Dean Statement-"Democrats Are PROUD To Join These Marches

[kpete]

Dean Statement

"Today, all around the country, hundreds of thousands of people of every race, color and ethnicity are marching peacefully for immigration reform that is tough and smart, comprehensive and compassionate. Democrats are proud to join these marches. Democrats in the Senate have led the fight for immigration reform that reflects our values, but neither President Bush nor Bill Frist were willing to stand up to the far right wing of the Republican Party to move it forward.

"Today's peaceful marchers put a human face on this important issue. Immigration reform is about strengthening our borders, but it's also about families. Unfortunately, it's the American people who will have to deal with the consequences of the Republican Party's failed leadership. Republicans are not just alienating Latinos with their surrender to the far right, they're alienating Americans of every background who know that scapegoating any group of people is wrong. And they're alienating every American who knows we need real solutions to strengthen our borders, protect U.S. workers and their wages, and make it possible for immigrants who earn it the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship. Together, America can do better."

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_04_09_atrios_archive.html#114470797043525959

[leftstreet]

1. Hey Howard, why weren't Dems proud to join peaceful anti-war marches?

:eyes:

[marmar]

3. Good point...

But I was glad to see the Dems at the Immigration rally.

[madfloridian]

5. Ask the Dems who voted for the IWR. Dean was anti-Iraq from the start.

He has spoken out on it. Give some credit when due.

[madfloridian]

6. What's more....many would have been willing IF

the marches before the war were just that...anti Iraq war. ANSWER included so many controversial issues that many turned off C-Span who wanted to just see war opposition. I am glad UFPJ is having the next one, maybe it will stick to the issues.

[mdmc]

2. You got that right HO HO!

Thanks for the OP KPete. Peace and low stress!

[rodeodance]

7. Thanks Dean.

[madfloridian]

4. Good statement....more Dean statements on immigration. Links.

Since mid 2005, Howard Dean has been speaking out firmly on this issue of how Bush and his cronies planned to use immigrants as scapegoats, just as he did African Americans in 2000 and gays
in 2004. Here are some samples.

Howard Dean's visit to a labor union in Oakland, CA. Video clip. There is
a complete home video of his whole speech at Daily Kos.
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_090185047.html

Here is the DNC page devoted to the Hispanic immigration problem, how Bush
is scapegoating them.
http://www.democrats.org/a/communities/hispanics/

Dean: Bush Must Provide Leadership On Immigration
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/dean_bush_must_1.php

Radio Actuality: In Spanish, Dean Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Reform
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/radio_actuality_4.php

(Would love to now how he came across in Spanish. Chuckle.)

Recommended

[pyro858]

8. Just like Iraq I think the Dem's R Wrong

I think Dem's should be real careful on this issue. It's really not about immigration, we already have laws that govern that. there's a right way to do it and a wrong way. I don't think we should be rewarding people that thumb their noses at our laws. I know a lot of Dems that aren't real happy with the protests on TV. should be interesting and definitely a distraction

[nevergiveup]

9. I agree

I know several blue collar Democratic voters who become livid when discussing immigration. Politically this is a no-winner for Democrats.

[kpete]

11. I respect your opinion,

But I strongly disagree

I live in San Diego, many of the people who are protesting in my city are families.

This is a GREAT opportunity for Democrats to support Family and Community.

Yes we need Reform - but it needs to be smart, well thought out and fair.

Most protesters do not want a "free pass".

They want to be heard.

They want to be treated with respect.

[chaumont58]

12. Ask any California Hispanic what he or she thinks of Prop 187

This is just another repuke version Prop 187 but on a national scale.

[ecstatic]

15. And don't be surprised if Democrats lose a lot of the Black vote nt

[chaumont58]

10. This is not a new 'problem'

big time illegal immigration, almost mass illegal immigration, has been around for 10s of years, now. The god damn repukes are making it an issue now because they have nothing else. They are lead by a fucking idiot. Their branch of congress is chock full of crooks. They can't talk about chimpie's performance, or Tom Delay's performance, or Frist's performance, or Abramoff's performance. They try to drum up support for immigration reform, now, but fought it for years. Got to have that cheap labor, you know.
Typical repuke bullshit.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Only people I know personally who are against the Dem view...

...are pure racist shitheads who vote Republican. Thats been my experience anyway.

Don

[frankenforpres]

19. i dont think so

i think all racists support closed borders and a wall, but the converse is not true from what i gather

i was quite surprised when i was speaking to a colombian girl today and she was for more borders security/enforcement than i am


i dont think she is a "racist", but that whole race term is weird when it relates to this discussion. sure, most mexicans may be a diiferent "race" cause they have a lot of native blood, iirc. but hispanic in general refers to ethnicity. is martin sheen aka ramon estevez any less white than a half portuguese guy like myself??

i guess this is an entirely different debate.


back to Dean. well, he is in a precarious position, from a social justice point of view, it is tough to be for a closed border. from a "protect the poorest Americans" point of view, the influx of immigrants suppresses wage. maybe legalization + an increase in min wage could help. it is a very complex issue, and making it about race/ethnicity seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

i think serious non-racist people can disagree. i prefer letting people who want to come to america come, but i have high skills. im only a grad student now, but my job prospects are good, so i am not hurt financially by low wage workers(probably helped). if i felt i was losing my job because of it, i might feel different.

[madfloridian]

17. They are protesting the NEW laws. I salute our Dems on this.

Good for them.

[NNN0LHI]

13. Elliot Spitzer spoke at the NY immigration march today n/t

[madfloridian]

16. Perhaps some of you would rather leave them to the mercy...

of the GOP right wing, who want to make even people who help them illegal.

I am amazed here sometimes. What Sessenbrenner and Tancredo are doing is harmful and wrong.

I am proud a few are speaking out...and it is only a few of the Democrats. Most would let the felon bills pass and not say a damn word.

[leftstreet]

18. You need to research that legislation

Sensenbrenner changed the felony to misdemeanor, because the Dems screamed about it. But the Dems all voted against the new bill. (BTW, I'm not suggesting I approve of any of the legislation.)

The Democrats WANTED this political fight, just as much as the Repubs did.

And it will backfire on all of them.

The winners will be the corporations.
The losers will be workers. Documented or not.

[madfloridian]

20. It should not even be misdemeanor to be a good Samaritan.

That should be part of being American.

[leftstreet]

21. I absolutely agree

And this whole thing is just bullshit.

As I ask over and over:

Who will protect undocumented workers from the millions more waiting to come here and compete for THEIR jobs?

Will La Raza, the Catholic church, and latino radio mobilize the amnestied workers back out into the streets for immigration reform that protects THEIR jobs?

Will Bill Gates go BACK to DC and ask for a cap on H1B visas so that his newly hired cheap techie workers won't have to compete for THEIR jobs?

No.

The Corporations are winning.