The interview with FAIR on Thursday went very badly. You didn't let the guest speak, were unnecessarily belligerent and, like the guest said, wasted everyone's time. I used to like your show.

Tony, what do you mean 'wouldn't let the guest speak'. Go back & watch the video again. He wouldn't shut up, and constantly attempted to sidetrack the conversation. He never truly rebutted the facts: just started into a diatribe when Rachel presented anything

I've been a Rachel admirer since the show's inception, and I do not support FAIR or the AZ law, but I agree with "Tony in Arizona." This was poor journalism. It is not appropriate to introduce a guest with a five minute diatribe against him and his organization. Though Rachel developed a clearly suspect pattern of associations, they were over a very long period of time, and the guest answered each point specifically. He repeatedly said he wanted to discuss his organization and its principles, as well as the AZ law, which should have been the main focus of the discussion, but Rachel insisted, sometimes rudely, on sticking to her prepared points rather than letting him talk, then responding to his claims. Not your best work, Rachel.

Thank you, Alex! You succinctly addressed my concerns with Rachel's FAIR interview. Most disappointing.

The interview with FAIR went bad. Stein was reasonable and was not allow to describe what his organization was all about. There was so much circular old crap brought up as facts that FAIR is racist, it was embarrassing. I like Rachel's show a lot but today was very bad and I am afraid it is turning into an attack left wing show using useless connections. Similar to what the right wing used to claim that Barack Obama palled around with terrorists.

Are you all kidding me? Rachel barely was able to say a word during this "interview"

This guy was scared from the beginning. Dan stein acted like a rabid animal backed into a corner ready to fight for his life from the very start.

I think some of the interview was fair, but Rachel was stretching it by bringing in things the CCC did. You need to provide more tangible link than FAIR staffer speaking at a CCC event to bring in anything the CCC ever did.

The PAN stuff seemed to me more 'fair' - obviously Stein was lying when he said they didn't fund the PAN initiative - but is that what he said? He said they didn't fund 'that organization' - I'm assuming that is some organization Virginia Abernathy led. Collecting signatures to advance Prop 200 (while repugnant) is not the same as giving money to Abernathy or an organization she led. And in fact, Rachel's Wiki link substantiates that FAIR repudiated Abernathy at the time when her more racist views became public.

Rachel risks loosing her wider audience if she isn't careful when using a 'guilt by association' argument. FAIR clearly isn't that careful in who it associates with, but unless they are specifically funding those people/causes, you can't bring in other bad acts by those people.

The interview made me uncomfortable on both sides of the split screen. While I could appreciate Rachel's effort to build a case for FAIR's racist roots, this tactic allowed Stein to claim--with seeming legitimacy--being attacked with specious guilt-by-association (think GOP harping on Ayres) and tangential or ancient history. The lead-in actually made this more obvious and more objectionable by setting up the ancient history and guilt by association. Rachel has been far more successful with this approach when identifying the innumerable, complex, CURRENT spiderweb links among "astro-turf" organizations, sleezy PR firms, and GOP operatives. (Great work!)

If Stein is willing to come back on, would it be possible to focus on FAIR's part in the bill, asking about specific provisions, why those provisions shouldn't be seen as racist, and then why the public should trust FAIR's participation even though the organization does have racist origins, employees, projects, and associations? This would give appropriate control in the interview back to Rachel since we can accept those connections as already established by last night's lead-in and line of questioning. As arrogant as Stein is, I think he would be damned out of his own mouth.

Oh, and ask Stein--if indeed FAIR is responsible for writing the bill--was it truly reasonable to include the bit that will benefit FAIR in litigation? (Feel free to play on the word "fair" as much as you like.)

Keep drinking the Koolaide, this is all bull@!$%#. Remember that Bill Clinton passed a law allowing the States to enforce Federal Immigration laws, in order to assist the federal government. So go blame a Democrat, he passed it first.

Can anyone say "KKK" "KKK" "KKK"...Or shall they just be forced to wear an arm band with a Mexican Flag... REPRESENTING...

david torres stop being a coconut they dont care about you so stop trying to be one. The republicans only want you around to cut their grass and watch their kids. You may want to put down the koolaid first.

