A bunch of you wrote in after last night's segment featuring This American Life, Mitt Romney and "self-deportation." @JH Hill writes:
I get the satire of HALTO, but although Romney et al may have heard of self-deportation from Daniel D. Portado, I can tell you (from my 20+ years as an immigration court Spanish interpreter) that I have heard the term 'self-deport' or 'self-deportation' quite a few times. When a person is in immigration court proceedings and the INS or now ICE is trying to deport them (currently called 'removal' rather than 'deportation'), if the immigrant leaves the country without asking for voluntary departure or some other special permission, that person has self-deported, perhaps knowingly, perhaps unknowingly.
And @mtglutton writes:
So confusing -- this week's This American Life is in fact ALL ABOUT self-deportation in Alabama. It is occurring in huge numbers, and with devastating effect.
Why did TRMS treat this solely as a matter of satire, while referencing the very program that aired an expose this week? Self-deportation is real. It is no joke.
This is a distinct product of an emerging, ruthless republican legislative strategy - now being carefully refined in Alabama, soon to be brought to a state near you. It is a topic that needs serious consideration, not a jokey ha-ha fly-over.
The episode of This American Life @mtglutton references is called "Reap What You Sow," and it's ready for your ears.
Leave a Comment:
I wondered the same thing as @mtglutton . The substantive portion of This American Life was not only much better than the satire, it was also sad and scary.
I'll be honest, I just chalked up TRMS's take on it as NYC grasping the teacup pinkies extended pseudo-superiority.
But I would have expected Laura to know better. :)
I'll also add this. If you listen to the TAL show it becomes no mystery why Mittens started using the "self-deportation" line. He was campaigning in Florida with the author of the Alabama bill (the Secretary of State of Kansas, Kris Kobach) who talks extensively about how he came to draft it -- and where which is interesting story in itself.
Ditto.
Romney is just another white supremacist Koch addict.
NextMSNBCStar - I agree. What Kris Kobach and groups like ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) are doing on this issue is very sad, very scary, and - I add - pernicious and powerful. These guys know what they are doing. They're well trained, well supported, and have a distinct, deliberate agenda.
There is nothing like this on the left. Nothing like what they are doing. Not close.
I live in Arizona (temporarily). We have a nutsy governor and even nutsier republican legislature that enjoys a veto-proof majority. I fear that once public unions have been completely dismantled (which may not take very long), Kobach and ALEC will return for a command performance and draft a second round of anti-immigration legislation, this time much more draconian and much more Alabama-like. This is very serious, what's happening.
do you know when I worked as a carrier for the AZ Republic newspaper. We fought for a Union. I became the go between for Latin-Americans and everyone else. Got in a lot of hot water. Oh well hahaha. I liked it.
We voted in October 2004. Of course the newspaper tried to scare everyone especially our legal residents(Latin-Americans). Didn't work wouldn't allow it.
Okay it was 99+% for a union. We were told by the, get this, National Labor Board we would have to wait till after the election to see if we would have our union.
They said if Kerry wins will get our Union but if Bush wins well you all know. The reasoning The AZ Republic Newspaper would appeal it. And because it could be a Republican Administration the vote would just be held on too.
You know like all those appointments President Obama has been made to wait for. Most just give up.
Because of my involvement in helping to create a Union hahahaha well think you get the jest of it.
Imagine what happened when I confronted the Newspaper with there so called "No-Tolerance" rule against racism and prejudice. And I had dozens of witnesses;-)
I am a true liberal in every way and will always be. It's not easy.
This my State a true AZ native(native-american too) not just Chicano;-)
Romney's statement about so-called self-deportation, "It's when they decide they can do better for themselves if they just go home..."
THIS AMERICAN LIFE segment aired this weekend makes clear that the people don't decide they "do better for themselves". They leave because they are in fear, that kind of gut-wrenching fear that they will be torn from their home, their families, the possessions without warning. That they are treated like something less than human by many Americans they formerly had friendly relations with. One woman even commented that some people at church would no longer "share the peace" with her.
