http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_208180735.html

Jul 27, 2006 4:05 pm US/Mountain

Lamm Calls On Minorities To Examine Work Ethics
(CBS4) DENVER Illegal immigration hurts the poorest Americans. That was the message former Gov. Dick Lamm delivered at the University Club in Denver Thursday.

Lamm, a democrat, also stood by his remarks that blacks and Hispanics need to take responsibility for what he called their "underperformance".

"I'm willing to say there is racism and discrimination," he said. "But to me it is not an adequate explanation for minority under-achievement and there needs to be a certain self-examination."

"One of the things is you've got to stop making every excuse and tell people they're not succeeding because they're victims," Lamm said.

Lamm said he understands why employers hire illegal immigrants, calling them good, hardworking people. But he said they hurt poor citizens by taking those jobs.

The former governor said poor citizens need those jobs in order to start on the ladder of success.

The fact of those jobs are available is what lures illegal immigrants to the United States according to Lamm and that is why employers need to be required to verify workers are in this country legally.

"It is the magnet of jobs that bring people into this country," he said. "It is so powerful and you've got to do something about that magnet."

Lamm did concede that employers would likely have to pay more for American workers, but he said the trade-off would come in terms of workers paying taxes.

"Yes, the price of a hamburger and making your bed in a motel is going to go up," Lamm said. "But your taxes are going to go down."

Lamm also addressed what he believes are the differences in culture which led to the success of the United States while many of the nations south of the U.S. border struggle.

He said very different people settled those nations. "They came for God, gold and glory," he said.

"In the United States our forefathers and mothers came to plant crops and children and build a stable society."

Lamm said blacks and Hispanics need to embrace that philosophy in order to succeed. He again pointed to the success of Asian and Jewish Americans.

"Black and Hispanic students do half as much homework as Asian and Jewish students," he said. "And they get half as good grades."

"I do believe racism and discrimination exists," he said. "But it's not an adequate explanation for a 50% dropout rate when they have the ability to succeed largely within their own hands.

"If I could do anything ... to try to lovingly encourage the minority community to continue to fulfill the civil rights agenda," he said. "But also look at how other groups have succeeded in America."

"I do think America has to rediscover its work ethic," Lamm said.