9 July 2003

Ben Miranda Calls Randy Graf a "Racist or an Uneducated Fool"

Critics of the proposed Protect Arizona NOW are tagging proponents of this initiative as "racist". State representative, Ben Miranda (D), came right out and played the race card against Randy Graf (R).
"What drives them is race, there is no other explanation for what they are doing today," said Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix. "To call Randy Graf, and I wish he was here, a racist or an uneducated fool, is perfectly on the dot."

It's a preposterous charge. Many Arizonians are opposed to illegal immigration, yet are not racist by any means. I'm sure there's some marching against illegal immigration that are motivated by bigotry, but to affix a racist label to a substantive voting block is an outrage. I oppose illegal immigration because, um, it's illegal. Without even venturing into pro or con arguments on whether or not mass immigration is duly needed, it would be a sorry day (and some may suggest this is already the state of America) if everyone decided which laws should be obeyed and which should not, and then acted accordingly upon those whims.

But, let's examine the selling points of the proposed initiative and see if any tint of prejudice can be found:

The initiative will require proof of citizenship to register to vote AND require proof of citizenship to receive any non-federally mandated benefits/goods/services. In other words, everyone will be required to prove they are a citizen to register to vote, and the initiative will ban using taxpayer funds for programs or benefits for illegal aliens unless mandated by the federal goverment.


I'm not sure I can support such a proposal, but I don't think it's the "most ridiculous, outrageous and discriminate petition campaign we've seen in Arizona" as state representative Steve Gallardo (D) proclaimed.

Another thing that irks me is the sanctimonius tone of both the daily newspapers, always quick to suggest that opponents of illegal immigration are unenlightened, misguided fools doing the bidding of evil.

Let me reiterate - I can wish all the blessings and have all the sympathy in the world for the illegal immigrant, the individual, but still be drastically opposed to public policy that sanctions and legitmizes breaking of the law. Change the immigration laws if more immigration is desireable. Don't sidestep the rule of law.

Comments

We are a nation of immigrants. They come from all
countries for all kinds of reasons. They yook yhe dirty jobs and suffered the usualdiscrimination that faces all immigrants. One difference, they
learned the language, they faced the challange of
learning the laws, for the most part they obeyed them. They filed all the required documentation,
dotting all the I's and crossed all the T's. When the time came, they took the oath of allegience and embraced America. The "ILLEGALS" have taken
the low road. Stealing across the border in the dead of night. They start out by willingly breaking the law. They owe us no allegience and
do all in their power to subvert the system to
further their ends. They have formed an unholy
alliance with powerful officals that cover for them. Official who snicker at the concept of
legality.