This is how the Third Reich got started.

Please, remember that it is only in the US where they teach that there are 7 continents, by separating the North of America from the South (because of a man-made canal!)

Everywhere else, America runs from Canada and Greenland to the end of Argentina! And we all are Americans! In the US, there are North Americans. But, wait, Canadians are also from the North... oops! I better change the subject. Point is that there is no way a police officer can identify the citizenship of a person just by the looks. I know a lot of blond blue-eyed Mexicans, same as I also know Cherokee who might look like Venezuelans. Who is the police rather check? PROFILING!!! THe whole thing is absurd and proper of ignorant people. Have the Arizonan governor ever gone outside her garden?

It seems that the racist echo in the US is applied to the distinction of anything but white. We all know who the Az government is referring to when they talk about 'illegal aliens'. The F.A.I.R. man on tonight's show was committed to making a point about the show, not giving context to his organization. He couldn't support the fairness in F.A.I.R, so he 'protested too much' about the agony of being attacked by a tv show. He was disgusting and obvious. Rachel did a good job of allowing him to show his racist colors, and getting him to show his sexist character. He thought he could out talk her and have it chalked up to 'man versus woman' in the field of politics. I don't think he expected her to do her homework and be prepared. I, also, think he underestimated her intelligence and interviewing ability. He looked like a bully and he would consider that a compliment. After all, he is white and male.

I don't think anything you said has any merit at all, nor does it make any sense.

Actually, that was brilliantly put and made perfect sense @don at home. @Grog-1225551-, try rereading it slowly or more than once. Comprehension is best obtained this way.

You obviously watch reality tv and read the new once a month if you're lucky. The federal government has failed to deliver on meaningful immigration reform and controlling our borders. Unless you live on a border state, you are just another ignorant liberal speaking out of you know what. The crime rate is out of control, there is an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people crossing the borders ILLEGALLY. That is the key word. It's like saying I broke the law but you should let me get a away with it because it is politically correct.

Oh yeah when is the mesiah going to start talking about jobs for america. First it was healthcare(which he is still doing town hall meetings trying to sell, than it was immigration reform, financial reform. Maybe he will get around to it ...around election time i am sure....grow up.

I live in a border state. I'm not an ignorant liberal. Where is the documentation that the crime rates are linked to illegal immigration?

You actually just sound like a bitter white guy if all you're going to do is whine and bash instead of providing documentation for your assertions.

Plus, not even us 'Liberals' are denying there is a problem. Arizona's law is NOT the answer.

Tell me HOW you think it's even possible to implement it without racial profiling? It's an impossibility no matter how good your intentions are

Intriguing. Seventy percent of Arizonans are in favor of the bill, in a state where the population is 30% Hispanic. Presumptively, there have to be more than a few Hispanics who are in favor of it.

A better solution is available: impose a 500% excise tax on compensation paid to illegal immigrants, to be treated as a trust-fund tax payable by the employer. Use e-verify as a safe harbor. Dry up the demand, and the supply goes home. Problem solved, without the drama.

Presumptively the polls are crap...my guess is they left the brown folks out of the mix.

Better idea...Work Visas...they want to come do the labor no one else wants to do? Fine...let them come, work, pay taxes and go home...It worked in the 60's and it will work now.

That's my thought, LoC. Most of these people have families back home, and send a lot of money back. Set up a system that doesn't give them a path to citizenship, but gives them a chance to earn some money and take it back home. It would be equitable to all but Reconquista advocates like tex.

Yes, I would rather have Latinos, than racist, white scum... like you.

Then emigrate.

I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to become a citizen of this great country. It takes a freaking crazy long time to get through the process...I actually think that is part of the problem. But if Latin Americans have the opportunity to build wealth working legally and paying taxes in this country on a Visa and truly desire to become citizens, they can afford to wait out the citizenship process or decide they are happy with the visa program. I don't abide by the argument "those people will come take all our jobs" because I see first hand that most of the illegals employed here are doing the poop jobs at wages no one else can afford to live on. I also find them to be the hardest working people in Arizona.

