Posted on 08/08/2005 9:34:02 AM PDT by hildy123
EDINBURG, Texas — 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. Story Continues Below
"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.
Fierro: DNC to Pander to Illegals
If only... what a great fantasy!
Does that mean the Democrats can't scapegoat them? Democrats scapegoat religious people, rich people, straight people, and white people. It's only fair that Republicans get to scapegoat some people too.
No one on earth should desire a "strong Mexico". It's like saying we want a strong Zimbabwe under Mugabe.
Anyone who is watching the warlord battles in Nuevo Laredo understands that this is a "country" which should have no real power at all, unless you think the Mafia should have nukes.
Good to see that Dean may become a thorn on Hillary's side. Dean is just saying what Hillary actually believes though. It will be interesting to see how Hillary's run to the right is recieved by the public.
You are correct.
Dr. Dean is a very angry person. What has made him so angry? Are his shoes on too tight? Is he tight? What's the deal with this guy?
F'n democrats once again proving they are worse than useless.
Do you have a link for this?
Ha! You nailed it. Can you say loose cannon? I knew ya could!
I agree. I don't think the Republicans have any intention of securing our Southern border. In fact, the more, the slave wage merrier!
The reason, or one of the reasons, that Dean is such a despicable piece of crap is the eagerness with which he engages in a typical tactic of the Left -- lie about the motives of your opponent and try to sabotage reasoned debate by throwing around the various racist implications.
Immigration is one of the most important, and most complex issues facing our nation, yet Dean and his ilk make it almost impossible to have a calm and rational discussion and debate over it by accusing those who disagree of being anti-immigrant, anti-immigration, anti-Hispanic, xenophobic, nativist, racist, and now of scapegoating immigrants. The slightest dissent from their view of unending mass immigration and amnesty for illegals will result in facing these ridiculous charges.
Concerned about the effects of immigration on wages, on the environment, on national security, on public services like education and emergency health care, on affirmative actions programs, or on a whole host of other perfectly legitimate matters? Well you best keep your mouth shut about it, lest you be accused of 'scapegoating immigrants.' Best be silent or you'll be accused of being a clost racist.
This is of course poisonous to whole idea of a free and open exchange of ideas, and those who engage in it are worhty of contempt. But even though it is disgraceful, use of this tactic is perfectly understandable because it often works, and because those using it have nothing else to offer. The last thing they want is for the American people to be presented with their own far-left views about how to solve the imm problem. The last thing they want is a rational, dispassionate debate, free of hysterical and ludicrous demagoguery, because they know they'll lose.
So I ask you, how exactly is Tancredo scapegoating immigrants?
He isn't of course, but unfortunately you've bought into the idea that to criticize current policy is to be hostile towards immigrants. Is he to be damned for daring to question immigration policy? Are we to just shut up and meekly accept the course that current party leaders would have walk down?
Howard Dean one of the GOP'S greatest assets
Awww, Howie's rants are much more pro illegal alien since he hired you as one of his speechwriter. Makes sense since you're both still griving that Tancredo (R) crushed Conti (D) in the last election.
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