That's what laws making life "uncomfortable" for the undocumented do. It sounds frighteningly similar to what Jews wearing the Star of David in Germany went through, except the undocumented wear their stars in their skin color and accents.
Mr. Romney made a comment at the rebublican debate the other night that has me confused, maybe someone can help me out here. When responding to Mr. Gingrich on his accusation of being anti-imigrant Mr. Romney stated...or at least I thought he said that he (mr. romney) was not anti-imigant why gee my father was born in mexico. Here is the confusing part to me. How could George Romney run for president if he was not born in America and "imagrated" from Mexico? I thought you had to be born here to be qualified to run for our highest office. I don't get it! Did George get his citizenship when he "imigrated" or is Mitt an "anchor baby"? Help...I'm confused!!!
You may not be aware of the show that This American Lifeaired here in Chicago last week. It was a new story about self deportation and the state of Alabama. It was no joke. I listened last night for you to end up there in your long string of self deport stories. Check it out!
OKay I'm confused. At the debate the other night Mr. Romnry stated in strong terms that he was offended by Newts assurtion that he was (Mr, Romney) anti-immigrant. I think I heard him correctly but I need some help here. He stated he was pro immigration and his father was born in Mexico and his mother in-law born elseware also. Here is my confusuion. If his father was not a US citizen, because that is what he inferred, then how did he run for Pesident? Is his father an immigant, illegal or a citizen? Is Mitt an "anchor baby". Will Mr. Romney be self deporting after he is elected? I am really confused here...help!
I am confused! Mr. Romney responded at the debate the other night that he is pro immigration stating that his father was born in Mexico. Now to me that sounds like his father immigrated to the U.S. right? Well then how did his father run for President as an immigrant? Is His father an immigrant an illegal or natural citizen? Is Mitt an "anchor baby"? Will he be self deporting? I'm confused!
TRMS was excellent last night regarding this topic. Romney IS THE JOKE. Ms. Maddow's show was just so great last night...
Daniel D.Portado is amazing wonderful and appropriate satire.
I think what we need to do here is come up with two different terms because the two situations being discussed are decidedly not the same. In one instance you have harsh government laws that have been passed that harass and endanger immigrants in such a way that they feel compelled to flee. This is wildly different from the concept of just voluntarily returning to Mexico in order to politely wait in line for your chance at possible citizenship. The satirical implications of "self-deportation" were that you would commit yourself to politely waiting for your chance at citizenry. The real world implications of deporting yourself without the intervention of a government agency are out of fear. Perhaps we should say "self-deportation" when describing the satirical nature of immigration and "fear-based deportation" when describing the more real world scenarios of immigrant flight.
Hi Mouser,
I agree.
Immigration terms that we have gotten used to using are racist.
There are huge pockets of illegal immigrant in the northern states involving undocumented Canadian workers that have "over stayed" their visas.
Only the Mexicans are illegal.
I wonder how the Koch brothers are using their money to influence government?
I have the same viewpoint as mtgutton because about 4 million immigrants left the US from 2007 to 2009 after Bush made them "illegal". These people were not deported.
This caused between 1 and 2 million dwellings to be abandoned.
That collapsed real estate values and the banking system.
Romney is just another idiotic bigot that will collapse the economy again if he gets control.
About 1 million of the "self deported" were from California.
My neighborhood looks like a ghost town.
Real estate collapsed 70% in my neighborhood.
Smaller banks just dried up and blew away when the Mexicans stopped paying rent after they left.
Seriously.
All this talk of Self Deportation ignores one thing more or less, and that is that when an immigrant comes to this country, especially if there is a language barrier, it is very difficult to make a place for oneself (I speak from experience). The decision to leave a country for hope in another country is not a light decision. But then to be forced to leave the adopted country because of hatred and bigotry is just sad.