Its interesting that in Yuma Arizona, they leverage the H2A temporary work visa every time the lettuce needs to be harvested. THink of that next time you have a salad. But even with that comes issues...because some farmers abuse these people terribly subjecting them to low wages, work-related injuries, heavy machinery, pesticides and heatstroke, underpayment, sexual harassment and discrimination. There is no recourse, because if they try to execise their rights, they will never be rehired and lose their visas.

We do get the criminal element as well, but that seems to be the exception and not the rule. I have met and spoken with illegals who have college degrees who have risked their lives to cross the desert in 100 degree-plus heat just to grab a job laying bricks in someone's backyard for $8 per hour. All I can say is that living Mexico must really suck.

There has got to be a better way than arresting them and sending them back to whence they came. Facts bear out that they will just come back again...if they don't die trying.

Then emigrate.

Why? My gringo ancestors have been here for over three centuries. My Native American ancestors for thousands of years. The ones that should emigrate back to their Euro pig-stys are the "johnny-come-lately's"... like you.

Thank you for confirming my suspicion that you are a racist, "Tex."

When you define "gringo ancestors," this almost certainly means that you are of Spanish stock, descended from the conquistadors. And just as likely, your native ancestors are either Incan or Mayan. In short, it is most likely that you have no territorial claim to being here and never have.

"The ones that should emigrate back to their Euro pig-stys" reveals your open and naked racism. You can't complain about others' alleged racism when you are a racist yourself.

As usual, the racist assumes what suits his bigoted out-look. My gringo ancestors were Irish, Scots, Welsh and English. My Native American ancestors were Cherokee and Comanche. I have evolved, where you have stayed mired in your Euro hatreds and bigotry.

What Euro slum did yours come from and when?

"My gringo ancestors were Irish, ..."

Gringo is a slang Spanish and Portuguese word used in Spanish-speaking and Portuguese countries, principally in Latin America, to denote foreigners. Why you would use it here, based on your claimed ethnicity, is mystifying. Whether you are telling the truth is obviously at issue at this point.

"What Euro slum"

Again, the abusiveness borne of racism comes through. I'm surprised that the word gabacho didn't come out, as well. Are your alleged British ancestors full of an equal level of self-loathing?

"I have evolved, where you have stayed mired in your Euro hatreds and bigotry."

I see no credible evidence of that. You find it impossible to discuss the matter on the merits in a rational manner, resorting instead to accusations of racism and a pronounced free-form display of it on your own.

You used a lot of hot air to say... race traitor.

Yes, I'm a "race traitor" and damn proud of it.

I like Hispanics and despise racist, bigoted white-trash.

Still waiting to for you to say where and when your folks arrived.

From your fear to do so... I suspect that your parents arrived on steerage.

Gringo is a slang Spanish and Portuguese word used in Spanish-speaking and Portuguese countries, principally in Latin America, to denote foreigners.

Feces-for-brains C&P'ed the above from Wiki.

I guess in his all white compound, the word had never come up before.

The actual meaning of gringo... simply means someone who does not speak Spanish.

Yea, and we all know how reliable Wiki is huh? Crazy gabacho!! Yea, that is slang in my language for caucasian, it' not a racist word just as gringo is not. Just like people say those Mexicans and say it's not racist.

you forgot to add pinche

Well, I tried to bring my aging father here legally but the process alone would have taken over 10 years. We can not wait that long and I don't have the money to support 2 households in 2 different countries. So now he is here, and although he entered legally, he is "out of status" that is, illegal as you like to call it. I can't legalize him now because we run the risk of him getting penalized for "breaking the law" and getting deported. Do you think we enjoy breaking the law? OF COURSE NOT!! But we didn't have any choice.

Just because your husband didn't have any problems getting and staying here legally, doesn't mean that the system works. It doesn't. It's broken and it need to be fixed, soon.

Do you think that people that risks their lives crossing the border through one of the worst desserts in the world, for an illusion and hope of a better life, do so because they are too lazy or stupid to try to come here legally? They are here illegally because that's the only thing they can do to get a chance at having a better life and THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE for them.

