Some may think of Linda Chavez as a conservative, but not after reading her recent article on immigration.

Evidently, when it comes down to it, allegiance to la raza is stronger than allegiance to America — or political ideology. What else can you conclude from the following op-ed?

Because there’s just so much to dispute, we’ve inserted our comments below in bold.

Latino Fear and Loathing
by Linda Chavez
Fri May 25, 3:00 AM ET

Some people just don’t like Mexicans — or anyone else from south of the border.

Sure. Kicking things off with a racially-charged statement, just to set the tone and all. Put the reader on defense. Make sure he/she agrees with you, lest they be called “intolerant.”

They think Latinos are freeloaders and welfare cheats who are too lazy to learn English.

1. If they were LEGAL immigrants (vs. ILLEGAL aliens), it would be easier to defend alleged criticisms about “cheating” anything — whether it’s welfare or other social services at tax-payers’ expense. But that’s not what the current immigration debate is about. It’s about ILLEGAL aliens. Right, Linda? (We’ll have to keep reminding our readers, since Chavez seems to intentionally overlook that critical point throughout her screed)

2. “Too lazy to learn English”? And the statistics show? Why are we constantly debating bilingual education, multilingual voting ballots, banking and other services catering to Spanish-speakers, and the growth of media en espanol in America? They may not be lazy, but that sure doesn’t mean they’re learning English.

They think Latinos have too many babies, and that Latino kids will dumb down our schools.

1. Latinos don’t hold the proud title to the “largest minority group” and fastest growing population in America for nothing. It’s all about babies.

Since Linda Chavez prefers to speak in political euphemisms, let’s not use harsh terms like “dumb down” — we’ll just say “Non-English speaking Latinos aren’t raising the education level in our schools.”

They think Latinos are dirty, diseased, indolent and more prone to criminal behavior.

Dirty? Only from working in the fields.
Diseased? How’s the healthcare in Mexico?
Criminal behavior? And statistics show?

To use another bogus-PC (redundant) euphemism, they are indeed “overrepresented” in the prison systems.

They think Latinos are just too different from us ever to become real Americans.

Celebrate diversity or promote unity? e pluribus unum. But the melting pot isn’t melting. In most cases, it’s boiling over. What should “real Americans” do when ILLEGAL immigrants don’t want to assimilate but prefer to self-segregate themselves?

No amount of hard, empirical evidence to the contrary, and no amount of reasoned argument or appeals to decency and fairness, will convince this small group of Americans — fewer than 10 percent of the general population, at most — otherwise.

Fewer than 10 percent? Who? What?

The MAJORITY of Americans have been calling for immigration reform for decades. “Few want to see immigration levels increased, and most vehemently oppose making it easier for the undocumented to gain citizenship.” [Source: About.com] And even many hispanics have realized the growing burden resulting from the ongoing tide of ILLEGAL aliens storming across our borders: The high costs to our state and local economies (social services), overwhelming our infrastructures (schools), and lowering the standards of opportunity (cheap labor).

Unfortunately, among this group is a fair number of Republican members of Congress…

Well, Linda Chavez has thrown down the gauntlet. Time to point fingers. And, of course, blame the Republicans…

almost all influential conservative talk radio hosts, some cable news anchors — most prominently, Lou Dobbs

…brand all conservatives as racist — because THEY are the ones who are asking the tough questions.

…and a handful of public policy “experts” at organizations such as the Center for Immigration Studies, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, in addition to fringe groups like the Minuteman Project.

These are all very worthy organizations that have been studying and reporting on immigration for decades. (Links inserted) Yet Chavez doesn’t consider them “experts”. Why? Because it appears that anyone who doesn’t agree with her opinions deserves quotes around their profession. Kind of like saying Chavez is a “journalist” and a “conservative”.

Despite the polling data, immigration reform would still be ignored by our leaders in Washington. Simply because only those who take to the streets and yell get the attention. The middle-class, tax-paying, “average” American never gets heard because they don’t act-up. A lesson the Minutemen took to heart.

