Hispanic Caucus Furious Over Frontline Dems Immigration Vote

[DemFromMem]

CHC 'livid' at DCCC on border bill
By Josephine Hearn

Several members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and their allies off Capitol Hill were furious that House Democratic leaders urged some of their colleagues to vote for an immigration-enforcement bill.

Democratic leaders encouraged members of the Democrats' Frontline program - which aids the party's 10 most at-risk incumbents - to vote for the bill to avert Republican attacks that could paint the vulnerable members as soft on illegal immigration, Democratic aides and lobbying sources said. Every Frontline member ultimately voted for the immigration bill, which enjoyed the support of 36 Democrats overall.

The move by Democratic leaders troubled Hispanic activists.

"We were disappointed in leadership on both sides of the aisle. Republicans brought up a bill that was extraordinary in its ugliness . but frankly there is also some real disappointment at Democratic leadership, particularly those urging Frontline members to support this bill," said Cecilia Munoz, vice president for policy at the National Council of La Raza.

"There was no evidence to suggest that this was the correct political move,"
Munoz added, arguing that anti-immigration candidates have performed poorly at the polls. "We intend to hold both sides accountable."

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http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/122005/news3.html

[Loonman]

1. Not anti-immigration

Anti- illegal immigration, as in criminal activity, you stupid morons.

Sheesh.

[tvfipp]

2. Illegal is the operative word!

[RagingInMiami]

3. As in criminal activity

Meaning that they are in this country illegally or that they are committing crimes while being in this country illegally?

[Loonman]

5. First answer

that they are in this country illegally

[High Plains]

4. Shame on the Dems...

...pandering to xenophobic fears with ridiculous (and fraught with symbolism) ideas like building a 700-mile wall between us and our neighbor.

No wall, no mass deportations, no mass jailings are going to resolve this issue.

We need to give these workers rights (to avoid their exploitation) and a means to regularize themselves, either as temporary workers or on a citizenship track.

Trying to fight this through the criminal justice system is a loser's battle. We are up against human nature and the desire to better oneself. The income inequalities between the US and Mexico are so dramatic that the famous sucking sound you hear is not US jobs headed south (well, that, too), but Mexican workers drawn to opportunity.

The long-term solution is to raise incomes in Mexico. Easier said than done. In the meantime, regularize this flow of workers.

[Loonman]

6. The long-term solution is to raise incomes in Mexico

Like that'll ever happen...Vicente and his rich buddies benefit from a devalued peso and stagnant wages.