I Have Seen Shameful Things (Must Read)

Red State ^ | April 22nd, 2013 at 04:30 AM | Erick Erickson

[robowombat]

I Have Seen Shameful Things By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | April 22nd, 2013 at 04:30 AM | 30

I am an immigration squish.

There are jobs Americans won’t do at the existing price point. We have a real need in this country for unskilled workers who will pick domestic crops and do jobs Americans will not do for a low wage. I know a number of people who came here illegally who are harder workers than me, who love this country, and who just want a job.

More specifically, I know a number of illegal immigrants — a few of whom I represented as a lawyer — who have no intention of staying in the United States, but work here and send money back home. Most of them wind up staying because of the difficulty of coming back into the country. Contrary to the opinions of many, it is not an easy thing to come and go as an illegal alien.

I think we need a program that is easy to administer, easy to apply for, and easy to use for individuals to come and go as they please during seasons of work to do jobs Americans won’t do at the price point these immigrants would.

Saying all of that, I am deeply, deeply disturbed by the games being played by pro-immigration advocates on the right, including staff in Senator Marco Rubio’s office, Grover Norquist, and others.

They are attacking other conservatives who disagree with them as racists, slavery supporters, bigots, haters, baby killers, un-Christian, etc. They are waging a coordinated attack between Senator Rubio’s office and others against conservative stalwarts like the Heritage Foundation and Jim DeMint.

They are proposing a plan that thus far appears to be unworkable, is wholly too complicated, and is a distraction from issues that we could all agree on in the name of getting a plan acceptable to Democrats. In the process, their attacks on conservatives designed to intimidate, browbeat, and silence them opens old wounds and does exactly what the Democrats hoped to do — divide the right and play directly to the fears of Hispanic voters who have for so long seen political leaders of both parties demagogue the issue.

Many of the people who want an immigration solution frankly could care less about hispanic voters. They see this as an issue the GOP has to get right on and they will do whatever it takes to get right on the issue. They are playing political games. Seeing self-styled conservatives and libertarians trying to pass any legislation that is labeled “comprehensive” should always be a red flag.

I have seen friends paint others as racists, as sympathizers to abortion advocates, and as haters all to try to steam roll through their preferred policy solution. I have seen good conservative organizations attacked and lumped in with fringe groups. I have seen mainstream groups characterized as fringe. I have seen people whore their faith in the name of immigration reform.

I have seen shameful things. What will be the cost paid in these attacks? These are not liberals attacking, but other members of the center-right. They now claim that maybe Boston would not have happened had this bill been passed or, at worst, at least with this bill millions of new immigrations coming into the country will be known instead of unknown. I’m sure the dead eight year old and his family will be consoled by that.

I want an immigration reform plan that will solve the problems we now have with unskilled workers who come here illegally. I am not sure that the proposed plan will do that. What I do know is that conservatives should be deeply skeptical of Republicans who call upstanding conservatives racists and baby killers while allying themselves with the race baiters and baby killers of the left on this issue.

The damage Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Bush staffers did in 2005-2006 has not been undone. They called many Republicans bigots and racists who were not, but who stood in the way of their comprehensive approach to immigration. That created a great deal of distrust and animosity on this issue. Instead of trying to understand the legitimate concerns of those who opposed their plan, they tarred and feathered them all.

Without ever trying to heal those wounds, those behind this latest push are tearing open new wounds.

I think Senator Marco Rubio wants to do the right thing. I think he set before himself a good, but unpopular task. He should be commended for trying, at least, a Nixon goes to China moment on immigration. But I think the actions of some members of his staff coordinating attacks on solid conservatives is undermining the cause he and I both believe in. Ultimately, they are playing right into the hands of President Obama and the Democrats.

Count me out. The cost of this to those who should be united against the Democrats is too great.

[nitzy]

The question is why do they want to come here?

If it is for handouts, easy victims, lax laws, etc...we need to fix that. If it is to contribute, be productive and be free...I say come.

I propose we fix this leviathan and create a country that is a blessing to the virtuous and uncomfortable to the lazy and vicious.

[GOPJ]

When we can stop paying for endless 'job training' programs for the unskilled in inner cites this might be worth considering.

Until then it's unicorn stuff.

Either we have a great worker shortage OR we have high unemployment for the unskilled. But we sure as hell don't have both..

[DarkWaters]

Just an observation for all: if the GOP leadership is this insistent on attacking the good character of people bringing up legitimate issues with this bill and the overall agenda behind it to silence debate and decent in this once free country, by acting like a die-hard leftist, what does this say about the character, integrity, and intent of the people who hide behind the cloth of freedom and liberty as if they believe it when the opposite is true?

A hungry wolf in sheep’s clothing comes to mind. Or the inmates are running the asylum.

[donna]

On this thread, not the topic.

[AuntB]

Will you all please join me in emailing Rush : ElRushbo@eibnet.com
Ask him why he has never addressed the backroom corruption going on with the Gang of 8 and their amnesty.