Everyone should have the opportunity that the founders and ancestors had: come to America and live and achieve the American Dream. That how this country was born and how it has succeed. To continue to deny opportunity to new immigrants is inherently anti-American, and it will be its ruin if we don't do anything to prevent that.

What on Earth did I say to give the impression that he "didn't have any problems getting and staying here legally"? He had problems, and did not have money for fancy immigration lawyers, either. It took _years_. But he did it.

The process needs to be reformed, not circumvented.

Everyone should have the opportunity to be born into a nice family with a big house and a bedroom of their own, but I wasn't. Is it okay if I move into your place because I see no other choice, or because I find the wait for an invitation from you to come live there to be taking too long?

I disagree that "everyone should have the opportunity that the founders and ancestors did," because they cannot. Roll back the clock to when? No. Our ancestors had what they had, and we have what we have. We need to deal with today, and what is feasible for today.

The two extreme options we have are to open the borders to all comers whenever it please them to show up, or to close them to all who aren't here this afternoon. Neither extreme works today. We need reasonable ways to become a citizen. Coming or remaining here extralegally is not reasonable, and it's not right, especially to those who ARE respecting our laws and ARE going through the process.

Ok, Shanoon, so where did he wait until his citizenship came through? With you? Then he was here illegally!!

You've got that right. The racists have come out of the woodwork. They try to deny it has anything to do with race but I see the hatred in their eyes. There are still a lot of backwards idiots in this country that can't see a person as a person and then there are those who just can't stand that they are losing their place of priviledge and will actually have to earn their way.

we are a soverin nation and we will protect our borders just like any other country, I do not feel sorry for the illegals crossing" they are the racists," Rachel Maddow is a racists , and obama is a racists, the liberals want to give a free lunch to people who wont fight for the freedom in there owen country you are the hater.

Just a clarification from this longtime Arizonan... Arizona was NOT the last state in the Union to pass an MLK holiday. That distinction belongs to New Hampshire. My girlfriend's father and sister worked on the NH legislation.

Arizona IS, however, the only state in the Union to have the VOTERS approve an MLK holiday since our legislature wouldn't do it themselves.

That being said, this immigration law is a travesty.

They don't want them there at all, they want to stem the flow of nonwhite immigration and have said so plainly and clearly. They are attempting to make it as uncomfortable as possible for ALL brown people to be in the United States, legally or not. Nazi's don't care about legality, they care about white supremacy.

Because it's nearly impossible to come here legally nowadays, specially if you are from Latin America... It is racist because it will promote racial profiling and fear among the Latino community. There's a better way to fix this issue.

Are you sure you are watching the news? Wake up! It is everywhere and I can not believe you just choose to ignore it!

Did you know that there is NO LEGAL WAY to come to this country? unless you:

1. Marry an american citizen.

2. Are son or daughter, mother or father of an american citizen.

3. Are acepted into an American University to study college.

4. Are an investor with at least a million dollars in assets that want to start a bussiness here.

And even then, you have the pain of all the paper work, the fees, the time consuming, all the little small print clauses. The immigration law is broken, it needs to be fixed, it needs to give the opportunity to hard working people to come and improve their lives, and believe me, a great number of them will be really happy to come and work when is needed, and go back to their countries. They stay because they are afraid they won't be able to come back if they leave. That's why they send so much money back, they have family there.

Concentrate on the criminals: asassins, robbers, rapists, white collar crime, drug dealers... doesn't matter if they are citizens or not. Leave the hard working people alone... better yet, let them have a path to become legal.

Mark, where are you hiding? The status of being illegal is not even close to the issue. The white guys in this country can read the population ratio statistics. They see their superiority fading. They call this 'our country' because they consider themselves the founders and therefore, the owners. The true fact that they took this land of ours from the Indians is not relevant in their superiority arrogance. This land of America was not made, 'by God', for the white people. Legal citizens of America are legal by their own laws. They TOOK the land, and then made the laws. The Mexican workers are here to earn a half/ass living from the white people. The drug dealers are here to feed the illegal appetite of white people. So, who's to blame?

