Thread: Sen. Reid suggests 84% of Americans are 'racist'

Reid calls language proposal racist

By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 19, 2006


Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called a proposal to make English the official language "racist" on the Senate floor yesterday.
"This amendment is racist. I think it's directed basically to people who speak Spanish," the Democrat said during the already tense debate over immigration reform.
Moments later, the Senate approved the measure on a 63-34 vote. Virtually all Republicans were joined by 11 Democrats to approve the largely symbolic amendment. Immediately following that vote, the Senate approved a second amendment, declaring on a 58-39 vote that English is the "common and unifying language."
Such proposals enjoy overwhelming support among American voters.
A poll by Zogby International earlier this year found that 84 percent of Americans say English should be the official language of government operations. The same poll found that 77 percent of Hispanics agree.
And it's a bipartisan issue, according to the poll, which found that 92 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats approve making English the country's official language.
Mr. Reid's charge of racism caused a stir of whispers in the Senate chamber and gallery, and Sen. James M. Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who offered the amendment, was clearly offended.
As Mr. Reid continued his floor speech, an aide passed him a note on a folded sheet of yellow legal paper. After reading the note, the Nevada Democrat tried to clarify his remarks.
"Even though I feel this amendment is unfair, I don't in any way suggest that Jim Inhofe is a racist," Mr. Reid said. "I don't believe that at all. I just believe that this amendment has, to some people, that connotation -- not that he's a racist, but that the amendment is."
It's certainly not the first time that Mr. Reid has used stark language in the debate over immigration.
"Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits without paying taxes," he said in 1993. "These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world."
Earlier this year, Mr. Reid confessed on the Senate floor that his anti-immigrant fervor "mostly lasted about a week or two" before his wife brought him around to the more open position he holds today.
But nearly a year after his "freeloaders" statement, Mr. Reid was on the Senate floor criticizing immigrants again and worrying about their cultural impact.
"We must reduce the annual admissions of legal immigrants to more moderate levels in order to provide for a better country -- both environmentally and socially -- in the years to come," Mr. Reid said, according to a June 16, 1994, report by States News Service.
When Mr. Inhofe took to the floor yesterday, he didn't address Mr. Reid over his charge of racism but did defend his proposal.
"I think it's an insult to Hispanics to say that we are not going to have English as the national language because you're not capable of operating and speaking and succeeding in a country like this," he said.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/200 ... -1805r.htm

I think he has been drinking the same bad tequilla that Fox and Bush have been!

Reid says 84% of Americans are racist?

What % of Senators are idiot sell-outs?

Originally Posted by Darlene

Reid calls language proposal racist

By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 19, 2006


Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called a proposal to make English the official language "racist" on the Senate floor yesterday.
"This amendment is racist. I think it's directed basically to people who speak Spanish," the Democrat said during the already tense debate over immigration reform.
Moments later, the Senate approved the measure on a 63-34 vote. Virtually all Republicans were joined by 11 Democrats to approve the largely symbolic amendment. Immediately following that vote, the Senate approved a second amendment, declaring on a 58-39 vote that English is the "common and unifying language."
Such proposals enjoy overwhelming support among American voters.
A poll by Zogby International earlier this year found that 84 percent of Americans say English should be the official language of government operations. The same poll found that 77 percent of Hispanics agree.
And it's a bipartisan issue, according to the poll, which found that 92 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats approve making English the country's official language.
Mr. Reid's charge of racism caused a stir of whispers in the Senate chamber and gallery, and Sen. James M. Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who offered the amendment, was clearly offended.
As Mr. Reid continued his floor speech, an aide passed him a note on a folded sheet of yellow legal paper. After reading the note, the Nevada Democrat tried to clarify his remarks.
"Even though I feel this amendment is unfair, I don't in any way suggest that Jim Inhofe is a racist," Mr. Reid said. "I don't believe that at all. I just believe that this amendment has, to some people, that connotation -- not that he's a racist, but that the amendment is."
It's certainly not the first time that Mr. Reid has used stark language in the debate over immigration.
"Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits without paying taxes," he said in 1993. "These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world."
Earlier this year, Mr. Reid confessed on the Senate floor that his anti-immigrant fervor "mostly lasted about a week or two" before his wife brought him around to the more open position he holds today.
But nearly a year after his "freeloaders" statement, Mr. Reid was on the Senate floor criticizing immigrants again and worrying about their cultural impact.
"We must reduce the annual admissions of legal immigrants to more moderate levels in order to provide for a better country -- both environmentally and socially -- in the years to come," Mr. Reid said, according to a June 16, 1994, report by States News Service.
When Mr. Inhofe took to the floor yesterday, he didn't address Mr. Reid over his charge of racism but did defend his proposal.
"I think it's an insult to Hispanics to say that we are not going to have English as the national language because you're not capable of operating and speaking and succeeding in a country like this," he said.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/200 ... -1805r.htm

