Was Dean using "hispanics" interchangably with "illegal immigrants"?

[Cocoa]

First of all, I'm not accusing Dean of being a racist, I'm confident he is NOT one, in any way.

Also, I'm willing to admit I may have misheard what he said, or misunderstood it.

That said, I thought that through one of his answers, he was repeatedly saying "hispanics" when what he was talking about was illegal immigrants, or as some people prefer, undocumented workers.

It's true this issue is of particular interest to hispanics, but to use those terms interchangably is a serious factual error.

I think the moderator made a comment along these lines when she kind of corrected him on something about Puerto Ricans in the military, but I didn't catch what Dean had said that she was responding to.

[mopinko]

1. the question was about automatic citizenship for

legal immigrants serving in the military. he was just trying to make a fine point about the law of unintended consequences, about not wanting to see taking a bullet as a way to get citizenship. the mod took it as impugning the patriotism of hispanics. i thought it was a very thoughtful answer.

[KaraokeKarlton]

2. No, but Lieberman, Kerry and Edwards all seemed to talk as if

they thought minority children were dumb and all they needed to do better was a good education. Lieberman was the worst when he implied that the most important thing to do to help blacks and hispanics would be to fund special education. What an insulting and dumb ass thing to say. That's passive racism right there because he's just assuming that minority kids need special education. Sorry Joe, but minority kids aren't necessarily learning disabled or retarded. :eyes: How about making sure their schools are in good repair, have up to date text books, the supplies they need and have the money for computers, a top notch library and all those important things?

Wanna help minorities? Start giving grants and low interest loans to minority people who want to open businesses in their communities and hire people that live there. Make sure housing is affordable, the minimum wage is raised and pump some money into the infrastructure of these communities where minorities are struggling.

[_Jumper_]

7. Good post. I agree 100%

Also, I was dissapointed by the fact that not one of the white candidates seriously discussed the issue of racial discrimination. Even Braun did not do that. Some people dislike Sharpton but he is a necessary voice for all minorities. He was the only candidate who talked about the proverbial elephant in the room: racial discrimination.

[KittyWampus]

3. Dean Said He Didn't Want Hispanics To Use The Military For Citizenship

Of course not all the undocumented immigrants who join the Service are Hispanic...

and they don't join because of citizenship but because they want to serve and for the opportunity.

You know, there's nothing wrong with using Public Service as a way to climb up the ladder.

[Philosophy]

4. Can undocumented aliens even join the military?

I would presume they would have to be legal.

[Sean Reynolds]

6. No there isn't. But life shouldn't be the price.

You missed Dean's point. He is FOR letting immigrants become legal citizens if they serve their nation. BUT he also believes that we need to do something to make sure that ALL illegal immigrants just don't run to join for citizenship only. Why? Because life could be the price and that is wrong.

There NEEDS to be other ways in giving citizenship. Of course a lot will join to serve their nation, but many will do it just for the rights, when they should have the rights to begin with. I see nothing wrong with what he said.

[KittyWampus]

8. There ARE Other Ways Of Getting Citizenship

And Dean doesn't understand that Public Service is a perfectly valid way to make your way in the world.

Does Dean really believe that hundreds of hispanics will rush to join the Service because it includes citizenship?

And even if this occured, he'd have a problem with that because???

[Sean Reynolds]

9. Of course there ARE. But they take FORVER.

And a lot of people don't care to go through the damn system. Trust me in December of 2001 we had a HUGE thing with illegals working at the Salt Lake City International Airport. ABC did a special and talked to MANY people I know. They say they've been waiting too damn long in being granted citizenship. Just remember, you just can't ask for it and be granted it with in 7 days. It takes YEARS.

And yes I BELIEVE many people will rush to join the military JUST to be granted citizenship. That is wrong because they shouldn't put their life on the line for something that should be granted a lot easier.

[EXE619K]

10. In complete agreement.

During my years in the service, the first four-years, didn't see too much Green Card holders comming in.

About the time when I got my third stripe, there were many Hispanic(and some Asian/Pacific Islanders) enlisted guys in our Infantry support battalion who joined because they wanted the citizenship. Now, I can't say that this was the only reason that they joined up(because I cannot read their minds or anything ya know!), but it seemed to the the primary reason for signing. By the time I seperated, there were many in our unit as well.

I agree, this is a very bad way for someone to "buy" their rights to our country. Rather troubling.....this tactic used by our govt.

And it still boggles this noodle why most Hispanics sign up as 11B or 11M. It's a hard life there.




DEAN LEADS THE WAY!

[_Jumper_]

5. I heard that too

I was appalled to hear that. In light of his Confederate flag statement and his hiring practices during five terms as governor this should raise some questions about Governor Dean's views on race. I do not believe he is a racist but I no longer will automatically assume that he is not a racist. What in his record justifies the accordance of a wide margin of error to Dean on the issue of racism?