I doubt if Rush failed to see this article yesterday. Send it to him:
I have seen shameful things
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3010890/posts
http://www.redstate.com/2013/04/22/i-have-seen-shameful-things/

[robowombat]

The GOP has always represented the interests of finance capital and heavy industry. However, in the last thirty years it has become the sounding board for an army of special business interests which pay off the insiders via campaign contributions and a host other ways legitimate and otherwise. McNut and Gramesty are the buddies of agri-business and the ‘leisure and gaming industry’ as it calls itself. The Soros types are enabled by these greedy pigs and people like Norquist are shills for the Muslims because they have been co-opted in some way (look at Grover’s wife). In short the middle class backbone of our nation and culture is being attacked and slimed from all directions by both parties. The long term effect will be an America that looks like black America. Half in a dysfunctional hell and half paid or kept or servitors for a corrupt political class doing the bidding of a rotten globalist oligarchy.

[RetSignman]

Pure desperation:

Columbia, S.C.—The South Carolina Conservative Action Alliance (SCCAA) today launched a statewide television, radio, and Internet ad campaign promoting the bipartisan immigration reform plan being crafted by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio and others.

The commercials began airing today across South Carolina.

“The plan Senators Graham, Rubio and others are crafting is a conservative approach that – first and foremost – secures our borders,” said Ambassador David Wilkins, the SCCAA board chairman. “Illegal immigration has been one of the toughest problems facing our country. As a South Carolina-based organization, we are especially proud of Senator Graham’s leadership on this critical issue.”

Wilkins also stressed SCCAA supports E-Verify, the employment verification system which prevents the hiring of illegal immigrants. “South Carolina led the nation by placing an E-Verify requirement in state law. We are pleased to hear the plan Senators Graham and Rubio are advocating has an E-Verify mandate for the entire nation,” he said.

Kathy Bigham, a businesswoman and Republican activist in Rock Hill, S.C. who also serves on the SCCAA board, said conservatives back the new proposal because “it is definitely not amnesty.”

Added Bigham, “Once the borders are secured, those in America illegally would have a path to citizenship that forces them to pay a fine, pay taxes, pass a criminal background check, learn to speak English, and get in the back of the line. The whole process would take at least 13 years to complete, but it likely could take longer. That’s tough but fair.”

The South Carolina Conservative Action Alliance was established in 2010 as a nonprofit policy and grassroots organization that promotes conservative solutions for some of the nation’s most challenging problems.

If anyone wants to call and ‘thank’ Graham, the number is 864-250-1417...not that I would think of overwhelming their telephone system..

http://sccaa.accountsupport.com/sccaa-supports-bipartisan-plan-for-immigration-reform/.

If anyone wants to watch or listen to this DESPERATION ad click above link.

[RetSignman]

Anyone seen similar ad’s on Rubio sites?

[Lancey Howard]

Maybe I’m showing my age here, but whenever Rubio speaks, I hear a college kid. He simply talks too fast, and too.... imploringly(?). No way do I see the maturity I would expect from presidential timber. Maybe Rubio will come to his senses on his Quixotic quest for a program that addresses the illegal alien problem. If he does, good for him.

Regardless, Rubio needs a whole lot more seasoning before he’s even remotely ready for prime time.

[Lancey Howard]

If someone has a problem with immigrants coming to this country and abusing the welfare state, then fix the welfare state.

Sure.
Fix the welfare state FIRST.
THEN deal with the illegal alien hordes.

It's sort of like,
Secure the border FIRST.
THEN deal with the illegal alien hordes.

Same idea.
Politicians who want to do things in reverse order and grant amnesty FIRST (by sneaking it through with a bullshit "comprehensive" package) must be flushed down the toilet like stinking flu turds. And if their manicured fingers try to grab hold of the rim of the swirling bowl, those fingers need to be mercilessly stomped.

[AuntB]

This is an important article...bump for those who missed it.

[Dust in the Wind]

"...should raise the wage offer until someone does want to do it. Also, improve working conditions, etc. That is how the free market is supposed to work. Yes, our lettuce may cost more.

(One more time.) The disconect here is those who grow and get the lettuce picked do not set the price; the commodity market does.

[Persevero]

“The disconect here is those who grow and get the lettuce picked do not set the price; the commodity market does. “

Right, so if the growers can’t get a high enough price to pay the legal lettuce pickers, then they don’t get it to market, then the price shoots up, until at some point it reaches a place where they DO get a high enough price to make it worth their while to get their lettuce grown and picket.

The free market works if we get out of the way.

[Dust in the Wind]

By then the lettuce is rotting in the field and the grower is broke, are you going to buy the farm and take the gamble?

[Persevero]

“By then the lettuce is rotting in the field and the grower is broke, are you going to buy the farm and take the gamble?”

No, but that is sort of a socialist challenge.

Capitalism involves risk and reward.

Here you are a lettuce farmer. You can’t hire illegals any more. What do you do?

1) Sell the farm.
2) Rent the farm.
3) Switch crops.
4) Test the market and see how much you’d have to pay non-illegals to pick, then proceed.
5) Possibly lose the farm; but possibly clean up since other lettuce farmers didn’t choose as wisely as you did.

This also presupposes that the law is being fairly upheld on all lettuce farmers. If you are the only one who can’t hire illegals, you won’t succeed.

But a good capitalist such as myself advocates for the fair enforcement of laws.

[GeronL]

build a lettuce picking machine?

[Persevero]

“build a lettuce picking machine?”

see now there’s that entrepreneurial spirit.

[GeronL]

Yep.

Havng to pay more for legal pickers is a good incentive to reduce the number of pickers they need.