The situation hasn't changed in Arizona. What has changed is the race of our president. Those old fat white men are scheming to keep their self/proclaimed place in their self/proclaimed class status. They consider the death of one rancher to be a determining factor to get rid of all Mexican people in Arizona. We don't know the details of that shooting. But, he is considered innocent because he was white. And, of course, dead. There's been many Mexicans found dead in that desert.

This law is a cover-up for protestant fear. We should deal with it as such. We all know there are a lot of cowards in the 'so deemed' top shelf of American politics.

How can you say that americans want white supremacy. WE VOTED A BLACK PRESIDENT IN TO OFFICE IDIOT. Why should law abiding citizens have to pay the taxes for those who don't. And if you wanna bitch about a little bit of paper work and a fee to come to america, then you probably don't want to come here that bad. Why all the bitching now anyways. It was already a federal law that wasn't being enforced. Arizona just took the proper steps to protect itself.

Bill Ayers.

Seventy percent of Arizonans thought this bill was a good idea. Better ideas were presumptively available, but this one got through. Are you suggesting that 70% of Arizonans -- including, presumptively, a fair number of Hispanics -- are racists, just because the sponsor consorts with the Bill Ayerses of the Rightard Nation?

Are you suggesting that 70% of Arizonans

Yes.

Whites support it and "others" do not.

including, presumptively, a fair number of Hispanics

How about some facts to back-up your ridiculous claim.

Take some time off from attending your Klan meetings and do the research.

So, you are suggesting that 100% of non-Hispanic Arizonans -- white, off-white, French vanilla, Asian, and Afro-American -- are in favor of this bill, whereas 100% of Hispanics are not? I would find it truly remarkable if that were the case.

If your math is correct, LaTex, 100% of Arizonans are racist. I'd like to see that research.

What I'm saying is that you are a racist and will burn in Hell... along with the anal cavities that are responsible for this nazi legislation.

Why are you wasting our time here with your bigoted clap-trap?

Your moronic posts would be received better at www.whitepowerforever.com ;)

Can't be that 100% of non-Hispanic Arizonans are in favor of this crap. My husband and I are about as white as you can get (I'm Swiss-German/English-Scot and he's Polish/German/Irish) andwe both hate this atrocious law like the plague.

Based on what, laTex? Every civilised nation in the world has an immigration policy, effectively stating that the people get to decide who comes in and who does not. Why should America be any different?

Australia has a policy of encouraging high-skill, high-value professionals to move there. What if we devised an immigration law that did precisely that, authorizing the employment of guest workers from Latin America to perform seasonal labor? If a scientist from Mazatlan wanted to come here, he would be at the front of the line. No racism at all. And with a guest worker program, we could ensure that none of them were unfairly and cruelly exploited. Why would you oppose a system like that, laTex?

Have you forgotten the health care debacle? No public option, and Big Pharma and Big Insurance got pretty much everything they wanted. A stupid bill is better than no bill at all ... unless you don't like the stupid bill.

Welcome to Tea Party Deux, uffda.

No, a stupid bill is definitely NOT better than no bill at all. The difference between the healthcare bill is that at least the healthcare bill did address some of the issues, and is a good start in the right direction. In the case of the AZ bill, what does it solve? Is it going to stop illegal immigration? Of course not, because the businesses that hire illegals aren't being punished for doing so. When the US Chamber of Commerce comes out in support of illegal immigration, you know the business community has no interest in anything but exploiting illegals, paying them far less than an American worker, offering no benefits, slave labor working conditions, and avoiding labor laws. If you really want to stop illegal immigration, get rid of the incentive that draws them across the border...the promise of better pay than they would get in Mexico. Arresting them and sending them back across the border is just a revolving door. Arresting them and sending them to prison puts a strain on our already overcrowded prison system, and most likely turns folks who weren't criminals when they went in into new criminals when they get out. Like I said, the provisions of the bill won't do a thing to stop illegal immigration...but it sure will wreck the economy of AZ with the attendant boycotts and lawsuits that are sure to follow.

It is the Kucinich Conundrum: Do you support a bill that brings matters to a head, as opposed to doing nothing? I say that you do. It has often been said that the best way to get rid of a bad bill is to actually enforce it.