Stripped bare, this is what the current debate on immigration reform is all about. Fear of “the other” — of those who look or sound different, who come from poor countries with unfamiliar customs — has been at the heart of every immigration debate this country has ever had, from the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 to the floor of the U.S. Senate this week.

No, seniorita Chavez. Here’s yet another reminder: The current debate is about an estimated 12 MILLION ILLEGAL aliens that have entered the U.S. ILLEGALLY. And we don’t have to reach back to 1798 for inspiration.

We don’t. But maybe you’re biased.

What is said today of the Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans and others was once said of Germans, Swedes, the Irish, Italians, Poles, Jews and others. The only difference is that in the past, the xenophobes could speak freely, unconstrained by a veneer of political correctness.

No, the only difference is that back then it was sink-or-swim. Government wasn’t in the business of subsidizing (and thus promoting) the existence of uneducated, unskilled labor.

When poor Europeans were first immigrating (LEGALLY, we should mention) to America, there were no vast social services available at tax-payers’ expense that would float migrants and their families. Hence, it was survival of the fittest. It was Darwin. (This should appear to all the liberal atheists) The result? People pulled their weight and community was stronger.

Today, they speak more cautiously, so they talk about the rule of law, national security, amnesty, whatever else they think might make their arguments less racially charged.

Since the issue is about ILLEGAL aliens in America, of course those who are legitimately participating in the debate are talking about “rule of law” and “national security.” Unlike Linda Chavez, who is ignoring the salient point (i.e. ILLEGAL) and spending her word count on mischaracterizing the critics.

Where once the xenophobes could advocate forced sterilization and eugenics coupled with virtually shutting off legal immigration from “undesirable” countries, now they must be content with building walls, putting troops on the border, rounding up illegal aliens on the job and deporting them, passing local ordinances to signal their distaste for immigrants’ multi-family living arrangements, and doing whatever else they can to drive these people back where they came from.

“Now they must be content…”

If some hombres were to break into Linda Chavez’ house, climb into her bed, eat her food and steal some of her money, does that define them as homeless and hungry — or criminals? Private property and national sovereignty are analogous.

There is no chance this small group of xenophobes will succeed — ultimately. The victories of their predecessors have been short-lived and so obviously wrong-headed we’ve always finally abandoned them, from modifying and then repealing the Asian exclusion acts to scrapping the nationalities quotas. But we need to quit pretending that the “No Amnesty” crowd is anything other than what it is: a tiny group of angry, frightened and prejudiced loudmouths backed by political opportunists who exploit them.

Xenophobe? Three times in three paragraphs. Nice. Big word, too. She obviously isn’t writing for the 12 million ILLEGAL aliens that she’s cheering on.

No. To Linda Chavez, if you express any of those concerns, you either “fear” or “hate foreigners.” So shut up, she says.

The status quo — largely turning a blind eye toward the 12 million illegal aliens who work, pay taxes and keep their noses clean,

Wow! 12 million ILLEGAL aliens in America — they ALL work, they ALL pay taxes (even when they ALL get paid in cash), and they ALL stay out of crime. Amazing. Some journalists, even in the heat of passion to make a point, would use a soft term like “most” or “the majority of” to sell the exaggeration better. But not this one.

Linda Chavez is going full throttle, despite all facts to the contrary.

while stepping up border enforcement and selective internal enforcement — may not be the worst possible outcome in the current debate on immigration reform. It is the coward’s way out of our current dilemma. But there are other problems with allowing the xenophobes to derail comprehensive immigration reform.

Repeat something enough times, regardless of veracity, and some readers will start believing it as fact. That’s the strategy, si?

We’ve struggled long and hard as a nation to overcome our prejudices, enduring a Civil War and countless dead for the right to be judged by the content of our character not the color of our skin or where we came from.

Now, she peppers the conclusion with a little historical reference and some MLK, Jr. rhetoric. The collective “we’ve struggled.” The emotional appeal.

