Thread: Opponents of Illegal Immigration Are Increasingly Vocal

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... s_politics

After Protests, Backlash Grows
Opponents of Illegal Immigration Are Increasingly Vocal

By Darryl Fears
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 3, 2006; A10



While a series of marches focused much of the nation's attention on the plight of illegal immigrants, scores of other Americans quietly seethed. Now, with the same full-throated cry expressed by those in the country illegally, they are shouting back.

Congressional leaders in Washington have gotten bricks in the mail from a group that advocates building a border fence, states in the West and South have drawn up tough anti-immigrant laws, and ordinary citizens, such as Janis McDonald of Pennsylvania, who considers herself a liberal, are not mincing words in expressing their displeasure.

"Send them back," McDonald said. "Build a damn wall and be done with it."

The anger evoked a word that immigrant organizers who opposed Monday's boycott feared: backlash. McDonald and other Americans were particularly disturbed by Monday's boycott and civil action, attended in large part by people who entered the country illegally and are now demanding rights enjoyed by U.S.-born citizens and immigrants who entered the country legally.

"How dare they," said McDonald, a research specialist for the University of Pittsburgh who said she voted for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) in the 2004 presidential election. "If they are so active, why aren't they in Mexico City, why aren't they forcing their leaders there to deal with the quality of life? If you don't like it here, go home."

That strong sentiment was heard across the country, on a radio program in Los Angeles, where talk-show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou encouraged listeners to participate in a "Great American Spend-a-Lot" to offset the effect of the boycott. They vowed to reimburse listeners picked in a drawing.

In the Washington area, African American radio listeners kept bringing up the immigration issue as Leila McDowell, a guest host on the Joe Madison show, tried to discuss abuse of black and Latino workers at a North Carolina meat-processing plant.

"I would say that the majority of comments were hostile, but it wasn't an overwhelming majority," said McDowell. "A lot of people said immigrants were trying to make ends meet just like us. And then there were those who said that they're taking our jobs, they're taking our services, that they shouldn't be legal, that my forefathers were slaves, and these people haven't paid their dues."

In Kansas City, Mo., Joyce Mucci, the executive director of the Mid-America Immigration Reform Coalition, said she didn't see much impact from the march in her city.

"Frankly I think they're overplaying their hand," she said, adding, "I think people who may have been sitting on the fence are not sitting on the fence anymore. These marches are not helping the people they're intending to help."

Congress is considering several immigration reform proposals. One would hand out temporary work permits to foreigners outside the country, allow illegal residents already here to pay a fine and work, possibly toward legal residency. Another would make it a felony to enter the country illegally and to offer assistance to anyone who does, and would build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. A third would force illegal immigrants here to go home before being allowed to work.

Whether the anger expressed by some Americans will translate into votes in November is anybody's guess. Fred Yang, a Democratic consultant in Washington, guessed that it will not.

"This is going to be like a tug of war," he said. "I think Republicans are trying to exploit voter concerns about immigration. It's not a winning strategy. I think voters are more concerned about health-care costs, the cost of higher education and gasoline and energy than immigration."

Immigration opponents are also concerned about the costs of public services immigrants use at the expense of taxpayers. Don Stewart, a spokesman for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), said his state spends $2 billion a year on health care and education for people in the country illegally. Arizona and California officials said their expense for detaining illegal immigrants who commit crimes is a combined $950 million per year, a fraction of which is reimbursed by the federal government.

"It's an enormous burden on taxpayers," Stewart said. "It's funny that people think that going out on the streets will make people change their minds. There are very strong opinions on this issue."

Cornyn is one of many politicians who got a gift from Send-a-brick.com, which allows visitors to purchase a brick for about $11 and mail it to their representative, a weighty hint to build a border fence. The site's operators could not be reached for comment.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), one of the most vocal lawmakers arguing for a tough approach to illegal immigrants, said he recently attended a dinner at which an employer received rousing applause for his stand against an immigrant worker who wanted to take Monday off. "He said he told him that if you don't come to work Monday, don't bother coming in on Tuesday."

