Michael Gerson’s column Immigration and Political Suicide is so far off the mark, that it should probably be ignored. However, there are some points that beg for clarification. Gerson contends that Hispanics, made to feel unwelcome in the Republican party, voted overwhelmingly for Obama. This faulty logic cannot go unanswered.
It was Republican presidential candidate John McCain, after all, who was the leading voice on what was euphemistically called Comprehensive Immigration Reform, but was actually nothing more than an amnesty plan for millions of illegals and a welcome mat for millions more. He pandered to the racist La Raza, a group that partners with the radical MEChA, whose slogan is: “Por la Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada,” which translates to “For the race, everything. Outside of the race, nothing.” Their founding manifesto rejects the very notion of respect for U.S. borders — “We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent [the United States]” — and vow to repel the “brutal ‘gringo’ invasion of our territories.”
Add to the mix McCain’s campaign Hispanic Outreach Director, Juan Hernandez who declared “we are not countries, merely regions.”
In making his fallacious case Gerson contends “non-college-educated whites are declining as a portion of the electorate,” implying that only undereducated rednecks oppose illegal immigration.
Is Gerson aware of the proliferation of Reconquista studies programs being taught in the Tucson Unified School District? Even the most educated Arizonans find them intolerable.
He asserts “Catholics and evangelicals, who have been central to the Republican coalition, cannot ultimately accept a message of resentment against foreigners. Their faith will not allow it.”
He attempts to bolster that argument with this absurdity: “In considering illegal immigration, many talk appropriately about the rule of law. But there is also the imago dei — the shared image of God — that does not permit individual worth and dignity to be sorted by national origin.”
Mr. Gerson: it is not “resentment against foreigners,” that drives this issue. America was founded by newcomers and immigrants to this country who become proud, assimilated, Americans, enriching the nation. You are intentionally confusing legal immigration with unlawful entry of illegals who care not a whit for our national borders or laws and who compound their initial acts with more criminality once they have entered the United States.
Gerson, who studied theology and worked within prison ministries, also complains that making it illegal for priests, ministers and volunteers to “assist” illegal immigrants criminalizes “a religious duty.”
He is currently a senior research fellow in the misguided Center on Faith & International Affairs at the Institute for Global Engagement.
This might help you understand the problem, Mr. Gerson.
October 12, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Professional do-gooders who compromise our national security in the name of religion are fools with enlarged egos. Gerson much feel he is so much better than the rest of us who desire our laws be obeyed. This issue has nothing to do with legal immigration. It is the breaking and entering that he wouldn’t condone if it was occuring in his own home, that is the problem. The United States has the most open immigration policies of all industrialized nations. We have nothing to apologize for. He owes us an apology!
October 12, 2009 at 5:38 pm
My faith does not compel me to condone illegal activities. Is this guy nuts?
October 12, 2009 at 6:57 pm
This is a subterfuge. What a farce when Gerson makes no distinction between legal and illegal immigration.
There is a major difference and he knows it.
October 12, 2009 at 7:13 pm
As an Evangelical, I have NO problem protesting illegals in my country. I couldn’t care less about their motives for sneaking into the U.S.- they are criminals and are breaking laws.
Everything else is just so much window dressing.
There is no argument that justifies the takeover of our country by illegals-especially ones who are bent on remaking this country into the image of a failed state like Mexico. These are the people who refuse to learn our language, fly the Mexican flag and make demands of our state and federal governments. Despite studies by liberal groups like Pew and others, illegals cost this country far more than they return.
Just look at California. There are towns there that conduct business ONLY in Spanish and are havens for illegals. Meanwhile, the costs to the state balloon.
Add amnesty with chain migration for extended family members and we will have far more than 20 million illegals: we will have five times that amount. As resources, including water and power, are being compromised, we cannot afford to take on massive immigration.
The U.S. can no longer afford to take untrained labor. We are not creating enough jobs for our own citizens let alone millions of uneducated people with no job skills.
Wax nostalgic,Mr. Gerson, for the days when we could take the huddled masses yearning to be free, but be practical when it comes to what is needed for the modern economy.
October 12, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Sad thing is Gerson’s column could just have easily been written by our own representation in government; Sen.’s Kyl and McCain and Rep.’s Shadegg and Flake.
Gerson also fails to acknowledge that the legal immigrant community is just as vocal against illegal immigration as is the rest of America.
October 12, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Excellent and very true observations, Tom. I completely agree with the first part and know from personal interactions that what you write about legal immigrants is correct.
October 14, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Thanks, Sherrie, for that expressive proclamation. There is no Biblical justification for condoning the illegal immigration invasion.
A good site I found that has the latest figures on the size of the invasion, using government and private sources, is immigrationcounters.com
The numbers are staggering.