I wrote this the yesterday and here is where it belongs.
Hello Rachel Maddow and staff,
Last night you took head on the question of race continually brought up in the Republican Primaries.
These are the reasons.
Please all remember legally I am Caucasian. Since the 1980's hatred towards us dark-skinned Caucasians(Latin-Americans) has increased. What happens to what you call illegals happens to us United State Citizens too. The stories I have experienced in my life some of you would be saying "NO Way that happened to you!" Yes and not just ME!
I am from Arizona. Where we don't talk about this. The other Caucasians that is!
I was talking to my sister Monday evening about how there is a difference between us (Dark-skinned Mexican-Americans) and the other legal Caucasians. She said you mean actual Mexicans who are dark? I said yea had to laugh for noticing. Because her stand up issues the hearing-impaired, deafness, and women issues. Who she is;-) Not Latin-Americans issues so much.
Okay told her 2 stories happened to be when I was married. Reason it was the worst in the out and out hatred that was spewed. My wife then ? She is White(Caucasian), Scranton, PA. white. You know like Chris Matthews;-)
First story: We were shopping at a local Safeway grocery store. We went to check out. We had everything there and waited. Had been about a minute and nothing. My then wife said "what are you waiting for?" She the checkout clerk said this " I am not going to check you out. wife: "why?' clerk: "because he's Mexican!" Hmmmhmmm why wife lunged for her I had to hold her back. I said "I told you you can't solve this that way. I said "do it like this!" I asked the clerk next to us where is your manager she said "right over there" I called him over and said to him "ask her(clerk) what she said to us! the clerk said what" My wife chimed in and said "you said you wouldn't check us because he is a MEXICAN! He is my husband. the manager asked the clerk did she say this? She finally admitted to it. And the manager said to her get your things your fired. See no issue!
Second story. We went out for dinner at T.G.I.F's Were seated. Had been waiting about 25-30 minutes.(patient huh;-) ) The waitress hadn't come over for our orders yet. We noticed others she had taken orders from were not only ordered but getting there food. It was 3 tables that had come 5-15 minutes after us. Asked waitress are you going to serve us. She said NO!. asked her why? she said you know why? said to her "no say it." She said because your married to a Mexican. Again I had to calm my wife down. We went to talk to the manager. Then proceeded back take over to where we were seating. He asked the waitress what happened? He came back said okay i'll comp you both dinner. I said wait what did she say? He said it was just a mix-up. I said wait brought him to all 3 tables and asked when they got there. They all said oh yea after you all. So we walked back to where the waitress was and I asked what did you say? she said "i won't serve them" to her manager. He then said "if you don't want dinner on us then what can I do? There really is nothing I can do. I said nothing? So we left and I have not set foot in a T.G.I.F's since 1990!
So 2 stories with 2 different outcomes. Again yesterday thank you for trying to handle this racist's issue head on.
The reason why me and so many like me vote Democrat is Republicans no matter what color(not so many) they are. DO NOT DENOUCE any of this hatred in there party. They do the typical explain it away. Wow here in AZ it goes on all the time!
So that is why now tell them over and over again Pretend Rachel like it is a Gay and Lesbian issue.
thank you for your time. "Live Laugh Love"
p.s. these are 2 stories of a 100+ stories that have happened to me and the ones I love in my lifetime. For some reason GOD has placed there. As my mom said to me some people need help in someway. And at times someone stronger will help you in need and so and so on. So I accept this family legacy of our way of doing the right thing ;-)
Pleased to meet you ChicanoSurfer.
I liked reading this.
You should write more.
There aren't enough people that appreciate the abject stupidity involved in racism.
And there aren't enough people that respect your particular viewpoint.
Republican strategies are aimed at making racism worse to get more people to vote for them.
Mexican Americans fail to appreciate our native ancestors all lived in the United States. Only the ones that moved south became Mexicans.