Unless and until our nation cracks down on the CORPORATIONS that hire, pay down and mistreat "illegal immigrants". This problem will continue sustained by the very country and groups that complain of this issue.

We need to target, fine and threaten imprisonment of those corporations that defy our own country's laws by hiring those who do not live here legally. It is most certainly in the corporations interests to play dumb and buy their way out of danger by lobbying those in government all the while paying those coming in from Mexico absurdly low salaries while bilking them of everything they can.

Good, we do not want a ignorant racist watching.

But by your own admission, that accounts for everyone in Arizona, if not America. Rachel needs some viewers.

Are you one of those GOOBER shills, that gets a quarter for every post made on an "enemy" website/blog?

With this guy's IQ I am personally quite happy that he represents the opposition.

To Mr. Gallagher.

Let's have some fun with this...

this non-american channel

American does not equal conservative, in my mind it stands for diversty of thinking and a freedom to do so.

im very sad to say im wont b watching nbc channels any of them ober sucks maddow sucks oberman

Shows do not 'suck' just because they don't share your political and sociological viewpoints. Show that suck generally do so for a number of reasons. First among them a lack of quality staffmembers and being unwilling to scrutinize once opinion.

u get 1 million viewers

Your point? I should note that their is a general decline in ratings for cable news networks and that the share of TRMS has been rising for the last couple of months.

i didnt [know] dumb people were in such numbers

People aren't dumb because they don't agree with your narrow minded viewpoints. Please remember that.

BILL O'REILY ets 3.5 million

Probably just like New Zealand; more sheep that people.

oberman you sad no worth liar

Is there anything to respond to other than a rather crude ad hominem?

fox will win an obama will lose

Your point?

tea party is here to stay

We could do without that pseudo-fascist mob!

an you can lie all you want but fox says both sides

Pot. Kettle.

you are idiots

Tu quoque, sir. Tu quoque.

new @!$%# in chief

Bonus points for accuracy!

- Detlef

Defending racism. That's real american.

You shame yourself, sir.

lol @ the OP calling people dumb while he can't even string together grammatically correct sentences, spell correctly, or avoid using lettered homonyms to replace easily spelled words like 'you'.

Who's "oberman"? When did we abolish the use of punctation marks even in pseudo-English? Why the employment of unnecessary abbreviations, such as "U" for "you" when there is plenty of room for actual typing? But, most of all, why the fear someone might watch commentary from a different point of view and receive exposure to facts and ideas one may not otherwise consider? And why, beyond irony, am I asking these questions anyway?

I guess he is a prime example of inbreders in the tea-party organization.

The focus on illegal immigration has always been on the people being hired in rather than on the ones doing the hiring.

Arrest the CEO's/owners/farmers who hire undocumanted labor and or shut their businesses down and the problem will disappear in a couple of years. And all wages will go up accordingly due to the labor shortage.

People have an obligation and desire to adequately provide for their families. Blaming them for doing so will not stop them. Take away their incentive for coming here and they'll go elsewhere. But that solution messes with the established order of cheap-labor politics.

genboomxer -- I am a Southerner, 44 years of age, white; I've lived in Southern states all my life. I think you've put your finger on the pulse of what underlies all of this: Racism, segregationist tendencies, Klan and even neo-Nazi sympathies fester here, hidden right beneath the surface at most times, whispered in privacy. Or, I should say, they once were until 9/11; after that point, it became increasingly fashionable, in the name of "Patriotism" and "safety", to be openly suspicious of "foreigners" -- and then, of anyone who was not white.

This suspicion then allowed those hidden streams of race-hatred to erupt to the surface under the guise of "standing up for America" and "protecting our borders" -- and then President Obama's appearance on the scene threw the white mob into a frenzy. Immigration issues, health care reform, the false question of the president's citizenship, claims of "secret ties to Islam," etc. are all simply attempts to, under a thinly veiled guise, delegitimize President Obama because of his race, his "otherness."

Without larger, more intelligent ideas to motivate them, entire segments of white society, principly in the South, are falling back into raw tribalism -- opposing all others on the basis of skin color and language, shouting Freedom and Liberty . . . but meaning little more than fear and hatred.