GOP Congressman Says Central America Too Dangerous for Congressmen—But Not for Kids

[kpete]

It's safer for them because they aren't important

by digby

So a congressional delegation went to Honduras to see what conditions were for the child refugees in their home country and came back with this:

Congressman Steve Pearce said Wednesday that most immigrants from Central America who are crossing illegally into the United States are driven by economic reasons, not fear of physical danger in their homeland.

...

Pearce said he and the rest of the House delegation that visited Honduras and Guatemala did not venture from their hotel very often because of the dangers, but the message they received in both countries was consistent: "Send back our children."

Right. It's much too dangerous for God fearing Real Americans to venture out into the streets but little kids are wily and quick and they can slither out of the grasp of the violent criminals who want to kidnap, torture and kill them. Anyway, it's character building.

If it makes the poor Central American parents who sent their kids north in a desperate bid for safety and a chance at life feel any better, these people hate American children too so don't take it too personally.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/its-safer-for-them-because-they-arent.html
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/07/steve-pearce-honduras-safe

[cstanleytech]

1. He probably would have also supported denying entry to the MS St. Louis as well. nt

[Roland99]

2. :facepalm:

[DallasNE]

3. A Lot Of The Current Problems In Central America

Got their start during the Reagan years. It is a case of you reap what you sow.

[cstanleytech]

4. No, alot of the problems in central america go back longer than the US has existed.

US policies certainly havent helped though.

[trof]

5. Back much farther than Reagan. Go back to Teddy Roosevelt.

See "United Fruit Company" and Marine General Smedley Butler's "War Is a Racket."

[DallasNE]

6. I Was Thinking More In Terms Of Direct American Government Involvement

And half expected someone to challenge me on the Panama Canal. But your point about United Fruit Company is very valid in its own right. Reagan took sides in the internal control of those countries, even providing weapons in those conflicts despite Congress forbidding such action. (Talking about an executive action that is clearly illegal).