It was legal to murder native people until about 1940.
Lots of dark skinned people fled to Mexico to avoid the same kind of thing that happened to Jews in Germany.
In fact, Germany got the whole ethnic cleansing idea from the US.
Even Romney's relatives fled to Mexico.
Guess what, that issue is not just a one way street. I entered a restuarant in Newark NJ and waited forever for the waitress, there were only two other tables occupied. When she finally arrived she basically threw the menus down, we are talking elephant sized chip on shoulder. She maintained the attitude throughout. When I left I paid the tip accordingly, a shiny new penny, as I was exiting I noticed the other couple had also left a penny. They were white, I am also and the waitress Puerto Rican. Racism has no place in society, but I fear it will always exist at some level.
Assume much?
Explorerdog1,
Have you considered that there is something that you did that may have caused the problem?
People never treat me like that.
Y nesicita a hablar.
Waitresses tend to treat customers much the same way that customers treat them.
Nobody likes to be treated like a servant.
I am replying here on another comment;-)
Why is it Caucasians respond, especially where there maybe a high amount of Latin and Black Americans in the area, with the reverse racism thing?
Give you an example.
As some of you know from my responses.
I am a Tall Dark-Skinned Mexican-American male who has lived in AZ all my life accept for when I served my country in the USAF.
Member legally I am Caucasian in the good Ol U.S. ;-)
Okay I have a new Caucasian(white) female friend.
We went to the same High School here in AZ. Didn't know each other. A couple of years ago she contacted me when on another website.
Slowly we became email friends. Hahaha what we used to call pen pals.
She was the typical Regan Democrat and/or Republican.
Who now call themselves Independents. Some remain Repubs.
Me when it comes to Latin-American issues my passion runs high.
One day she said she went to one of our newer Latin American(L.A.) stores. Meaning it tends to preside in a predominately Latin-American (L.A.) neighborhood.
Well a L.A. male was rude to her. She then began to rant and rave about how all these illegals don't belong here.
You all have to understand something there are very few illegal residents here now. With how the State, County, Local government as well people like my friend have gone after them.
Well I lost it. Didn't yell or anything. But proceeded to explain what has been my peoples' plight since we were assimilated in the U.S. from the Gadsen Purchase. The lynchings, servitude, genocide, the no colored no shirt no shoes no dogs no mexicans sign(a lot of times we were below dog'), deportation of us United States citizens, etc... . It goes on and on. What happened in Chandler, AZ in 1997 I was one asked for my papers because of how I looked etc. That was just here in America.
But also the how so many Fellow Americans go to Latin-American countries and believe it is there duty to basically spit upon the local Latins of the country there visiting in. By treating them and there country badly.
So as you see I say She was.
Funny she began this rant with I have that right because I have a half-Black grandchild. Man geez like that somehow gives a person the right go off.
So again my 2 cents worth;-)
Thank You all who read this.
"Live Laugh Love"
p.s.
like I said I have numerous stories on this subject.
My bad also how there is no trying to speak the local Language in that country by many Americans and some calling them(local) names for not knowing English.
But then demand Latin-Americans who are here they have no choice but too. Have a story why I am what so many call when speaking articulate, hmmmhmmhm.
You all know the saying;-) "the pot calling the kettle black" ;-)
I listened to part of this episode last night while driving on XM radio. I finally had to turn the channel. I knew there was no way this idea of self-deportation was solely a creation of satire. The idea of self-deportation makes too much sense.
There's an "office tip" that says if you don't want people lingering in your office while you are trying to work, don't have comfortable chairs. How many of us have tried to get house guests to leave by doing things that hopefully will encourage the guest to say, "well, I better leave." Doesn't mean we are "anti-guests!"
Are Democrats "pro-illegal immigrant?"
If people are illegally coming to this country to get a job and make money, making it difficult or impossible for them to do that WILL cause some or many to leave on their own.
