Mexico's Fox Defends Comments About Blacks

AP ^ | 5/16/5 | TRACI CARL

[SmithL]

MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox refused to apologize Monday for saying Mexicans in the United States do the work that blacks won't — a comment widely viewed as acceptable in a country where blackface comedy is still considered funny and nicknames often reflect skin color.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City had raised the issue with the Mexican government. "That's a very insensitive and inappropriate way to phrase this and we would hope that (the Mexicans) would clarify the remarks if they have a chance," Boucher said.

Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said Mexican and foreign news media have misinterpreted the remark as a racial slur. He said the president was speaking in defense of Mexican migrants as they come under attack by the new U.S. immigration measures that include a wall along the U.S.-California border.

Stung by the U.S. crackdown on illegal immigrants, many Mexicans — including Mexico City's archbishop — said Fox was just stating a fact.

"The president was just telling the truth," . . .

[onyx]

HUH?

[Warrior Nurse]

Someone tell me what was wrong with what Fox said? The truth stands on it own. Let's see what kind of work ethic are young black men and women displaying to the rest of the world?

[Happy2BMe]

AUNT JEMIMAH STILL DOING COMMERCIALS IN MEXICO?

=================================

President Vicente Fox refused to apologize Monday for saying Mexicans in the United States do the work that blacks won't — a comment widely viewed as acceptable in a country where blackface comedy is still considered funny and nicknames often reflect skin color.

[cyborg]

Based on what is broadcast around the world in rap videos? That's hardly representative. Vicente Fox knows exactly what he's saying.

[Warrior Nurse]

With a 70% illiteracy and illigetamacy rates my fellow black Americans have a problem with world perception. Yes there are productive black people in America and Vincete Fox is a Coconut Brown on the outside but white on the inside Mexican.

[cyborg]

Unfortunately, no one is going to call him out on why the Mexicans of a darker hue are trying any which way to get across the border. My guess on Vicente Fox's work ethnic is that he has none.

[Blessed]

>I'm with you on that one! But, neither of us is making millions on the use of such labor, so I guess we don't get a say in it.<

Do you shop at Wallmart? Do you eat lettuce,onions or strawberries? Americans are not willing to pay the consumer prices that would be neccesary to pay the wages to get the "workers undercut by illegal workers" to go to work.It is easy to blame it own big business but it is actually the very same market forces expoused by most on this forum.It is just as racist to presume the Hispanic is being "exploited" at the wage he is working for as it is to say blacks are not willing to work.

[CHARLITE]

Thanks for this ping, Happy!

Char :)

[ruthles]

Absolutely. Mexico is the strangest combination of "I'm insecure around white men, but I better be the lightest shade of mestizo." They're more racist than Americans.

[brownsfan]

"Do you shop at Wallmart? Do you eat lettuce,onions or strawberries?..."

It sounds to me like you're groping for reasons to justify this? Bottomline, in a right/wrong context, from the perspective of America this is wrong.
If Mexicans legally immigrate, fine. Illegal immigration is just that illegal. Is there something complex about illegal you don't understand?
It's my opinion, not one that is shared by many here, that there is more to life, and a country than market forces.

What is it? Are you just irritated that this is a sector that's impossible to offshore outsource?
Referring to the market forces... if it's a job that must be done, someone will do it. Without illegals, a business will have to pay what it takes to get it done, and pass it on to the consumer. Seems reasonable to me.
Are you just a bit rankled that Apu or Xaio can't do these jobs?

BTW, I don't shop at WalMart.

[backhoe]

Crosslinked:

For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:

...and allow me to drop out of Lurkin' & Linkin' mode for a moment to vent my spleen.

The whole "work Americans don't want to do" meme or shibboleth has offended me from the start, but Fox's ill-conceived, elitist, and arrogant blatherings take it to a new level of noxiousness.

I've done everything from dig ditches to run small corporations, and one thing driven into my head by my Father ( who started so poor you would not believe it, and ended up pretty well-off. ) was that all needed, honest work was honorable.

And one thing I learned in years or working was that if you wanted build a house, drive a road through a mountain or swamp, or program a computer- you got a bunch of Americans together, and they'd get the job done.

[Blessed]

I am simply pointing out the American consumer will not pay the price.The lettuce is either picked at the price that can be supported in this country or it will be imported from fields in South America.Walmart,Target and every other retailer is in price competition.80% of their goods are made overseas.It is impossible to collect a premium price on any product that is not unique.Exclusive geography or convenience no longer exists as a competitive tool.Look at the latest ruling preventing states from regulating wine sales.Consumers are just as responsible as those who employ the illegals.

[TomasUSMC]

Scumbag Fox was educated in the US and knows all about the black racial flashpoints, he has no excuse. Neither do employers who knowingly employ Illegals.

[Smartass]

El Presidente Fox is a disaster...



THANKS FOR THE PING

[Happy2BMe]

Myths and lies of illegal immigration

Myths and lies of illegal immigration

[BurbankKarl]

Ahh, the Long Hot Summer of 2005....we should start a ping list.

[Travis McGee]

"Don't worry Vincente, my peons are so stupid, they'll forget about this in a week.

Then we can pass the guest worker amnesty."

[international american]

Fox is a racist/elitist who urinates on his own people
and sends the least desirable, least educated(mostly the Mexican govts' failure that leaves them in a state of peasantry like this) for us to take care of.

Bush has some private deal with Fox, so he will leave it to underlings to gently slap Fox. The statement by Fox is an outrage!!

[international american]

Agreed! Why is it okay to break some laws, and not others?

If I ever get arrested, I will ask the judge if the crime I allegedly committed on the list of "APPROVED CRIMES" with no prosecution, and no penalty.

[Smartass]

Come on Happy, you didn't think Foxy Fox would admit to being a racist now did you?