so why does this woman keep on insisting that illegal aliens are only hispanic/latino? Pisses me off to no end! She knows what his comment alluded to and so does any reasonable person, all three (illegal aliens, drug dealers and prostitutes are ILLEGAL!!!). Let's not let semantics get in the way.

Thanks for standing with your countrymen instead of with some phony idea of what comprises a race. I have Latin-American friends and relatives who also resent this illegal alien wave. Mexican propaganda has been very successful in making many believe Mexico is a race and Latin-Americans owe a stronger allegiance to them than to the nation of their citizenship. When the real enemies come, a la, the Red Coats or WWII, it's important to know who your real friends are. They're your countrymen of course. They're the ones who share with you a stake in America's future.

Charlotte Latino Activists Plan To Protest Commissioner's Comments About Illegals

POSTED: 11:13 pm EDT April 25, 2008
UPDATED: 11:24 pm EDT April 25, 2008


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mecklenburg County commissioner Bill James is standing by comments he made, regarding illegal immigrants, during a televised April 15th meeting that on Friday were featured internationally in Spanish-language newspapers in Mexico, Argentina, and Nicaragua.

"I stand by my comments completely," said James in an e-mail to Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

During the April 15th meeting, as commissioners discussed the illegal immigration issue, fellow commissioner Norman Mitchell said "immigrants also pay taxes commissioner James."

To which James responded "and prostitutes and drug dealers."

In his e-mail to Channel 9 Eyewitness News on Friday, James said "illegals are breaking the law in much the same way as prostitutes and drug dealers. Prostitutes pay taxes, drug dealers pay taxes, so it matters little that illegals do."

On Friday, Charlotte Latino activist German De Castro said he's organizing a protest before the next Mecklenburg County commission meeting scheduled for May 6th to persuade James to apologize.

"To compare our community, as a stereotype, as prostitutes and as drug dealers, is the most horrendous thing," said De Castro.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/16002357/detail.html

I AM SO GLAD HE IS STANDING BY HIS STATEMENT. PAYING TAXES DOES NOT RELIEVE A PERSON FROM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ILLEGAL ACTS.

OF COURSE DRUG DEALERS AND PROSTITUTES PAY TAXES. THEY PROBABLY PAY MORE TAXES THAN ILLEGAL ENTRANTS SINCE THEY MAKE WAY MORE MONEY.

ADDITIONALLY OTHER CRIMIMANLS ALSO PAY TAXES. PEDOPHILES, EMBEZZLERS, INSIDE TRADERS, BANK ROBBERS, PICK POCKETS, SCAM ARTISTS AND SO ON AND SO ON. ARE THEY ALL RELIEVED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY PAY TAXES? NO THEY ARENT. AND THERE IS NO REASON THE ILLEGAL ENTRANTS SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILTIES EITHER.

THEY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW PURE AND SIMPLE. THOSE THAT DEFEND THEM ARE DEFENDING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THEY LIKE TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT BY SAYING "WELL THEY PAY TAX"........SO WHAT?

FURTHERMORE, I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING HOW ILLEGALS CROSS THE BORDER BECAUSE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS MAKE THE PROCESS TOO LONG AND HARD. SO THEY ARE FORCED TO BREAK THE LAW AND COME IN ILLEGALLY. THAT IS LIKE A BANK ROBBER SAYING "WELL I DONT HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK...SO THEY ONLY WAY TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE BANK IS BY FORCE" THIS IS TWISTED.