I even ran across a link from the libertarian Cato Institute documenting self-deportation from California in the 70s and 80s. I can try and find the link again if anyone is interested.
This was a wasted segment, IMHO.
The term "illegal immigrant" is racist.
Many Mexicans are Native Americans returning to the US after fleeing to avoid being murdered.
Just to prove a point.
How many people in Boston, New York, and Seattle are up in arms carrying protest signs complaining about Canadians that have over-stayed their visa?
I hear crickets. Lots of crickets.
White-skinned Canadian immigrants are not illegal but dark-skinned Mexicans are.
Illegal Immigrant is a standing based on law there is no racism in it. Illegal Canadians are single digit percentages of the illegal population at most. Mexicans are Mexicans not Native Americans unless they are at least a couple of hundred years old. The racist is looking back at you from the mirror. I live in a place that is saturated with illegals and I could not find a Canadien no matter how hard I tried. Perhaps I should ask only blond haired blue eyed people if they are here legally and ignore the thousands of brown eyed black haired people that would not know what I was saying anyway. When there is a crime, do the police look for people that are the polar opposite of the description? Only in the PC world.
Crackhead, you're too funny...
Comparing the Hispanic population of illegal immigrants with those from Canada is like asking why the news always reports rising gas prices and not the rising cost of milk? It has to do with numbers. Of course you will be more concerned with rising gas prices more than the cost of milk because if you drive you use gallons and gallons a week. If you drink milk you may use one or two gallons.
The Hispanic population makes up about 3/4ths of the illegal population in the United States and Canadians less than a few percent.
Source: http://www.pewhispanic.org/2011/02/01/ii-current-estimates-and-trends/
The term "illegal immigrant" is not racist, it is descriptive. I don't care what color your skin is, if you are in the country illegally, you should quit using my tax dollars and return to your country and apply legally. Then I will welcome you with open arms, no matter your race or ethnicity.
Undocumented workers do not receive federal benefits unless there's some oversight flaw- such as the person overstays their visa and doesn't renew it, but the landlord at the public housing facility doesn't think to ask them if it's been renewed. You always must prove citizenship before receiving benefits from the start. Additionally when you receive a paycheck and then spend that money that money then circulates in the economy and pays taxes (just as it does on everyone else). This idea that you can come to America and soak up money w/o ever adding anything back is a fantasy. Even homeless, jobless people who make purchases still pay taxes. "Illegal immigrants" as a term is relatively new in American dialect. Back when certain European nations were immigrating here by the tens of thousands they were called "undocumented workers," but they were essentially the same. Officials back in those days, in fact, would abuse their non-documented status and levy huge fines on immigrant families before allowing them out of Ellis Island. And just FYI you were not considered a legal US citizen just by paying those fines- it was a racket that people in NY and NJ ran because they knew noone would defend those immigrants. Often times those immigrants would have to move on to the city they eventually rested in and then go through the process of citizenship admittance. For a while this was a legal process and then as part of anti-immigrant crackdowns we in the US began restricting how many people could legally come to the US and stopped the racketeering for citizenship practice. We now accept less immigrants via legal means than any other industrialized nation in the world except Japan. It's funny how this never gets mentioned in the immigrant debate: do you even know how many people are allowed to come here legally per year? It's not a high number and yes there is a limit. That limit was put in using much of the same fallacious reasoning that you are using today to justify "illegal immigration." So yes there most certainly is a racial element to it even if you, yourself are not seeing it as a racial bias. It used to be against the Polish then the Irish then the Germans then the Chinese and then the Mexicans. One thing that actually would help people to come to the US legally would be to get rid of the legal immigration limits and take people as they come to the US. This, however, has been traditionally opposed by anti-immigrant sentiments and yes, sorry, but it's been based primarily in racism.
Hello Explorerdog1,
Hello RobDon,
The term "illegal immigrant" entered US law in 1929. Can you say Great Depression?