If only we could ask the people who gave their lives in the Civil War what they think of the current immigration debate, what do you think they’d say? Too bad we can’t ask. But those advocating open borders wouldn’t like the answer anyway.

Our country is the greatest, freest, most powerful and optimistic nation in the history of the world — and our people are good, decent, fair and the hardest working anywhere. That is why immigrants — even those who look and sound different, from nearby and far away — come here, often with only the clothes on their backs but a fire in their bellies to succeed. They make all of us richer, and by embracing and welcoming them, we make ourselves better.

They make all of us richer? Was this article about ILLEGAL aliens or just some speech-writing for L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s next pep rally?

The issue of immigration reform is and continues to be a matter of what to do about ILLEGAL aliens who break the laws of our nation, both by entering ILLEGALLY and taking benefits that they do not deserve. (Note to Chavez: Because they are here ILLEGALLY)

Linda Chavez is the author of “An Unlikely Conservative: The Transformation of an Ex-Liberal.” To find out more about Linda Chavez, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
—

UPDATE: Reader K.T. reminds us…

Back in 2001, Linda Chavez was busted for employing an illegal immigrant and thus forced to withdraw her nomination for higher office. No wonder she’s so bitter.

“Linda Chavez Withdraws as Labor Secretary Nominee”

Can you imagine? At least we know what kind of “labor” she prefers. It’s called el cheapo. And we’re sure all the proper state and federal taxes were paid, right? There’s another reason they call them undocumented.

RELATED:
Selling Out Americans To Illegal Aliens
Only In America: Illegal Immigrants And Their
Allies Rally To Protest Law Enforcement
The Cost of Illegal Immigration:
Paying For Their Children
Illegal Immigration: What Did France Discover
That the GOP Can’t Grasp?
Senate Immigration Bill Would Allow 100 Million
New Legal Immigrants over the Next Twenty Years

Please see our extensive archive of posts on immigration.

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1. This woman is ignorant…just as she says we think they are. I just got called to Jury Duty this last week and one lady was called to the jury box. She claimed ‘hardship’ not wanting to sit on a jury. The judge asked here what this hardship was. She replied, “I may not understand what’s going on because I do not understand English.” The judge asked her one question. “How long have you lived here in the US?” “Twenty five years.” I can pretty much assure you her kids don’y speak much English either. I am sure it is us Conservatives that are to blame.

   Comment by John Houghton — May 28, 2007 @ 7:02 am

2. Man, oh man! I’m a xenophobe, I hate anyone from south of the border, and worst of all, I’m a Republican who really believes lawbreakers shouldn’t be rewarded.

   Dang! What a knuckle-dragger.

   Viper.

   Comment by Carlos — May 28, 2007 @ 7:21 am

3. Having lived in Ca my entire life I can honestly say I had never even noticed whether a person is Mexican. My step father, my step brothers and sisters are Mexican, my best friend for 30+ yrs is Mexican. The difference then and now was that then they were Americans that happened to be of Mexican decent.

   My town is now split in half. The Mexican side of town (which I cannot safely travel)and which caters exclusively to Mexicans in Spanish language and the “white” side which caters to everyone else, including Mexicans.

   People like Linda Chavez (and many former friends) have sided with Mexicans at the expense of Americans and thats the real problem. In the distant past Mexicans WANTED to become Americans first. Now they just WANT what America has to offer all the while remaining a Mexican natl first and an American second or third or fourth.

   Perhaps if these fools like Chavez would make ANY attempt to find the REAL issue here which reality dictates is the corrupt Mexican Government and its minions of corruptacrats, which is driving their people to America, which in effect is turning America into a 3rd world country just as Mexico has always been, Chavez types would see the real villain in this equation and that wouldnt be white America.

   I don;t want MEXICANS in charge because the evidence is absolutely clear how well that works, just look at Mexico and how our Cal gov is trying to emulate them and there failures.

