Posted on 08/06/2005 8:25:07 AM PDT by bayourod
Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued on Friday that Republicans will try to make immigrants the "scapegoats" in the next election.
At a rally, Dean garnered the loudest applause when he said Republicans would make immigration a pivotal issue during upcoming elections, as they did gay marriage and affirmative action in previous elections.
"Do you know who the scapegoats are going to be? Immigrants," he said. "In Colorado, the chairman of the Republican Party endorsed Tom Tancredo for re-election. That is morally reprehensible. The governor of California, a supposed moderate Republican, invited the Minutemen to visit California. We do not need vigilante justice."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., has drawn the ire of Hispanic groups in calling for tougher immigration enforcement and a proposal to tax some of the money immigrants send home. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a radio interview in April, said the civilian border patrols known as the Minutemen "have done a terrific job."
Dean spoke at a rally on the eve of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Summit in San Antonio. Edinburg is located just a few miles north of the Mexican border and is more than 80 percent Mexican-American.
Dean also criticized President Bush, contending that the president rebuffed Mexican President Vicente Fox because of divisions over the Iraq war.
"A strong Mexico means a strong America, and our ties must not be based on the petulance of the president of the United States," Dean said.
Hollis Rutledge, chairman of the Hidalgo County Republican Party, said Dean's visit illustrates the inroads Republicans have made with Hispanic voters.
"One day of Republican-bashing won't make up for years of taking Hispanics for granted, and it cannot hide the fact that the Republican Party best represents the views and values of Hispanic Texans," Rutledge said.
Economy: No scapregoat needed; it's booming, thank you
War On Terror: No scapegoat needed, no attacks, thank you
War in Iraq: No scapegoat needed, we're progressing toward democracy faster that ever imagined , thank you
Crime: No scapegoat needed; it's down nationwide the lowest it's been in decades, thank you
Health: No scapegoat needed; Americans have never had better access to medical care, thank you
Unemployment: No scapegoat needed, it's lower than the average for the last three decades and as low as it can safely go without causing inflation, thank you
Of course there have always been and always will be INDIVIDUALS who scapegoat other races, religions and ethnic groups for their own personal failings, and there will always be unsavory demagogues such as Tancredo who will exploit those individuals for their own personal gain, but that is not the Republican party.
If anything the Republican Party will continue to recognize the tremendous contributions immigrants have made to our economy and culture.
They just don't get it. Many democrats realize this is a problem also
As usual, the village idiot, Dean, is again spinning and lying -- the very tool the whacked-out Dems rely on. Yes, good question. Why does this administration need scapegoats? They obviously are doing just what they want to do -- and that is perpetuate the invasion of this country by criminal illegal Mexicans.
Scapegoats? Try again Dean, you loser!!!
Dean, tinfoil hat and all, has to be working for us!
Dean recruiting for the big old plantation again (many locals operated by gays). Wants to hear "Mississippi Mud" sung in Spanish with a lisp.
How proper that this report on Howard Dean was on Yahoo.
Sorry. I didn't see your post before I posted mine.
Bull!
Come on vote Democrat! Why some of my best friends are Hispanic! Theres Lupe, Carmen and Maria my maids, Jose and Juan my gardiners, Esteban my chauffeur...
There is not one democrat in congress that sees the problem.
Dems are the open border loving affirmative action illegal party.
There are no anti illegals tom tancredo's in the dem party.
When people say the dems can use this against the gop in elections I laugh anybody that knows anything about the dem party knows they love illegals.
No. I'm talking about the working class democrats that are also paying. Many are grumbling. Whether it is enough to jump parties, I don't know.
This is great! Dean is just the guy we need defining the Democratic Party.
The problem isn't with Hispanics-- it is with illegal Hispanics and their enablers who still can't accept the 13th amendment.
Importation of slave labor has been prohibited since 1808. It makes no difference if the slaves voluntarily import themselves!
Dems are the open border loving affirmative action illegal party.
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True, but I don't see the collective, so-called Republicans standing up and fighting to close the borders and rid our country of criminal illegals?? So let's put the blame right where it belongs -- ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
Isn't that one of topics Hillary! has been yaking about to appear more as a centrist?
Howie wouldn't exploit anyone now, would he?
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