The following might clear up a few misconceptions.
California law specifically allows Canadians to obtain drivers licenses but prohibits Mexicans from doing the same thing.
US law allows Canadians to obtain a social security number, but prohibits Mexicans from doing the same thing.
Do the math.
Oh RobDon,
Canadian immigrants are not counted by the US as they cross the border.
Mexicans are.
You can't use the statistics you quoted because of that.
Pew uses census and INS statistics that are known to be inaccurate because of that.
States tend to keep better records.
Immigration was specifically authorized from 1776 until 1929 and there is no such thing as illegal immigration in the constitution.
Crackhead, here's a quote from the CA DMV website:
So, if you are in the US legally, seems any nationality can get a driver's license. Please source your assertion that Canadians can get a license but Mexicans can't. My guess is you will not. And while you are at it, source the US law that allows Canadians to get SS numbers. Thanks.
Mouzer,
I understand the history.
Can you point me to the Democratic support of the "take people as they come" immigration policy? Wouldn't that show undue favoritism to Mexico and Canada and put oversea immigrants at a huge disadvantage? Would that matter?
@RobDon,
It takes 10 days to get a SSN and DL if you are Canadian.
This is against the law if you are Mexican.
That is because Canadians can get a visa in about 5 minutes but it is illegal to give visas to Mexicans (i.e.: illegal immigrant).
Do you read the news very often?
RobDon,
I'll respond for Mouser. Hope she doesn't mind.
1790
Congress adopts uniform rules so that any free white person could apply for citizenship after two years of residency.
1868
African Americans gained citizenship with13th Amendment.
1882
First federal immigration law. Suspends Chinese immigration for 10 years and barred Chinese in U.S. from citizenship. Head tax placed on immigrants.
1929
The annual quotas of the 1924 Act are made permanent.
2007
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act outlaws Mexicans
These are the important dates and facts.
The KKK gained control of congress in the 1920s. A similar group gained control in the late 1800s.
Race and nationality are definitely included in US law for the specific purpose of discrimination.
Also.
Great Depression in 1929. Long Depression in 1883. Great Recession 2007.
Discr
Crackhead,
Your proof that Mexican's can't get a driver's license in California is to link a college website explaining how Canadians can get a driver's license? Then you assert that it is illegal to give a Mexican a visa yet here's a government link explaining at least one way it is very possible:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1274.html#9
Provide a source saying it is illegal for Mexicans in the States legally to get a California driver's license OR that it is illegal to give a Mexican a VISA...both of which you say is true but offer no proof or source.
As to my question for Mouzer, again you fall way short. Where in your list is the Democratic support for a "take people as they come" immigration policy?
Ack I wasn't meaning you to imply you RobDon. I was meaning it in the plural. Sheesh! How many times do I have to tell you read what I was thinking not what I actually wrote! ;-) Sorry about that ;-)
I did not word myself correctly above so I am glad that you asked re-posted my statement. It comes across as though I'm advocating for 100% open borders and that's not what I meant to imply. During the Clinton administration the total number of legal immigrants that the US would accept per year was lowered to around 500,000. Under G.W. Bush that was increased to around 700,000 immigrants per year. What I was meaning to say was we should lift this cap and allow anyone who wants to apply for US citizenship, for US work programs, for US student programs, or for US military programs to do so. We should lower the time in the US it requires for someone to become a citizen down from 7 years to 2 years for all applicants and we should lower the cost that it takes to go through the entire process. Doing so would more than likely solve a lot of immigration problems that we have in the US. It would not solve them entirely, but it would help significantly if we could provide better access to legal avenues for potential immigrants instead of making those avenues harder. The current pathway to citizenship is a long, bureaucratic process that is filled w/ inefficiencies and it's very confusing to potential immigrants. Often times Mexican immigrants who want to come here are illiterate or at least are illiterate in English. Now I know there's a disagreement between us about whether or not they should be literate in English (I don't think they should have to, I respect that you're of a different view here), but literacy in and of itself can intimidate people to think they cannot enter the US legally. This drives them unnecessarily to back channels of immigration. Additionally the corruption of the Mexican government makes it hard for potential immigrants to get information on how they can gain access to the US unless they happen to be particularly affluent and/or educated individuals. There are ways that we could make this process more simplistic and easier for Mexican immigrants to access information about immigration. A lot of what causes illegal immigration comes from bloated government policies. That's why I've always maintained we need to completely redo our immigration policy. What we have now is an archaic jumble of policies that are so ridiculously entrenched in age old xenophobia and racism that it's no wonder people ignore the law. How the hell can you obey the law when doing so requires more confusion than that spaghetti map Maddow showed a while back on how to win the Afghanistan war?