   Comment by Mitch the Bitch — May 28, 2007 @ 10:34 am

4. She is obviously lazy and uneducated. Maybe undocumented.

   Comment by Benn — May 28, 2007 @ 7:26 pm

5. John Houghton,

   Gotta disagree with you on the assumption with the kids there. My best friends, that I’ve known since the 1st grade, were born in Mexico. Their family came here when they were 4 and 5 (legally) and they’ve been here since. All of the kids (3 total brothers and 1 sister) speak flawless English, and Spanish. Their English is clear enough that back when we were 18 a bunch of us had traveled down to vacation east of Ensenada we passed through the border by them saying they were US citizens even though they weren’t (they still had green cards but had forgotten them). Since then, all the kids (not sure on the parents) have become naturalized citizens.

   However.. their mother still has a very thick accent when she speaks English and has a hard time with remembering a lot of words. This is mainly because they’ve all spoken primarily Spanish at home and she’s always been a work at home mother; she’s run a day-care for ages.

   That said… doesn’t mean you’re not right in a lot of cases. It does seem like a lot more people these days coming here don’t want to assimilate like they did just a couple decades ago.

   Comment by Miguelito — May 28, 2007 @ 11:33 pm

6. I’ve done Santa gigs across this great land, and the only residents that commonly could not speak English were Hispanics. Not all of them, by any means, but a large per centage of them. They always had their children to interpret for them.

   What that tells me is that the parents could care less about assimilating into our culture and land, that they’re here just for what they can get out of it, and would raise Cain if we went to their land of origin and acted the same way.

   I know a lot of folks who have come here, assimilated reasonably, and yet kept their children aware of their own traditions and customs. Nothing wrong with that,it adds richness to our society.

   But when they come here illegally, then expect those who’ve worked to keep our rich culture to change just to please them, they can get off on the next Hades express…

   Vipers, and the ones who pander to them, too.

   Comment by Carlos — May 29, 2007 @ 12:13 am

7. Assimiliation. Ay, there’s the rub!

   Is it too much for a sovereign nation, a great country like America, to expect assimilation from people who desperately want to be here — so badly that 12 million are here illegally? Speak English, adopt our customs, be proud of your heritage, but prouder of being American. Fly the Mexican flag at home, or if you prefer it so much, go home. It’s easy if you try. And would you not expect the same from us if we were invading Mexico?

   Comment by California Conservative — May 29, 2007 @ 8:16 am

8. While truth is no longer a defense in Europe, Canada and Australia to communisitic charges of racism such as these, it still is in the U.S., at least pending passage of the “hate crimes” bill that the Bush puppet surely will sign. So here’s the truth, from the New York Times, no less:

   A Mexican Baby Boom in New York Shows the Strength of a New Immigrant Group by Nina Bernstein, New York Times, June 4, 2007.

   A new analysis by city demographers showed a 28 percent increase in births to Mexican women living here from 2000 to 2005, with 8,234 babies born in 2005, the last year for which statistics were available. For the first time, the number of babies born to Mexican women surpassed births to Dominican-born women, which dropped by more than 10 percent in the same period.
   . . .

   “They’re fresh immigrants,” Dr. Hoskins said. “Girls are having babies, becoming wives and mothers at a far earlier age. They tend to have more children because they bring their Mexican culture with them.”
   . . .

   Census data show that Mexican immigrants in New York have the least schooling, the lowest per-capita income and the lowest rate of English proficiency of the city’s immigrant groups.

   —–

   The article is illustrated with a photo of a 19-year-old Mexican Indian girl with a baby. All the medical services to the Mexicans is provided for free, ie, paid for by American taxpayers.

   Comment by Larry — June 4, 2007 @ 8:02 am

9. On word: assimilation.

   My father was born in Texas. I was born in Milwaukee. Young Hispanic boys join gangs because they feel alienated. Their parents should asssimilate as fast as possible. Please forward this to Linda Chavez.

   Comment by J. Hernandez — June 24, 2007 @ 4:20 pm