Growing Anti-Immigrant Sentiments in an Unlikely State (Nebraska - 4.6% unemployment)

[pampango]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/us/politics/03nebgov.html

But even as the state enjoys relative economic health — unemployment, at 4.6 percent, is the third lowest in the nation — illegal immigration has taken a more central and more divisive place in the politics of communities like this one, visibly transformed by an influx of immigrant newcomers.

That shift in political dialogue has been propelled here by Gov. Dave Heineman — even before it was a national issue. Four years ago, Mr. Heineman, a Republican, made his unyielding opposition to illegal immigration a central part of his underdog campaign for governor.

“We’re just getting too many Hispanic people in town,” said Gerry Boller, 78, who works at the counter at New Beginnings Thrift Store on Main Avenue. “It seems like they come in and take over.”

Mike Meister, a Democrat who is running against Mr. Heineman, has strongly opposed the proposal (an Arizona-like immigration law), which he said was “clearly unconstitutional” and would waste money by forcing the state to fight an inevitable lawsuit. Mr. Meister, a lawyer who is trailing badly in the polls, accused Mr. Heineman of using the proposal as a wedge issue. “He is pandering to the least common denominator,” Mr. Meister said. “Our fear of difference.”

[nemo137]

1. Unlikely, unless you assume that anti-immigrant fervor is driven by racism.

[jaxx]

2. Nebraska is 91% white.....

and it sounds like the R governor wants to keep it that way.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/31000.html

[rurallib]

4. bet if you take away Omaha it is more like 97%

take away Omaha and Lincoln and western Iowa and Nebraska are very similar. lots of empty space, small towns and fearful old white folks.
Steve King makes a great political living on this in western Iowa.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Nature abhors a vacuum

and if Nebraska maintains an insufficient number of reasons to keep its young residents down on the farm, they will depart for sunnier prospects as soon as they are able - often taking their college educations with them, which contributes further to 'brain drain' in the great plains states.