I don't know if Washington is listening, but some politicians in California are keeping their heads down according to the San Francisco Chronicle - Candidates are strangely quiet as voices of immigrants grow
Hmmmm, the backlash is only beginning. But the big question is; is Washington listening? - Christi S. King
Is the media just louder than the majority of Americans on this?
Cross posted from CommonSenseAmerica:
There are no marches, rallies, or even flag waving from Americans and legal immigrants this week but make no mistake, the silent majority will be heard. Sometimes, timing is everything.
From The Washington Post
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.”
You just know you’ve gone too far when you tick off the liberals.
The article goes on to say:
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.”
It seems our politicians have, once again, misjudged bipartisanship. While they think that they can divide Americans on issues for their own advantage, there are some issues that are bigger than politics. There are some issues that deal with what is best for America. In those issues, Americans from all walks of life and political stripes will always stand united.
The article continues:
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.”
The NAACP and others have been relatively mute on this issue. Perhaps, like our politicians, they are weighing their options and trying to figure out how to use these illegal immigrants to their advantage.
But the article also questions whether this issue will play out at the polls:
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.”
I disagree with Mr. Yang and this article from The Washington Post today clearly demonstrates that politicians may want to consider where they wish to place their loyalty:
Herndon voters yesterday unseated the mayor and two Town Council members who supported a bitterly debated day-labor center for immigrant workers in a contest that emerged as a mini-referendum on the turbulent national issue of illegal immigration.
Hmmmm, the backlash is only beginning. But the big question is; is Washington listening?
**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**Coalition Against Illegal Immigration
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