Richardson: 'Stop demonizing immigrants'

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: November 15, 2007
Richardson: 'Stop demonizing immigrants'


New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson favors more border enforcement and comprehensive immigration reform.

(CNN) — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson came to the defense of immigrants and criticized the proposal to build a fence along the border with Mexico during a CNN debate Thursday night.

"Two years ago, I was the first governor to declare a border emergency because the federal government wasn't doing its job in stopping the flow of drugs and people," Richardson said. "You know what, we should stop demonizing immigrants, we should stop doing that."

Richardson said he would create a path to legalization, punish employers that hire illegal workers, strengthen the presence of the National Guard along the border and improve diplomacy with Mexico. He slammed Congress for failing to pass immigration reform, saying it's less popular than "Dick Cheney and HMOs."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/15/richardson-stop-demonizing-immigrants/

[Warpy]

1. Don't expect xenophobes to agree, but he's right about that

What we also need is a minimum wage that will support a working adult and stiffened penalties for employers who exploit frightened workers at sub par wages.

We already have laws on the books that, if enforced, will dry up the jobs. Employers who are facing steep fines and prison time for hiring illegals will suddenly find good reasons to raise wages enough to attract legal workers.

[rodeodance]

2. Lou Dobbs has been so influential in the HATE

[muntrv]

3. When the republickers say the Democrats are weak on illegal immigration,

the response should be "It's the employer, stupid."

[MH1]

4. Richardson's big mistake - he actually tries to SOLVE problems

When will he learn that to be a successful politician one must cover up the problems while milking them for all the payola one can?

Politics isn't about solving problems, silly!

:sarcasm:

[bklyncowgirl]

5. I do believe you have a point there.

Richardson's a border governor who has to deal with this problem on a day to day basis. I thought his answer on this issue was excellent.

Problem is he's not going to win any brownie points with anyone with this approach. The anti-immigrant build a wall types aren't going to hear that walls don't work. The cheap labor, let 'em in advocates would bristle at real enforcement of labor laws and I'm pretty sure Mexico isn't going to be thrilled about being told to stop dumping it's excess workers on us.

I like Bill a great deal. I'm hoping he picks up some momentum after this good debate performance.

[goodgd_yall]

8. He did do quite well last night

My guy ticked me off a bit.

[polichick]

10. He does seem to be a problem solver. nt

[goodgd_yall]

6. That was one of several good remarks Richardson made last night n/t

[polichick]

7. I honestly have never heard anyone in real life "demonize" illegal immigrants...

And the few times I've heard Lou Dobbs talk about this, he hasn't demonized them either. When did it become politically incorrect to believe that we have a right to protect our borders from invasions of all kinds???

Irrational thinking is what keeps Dems from making real headway in this country imo.

[MH1]

9. Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs

if I had the stomach for it I would listen to them specifically to get quotes to show you what we mean by "demonizing" illegal immigrants. And it isn't always clear that they are talking about illegal immigrants.

It may be that Dobbs manages to say it in a way that doesn't sound like "demonizing" to you, but I know between Dobbs and Beck it is very clear to me that is how they feel.

Also every now and then NPR runs a report on some town trying to crack down on illegal immigrants. They'll invariably have a clip of some town resident complaining about all the people that "don't belong" in their town. Again, maybe you don't call that demonization. I do.

[polichick]

11. I couldn't watch Glenn Beck for five minutes...

Just the little intro piece Nancy Grace does about his show gives me the creeps.

(No, I wouldn't say that people complaining about those "who don't belong" in their town is demonizing ~ it's probably not that they have anything against those particular individuals, but know how devastating the invasion is for their community. As I said, we have a right not to be invaded ~ it's irrational for Dems to keep arguing that point.)

[polichick]

13. delete nt

[polichick]

14. Should've put this in my edit on #11...

On this site those who dare to suggest that we have a right not to be invaded are often demonized ~ I've been called racist and a liar for saying it.

[rucky]

17. Visit my town for a week. n/t

[polichick]

18. Are citizens of your town complaining...

...because they've got something against those particular immigrants personally ~ or because it's not right that the town is being invaded illegally?

The second is a very legitimate complaint and has nothing to do with demonizing.

[rucky]

19. They just don't like fer-ners around here. n/t

[polichick]

20. LOL

Does that apply to both legal and illegal fer-ners??

[rucky]

21. They're all illegal, according to them.

people don't go around checking papers. That's why it bothers me so much when people complain about undocumented workers in their communities - they don't really know, they just ass-u-me.

[polichick]

22. Well, I don't think people are out of line to be outraged...

...that our gov't has allowed this illegal flood of immigrants. People in my community are not rude or hateful toward the illegal immigrants themselves (or any fer-ners, for that matter), but most definitely want the system to be fixed and FAST!

[Adelante]

12. I was really glad he was able to get this out last night

The New Mexico licensing has resulted in 90% insured drivers. Before New Mexico had the highest uninsured driver rate in the nation.

[DuSTeR]

15. Immigrants are one thing, illegals another.

Immigration itself isn't a huge problem, but the nation's poor ability to put a stopper in the flow of illegal immigration is laughable.

[rucky]

16. Richardson won last night.

Biden was Biden and did as well as he always does, but Richardson really stepped it up.