Kathleen Parker Falsely Claims Alexander Hamilton was an Illegal Immigrant

NewsBusters.org ^ | 11/19/2010 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

On Thursday's Parker-Spitzer, CNN's Kathleen Parker bizarrely and inaccurately claimed that Alexander Hamilton came to the United States illegally and drafted the Constitution: "Let's remember...a lot of Americans did come through the back door such as Alexander Hamilton. He got off the boat from the West Indies, and all he did was write the Constitution and become the first Secretary of the Treasury."

Parker raised this false history during a discussion of Pedro Ramirez, Fresno State University's student body president, who was outed as an illegal immigrant by a student newspaper. After playing clips from Ramirez and his opponent during the student election, who is also the president of the Fresno State College Republicans, the CNN host displayed sympathy for the college student: "This is kind of a classic though, isn't it, really? I mean, you've the college Republican versus the illegal immigrant, and it's kind of a classic clash, you know, that corresponds to this immigration debate we're having in this country. And clearly, when you put a human face on the illegal immigrant, it's a different story. I mean, nobody wants to punish this young 22-year-old."

...Actually, Hamilton came to New York City from the British West Indies in 1774 to study at King College, which was renamed Columbia University after the American War for Independence. Of course, New York was still a British colony at this point, so the young Hamilton didn't "come through the back door."

More importantly, Hamilton didn't write the Constitution- that credit generally goes to James Madison....

[Little Ray]

I think he was a “royalist” in that he wanted “King” (President for Life) for America.

[Little Ray]

I think he was a “royalist” in that he wanted “King” (President for Life) for America.

[Pyro7480]

I don’t know about that. Leftists can be populist (e.g., the street protesters) and they can be elitist (Soros, Obama, etc).

[Spok]

“claimed that Alexander Hamilton came to the United States illegally”

Maybe someone should tell her that there were no “United States” in 1772; only colonies.

[Spok]

“claimed that Alexander Hamilton came to the United States illegally”

Maybe someone should tell her that there were no “United States” in 1772; only colonies.

[OldDeckHand]

"A British subject born to British subjects on British soil moves to another patch of British soil and he is an "immigrant"? "

You could not be more right. Ignoring that Hamilton came to "America" before it was "America", Parker is apparently also ignorant the fact that the first immigration restriction law wasn't passed until 1875. The Page Act of 1875 was the first law to create what could be described as an "illegal alien", and ended what could be described as America's open door immigration policy. Until then, anyone who landed on the shore, was welcomed - perhaps not eligible to be a citizen, but welcomed nonetheless.

[kittymyrib]

From which school did Ms. Parker graduate? She certainly didn’t learn much U.S. history. My home-schooled grandsons can run rings around this deficient learner. However, she is safe being employed by CNN to sit and smile while Mr. Philanderer shoots off his mouth.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

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[metesky]

I always thought he was lying with his dieing claim to have thrown his shot away. And, if the claim were true, he would have known Burr would kill him.

Signifying to the end, adding to the character assassination started by Jefferson.

[Madame Dufarge]

In his day, Hamilton was sometimes referred to by his political enemies as "that foreign bastard."

But he was no more an illegal immigrant than any of the founders, who were all British subjects until the Revolution.

He was not, however, born in one of the original colonies, and so was considered "foreign."

[jimt]

Which would be a repetition of Jefferson's slander against Hamilton.

Try again. Jefferson wasn't the only one who said that, so did many other contemporaries.

"Madison’s notes from Philadelphia record Hamilton lamenting the fact that only a government of republican form could realistically be proposed. In his private opinion, 'the British Govt. was the best in the world' and 'he doubted much whether any thing short of it would do in America.' The House of Lords he called 'a most noble institution. Having nothing to hope for by a change, ... they form a permanent barrier agst. every pernicious innovation.' And in structuring an Executive '[t]he English model was the only good one on this subject. The Hereditary interest of the King was so interwoven with that of the Nation, and his personal emoluments so great, that he was placed above the danger of being corrupted from abroad — and at the same time was both sufficiently independent and sufficiently controuled, to answer the purpose of the institution at home.' Therefore, Hamilton concluded, 'we ought to go as far in order to attain stability and permanency, as republican principles will admit. Let one branch of the Legislature hold their places for life or at least during good behaviour. Let the Executive also be for life.' (1 Farrand 288 – 289).

Warren says that 'this Hamilton sketch was neither referred to any Committee nor taken up by the Convention for action in any way. `The gentleman from New York is praised by all, but supported by no gentleman,' observed Dr. William Samuel Johnson.' (Warren, The Making of the Constitution, 228 (1928) (citing King's notes).)"

Laurence Claus, University of San Diego School of Law

Hamilton favored a monarchy. He may have settled for less, but he wanted one. And he desperately wanted "nobles" so he could escape from his childhood bastardy.

[jimt]

Correctimundo !

[paterfamilias]

From Wikipedia:

“Parker grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1969, and attended Converse College before transferring to Florida State University where she majored in Spanish Literature. She also holds a Master’s degree in the subject from Florida State.”

[Pyro7480]

Actually, she graduated from Florida State.

[gorush]

Hamilton, as the Treasury Sec under Washington, gave us our first independent national bank, the precursor to the Federal Reserve Bank. He and Jefferson, then Sec. of State, were at loggerheads from then on. Aaron Burr once talked Monroe and Hamilton out of dueling, only to engage in the same act seven years later...While Burr’s reputation was on the decline at the time of his famous duel, the best man won. Hamilton was a Federalist synonymous with today’s statist democRATs. In retrospect, it’s a shame that Monroe didn’t take him out at the earlier occasion.

[Pyro7480]

LOL!!! That made my day!

[StAnDeliver]

Parker-Spitzer CNN Online Complaint Form

Let her have it. Demand an apology on air.

[pgkdan]

Alexander Hamilton came to the United States illegally and drafted the Constitution:

Wow. I'm sure that would be news to Gouvenor Morris...the man who actually did draft the document. Hamilton made one speech at the convention...a wildly unsuccessful one...that called for the abolition of the states, a unicameral legislature and a powerful executive. He then went back to New York and missed msot of the rest of the convention.

[Pyro7480]

Jefferson wasn’t exactly a good alternative to Hamilton either, given his endorsement of the French Revolution.

[Lumper20]

Amazing, but; CNN will say anything to push their progressive agenda.