Staff writers Sonya Geis in Los Angeles and Kari Lydersen in Chicago contributed to this report.

This is big news! The Washington Post is even conceding the protests have backfired on the illegals!

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article1190.html

Washington Post Concedes: After Protests, Backlash Grows!

if the Washington Post is not defending them they are in big trouble!

I have never heard of this Fred Yang before (a Democratic consultant) but he is now on my list. The idiot actually said "I think voters are more concerned about health-care costs, the cost of higher education and gasoline and energy than immigration."

-He forgot to mention employment, which immigration is also effecting.
Since the guy is a politician, I can not tell if he actually believes that line of bull. Or if he is trying to mislead Americans.

It seems to me that if anything is to be accomplished, we first need to deal with the root of the problem. As long as those responsible for creating this situation are allowed to remain in office, they will find some deceptive means to have their way. Until this immigration issue recently resurfaced, I was under the impression that our boarder had been secured several years ago. I must have misunderstood all of the campaign promises made by our current representatives.

These are some of our US Senators who have voted to support mass immigration
Barbra Boxer -Also oposses HR 4437
CALIFORNIA Senator Feinstein (202) 224-3841
DELAWARE Senator Biden (202) 224-5042
ILLINOIS Senator Durbin (202) 224-2152 KANSAS Senator Brownback (202) 224-6521
MASSACHUSETTS Senator Kennedy (202) 224-5251
NEW YORK Senator Schumer (202) 224-6542 open-borders lobby member
OHIO Senator DeWine (202) 224-2315
PENNSYLVANIA Senator Specter (202) 224-4254
SOUTH CAROLINA Senator Graham (202) 224-5972
VERMONT Senator Leahy (202) 224-4242
WISCONSIN Senator Kohl (202) 224-5653 and Senator Feingold (202) 224-5323

California senators who voted in favor of Resolution (SCR) 113
a measure to observe "a day without dependents" -giving senators the day off with pay.
Senators name & District #
Wesley Chesbro 02
Carole Midgen 03
Mike Machado 05
Deborah Ortiz 06
Tom Torlakson 07
Jackie Speier 08
Don Perata 09
Liz Figueroa 10
Joseph S. Simitian 11
Elaine Alquist 13
Richard Alarcón 20
Jack Scott 21
Gilbert Cedillo 22
Sheila Kuehl 23
Gloria Romero 24 Responsible for introducing Resolution (SCR) 113
Edward Vincent 25
Kevin Murray 26
Alen Lowenthal 27
Debra Bowen 28
Escutia, Martha 30
Nell Soto 32
Joseph Dunn 34
Christine Kehoe 39
Denise Moreno Ducheny 40
California senators who voted against Resolution (SCR) 113
Dave Cox 01
Senator Sam Aanestad 04
Jeff Denham 12
Charles Poochigian 14
Abel Maldonado 15
George Runner 17
Roy Ashburn 18
Tom McClintock 19
Bob Margett 29
Dick Ackerman 33
Dennis Hollingsworth 36
Bill Morrow 38
Bob Dutton 63

DID NOT VOTE
Jim Battin 37
Dean Florez 16
D-Montebello 30

Originally Posted by skid

I have never heard of this Fred Yang before (a Democratic consultant) but he is now on my list. The idiot actually said "I think voters are more concerned about health-care costs, the cost of higher education and gasoline and energy than immigration."

I know. He has either had his head up his you know what... or he hasn't been listening.

skid

welcome to the fight ...

it's amazing that all these people took an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution -- apparently they don't even know what it says

it's amazing that all these people took an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution

"I can not confirm or deny any such events and I can not recall taking an oath of office"

There is still some justice in the world, the above list of US senators who support all forms of immigration was posted on a pro-immigration site where they were noted for their strong support of the "movement".

Originally Posted by skid

it's amazing that all these people took an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution

"I can not confirm or deny any such events and I can not recall taking an oath of office"

I was talking about the senators and members of the California legislature

I agree 100%

The few times any of them have been confronted for violating their oath, they all seem to reply: "I can not recall"