Land of the FREE and Home of the Brave.....Bull Shit.
Such a Land and such a Home would not permit any of this "Anti America" talk.
"reid,mccain,kennedy,and the likes would be [mod edit] if this was truly the Home of the Brave and the Land Of the Free.
I think this is more liket the "Home of the Idiots" and "Land of the Sadist"Please!! Mr reid,Hit Me Again..Please,Please Please,...Kick me again.
OH Yes Sen mccain,cut me again,and again,and again.
Oh Yes! Sen kennedy,knock me down,please sen kennedy,knock me down again..Please,Please,Please...I won`t tell,I promise,Please Knock me down again,harder,harder please.........Home of the Brave......RIGHT!
Use to be the Home of the Brave and Land of the FREE....Not any more.
"Take me on back to muhlenburg county,back by the river where paradise lay`s....Sorry my son,your too late in asking......Mr kennedy,mccain,reid,and the likes,has haulded it away.
Anyone remember that Song? takes on a new meaning dosn`t it?

I must have missed something, where did he get the figure 84% at?

I thought all immigrants were required to not only know English, but to pass a test on American politics and history - in English before getting their citizenship?

or was that tossed out by politicians who thought it was "unfair" or "racist"?

Fair or not, it is for their own benefit. Those immigrants who speak English have higher incomes than those who do not.

I once worked with a couple of Russians who had immigrated to America, they each carried translation books and would practice their English during lunch. The Russian employer they worked for would pay them $2 per hour more if they could speak English. - hard to call that "racist".

They were simply more valuable to the employer if they could speak English.

This guy is a complete moron, needs to be voted out more than most.

Well if anyone is interested. Ole Mr. Harry has a blog. Just have to sign up.

http://www.giveemhellharry.com/

Well I guess the Mexicans that are here legally are racists too, because they DO NOT WANT the Guest Worker Program,and they feel that English should be the only language spoken.

Harry Reid talks out of both sides of his mouth. ! Just a few short years ago, he was calling illegal aliens freed loaders, and he was pushing for deprotation... and suddenly he can't move enough of them to the USA

I have not heard one Americn say that they did not welcome Legal Immigrants.

Originally Posted by Scubayons

Well if anyone is interested. Ole Mr. Harry has a blog. Just have to sign up.

http://www.giveemhellharry.com/

I went to the "Blog" and one of the first things I read was; "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. What a perfect quote to describe America's energy crisis."
I wonder if "giveemhellharry" thinks this is a perfect quote to describe "Amnesty".I think "harry" stuck his foot in his mouth.......Again.
Someone should ask "harry" about this "Quote" while on the Floor,and see how he tries to spin it.Maybe someone will SLIP harry a piece of paper with some kind of "Disclaimer" written on it.

Looks like "mccain" got a well deserved welcome at the commencement.
I hope this attitude spreads as fast as the New "TB" strain.

Give me a break! who this moron think he is?? English is the language spoken in this country and it should be the official language.. Racism?? so it makes me a racist too?? Well, I don't think so because I am latina and i learned the language.. These people don't even want to asimilate in this country and these so called "senators" endorse these kind of non sense so these people can demand whatever they want... What a bunch of bunk!!!