Also apparently I am protesting paragraphs today! ;-)
RobDon,
I thought everybody knew about this.
Arraignment has something to do with being arrested for breaking the law.
Canadians can get drivers licenses in California.
Mexicans and Asians can't.
RobDon,
Grey Davis was recalled for allowing Mexicans to get drivers licenses.
Adolph Swartzeneger outlawed that again as soon as he was elected.
RobDon,
Don't mean to squabble about this, but ...
The whole "outlaw the Mexicans" thing caused about a million dwellings to be abandoned in California. That collapsed the real estate market by over 50% after several million "illegal aliens" stopped paying rent when they left the state to avoid being arrested in 2007 after Bush and Adolph the Idiot outlawed them.
Texas real estate did not collapse because Texas did not outlaw Mexicans.
Is it possible Rick Perry is smarter than Adolph Swartzeneger?
Ow ow ow ow ow!!!! Brain cramp. Bad thought.
Crackhead, a Mexican citizen here legally in the US can get a California drivers license. Despite repeatedly asking, you have provided NO proof they can not. Here is information, again from the CA DMV website:
Last word? Go for it...
Hello Rachel
I keep hearing that George Romney wanted to be president and I also keep hearing he was born in Mexico. WTF
Both true.
The natural-born clause of the Constitution was written at a time when "natural-born" included those born abroad to US citizens.
G. Romney's parents never relinquished American citizenship. Mexican sanguinity law prevented them from becoming Mexican citizens. Hence, little Georgie was natural-born, and fully eligible for the presidency.
For the record: Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona before it was a state. John McCain - born in Panama. Same deal.
The US constitution specifically authorized citizenship to immigrants.
Immigration was criminalized for first time in 1929.
Most of us learned about what happened in 1929 during history class.
Hi Rachel - Though this is not a direct correlation to the joke - this is not the first time there has been a proposed solution to a racial problem. In the early 1800's, under Monroe administration, it was endorsed by Garrison - the most public and prominent anti-slave advocate - and supported by moderate northern anti-slave public, to RECOLONIZE Liberia with free slaves (who would self-deport) and the purchase of slaves to be sent back to Liberia. History does NOT necessarily repeat itself, but the attempt to "let's get a simple solution to a complex problem" does!
Camp Mormonhead
I wonder how many people didn't catch what that refers to.
I guess I was being sarcastic and it was missed. Mitt Romney's father was a citizen so the reference he made was bogus. So is he made an erroneous/ false statement to elicite support he should be called out on it.
Hello,
Thank you very much for your intelligent and entertaining show, which our family watches every weekday night.
I request that now is the time to give on your show specific, clear, simple to understand details including factual data on affordable Health Care Act to tell the viewers how beneficial to all Americans and how it will change the US landscape in years to come.
Since the Supreme Court will hold hearings this week and much of the public will be discussing and hearing this subject, to would be beneficial to expose the hypocrisy of the republicans and their crooked supporters and show how wrong they are, including Mr. Romney, who is a turncoat and a lair.
Keep up the extraordinary show and good public service.
Best wishes