Sunday, June 21, 2009

We've gone from bitter to angry

A tide of anger on immigration
They are angry. Angry at their government. Angry with the news media. Mostly, angry at illegal immigrants and the problems they believe are caused by people who live in Oregon without proper documentation. Some are even angry at what they perceive to be too-high levels of legal immigration.

Their e-mails, calls and online comments seem to skyrocket every time The Oregonian publishes a story that mentions "Hispanic," "Latino," "Mexican" or "immigrant," regardless of whether the subject's citizenship, legal status or national origin is mentioned or relevant.

One recent story about a legislative proposal to offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented Oregon high school seniors triggered 142 online comments and dozens of e-mails, phone calls and letters to the editor.

You angry ignorant rednecks. Frankly I'm amazed that you immigrant hating backwards hillbillies can even work a computer to leave these online comments.

Rest assured that the "expert" in this piece also identifies us as "fringe" because I guess nothing says "out of the mainstream" like an overwhelming response any time this issue comes up.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is possible, obviously, to conduct a poll and, if questions are posed in a certain way, elicit from the broader population the general sentiments that you have about immigration, but come on, Miglavs! Cut the crap. If you really, truly, genuinely believe that you somehow occupy the political mainstream in this country, that you don't hang with the far-right fringe element of the Republican Party, then I have one question for you: How did that Tancredo thing turn out?

Robin said...

What I got a kick out of the article, is that Wozniacka calling people who are insisting that the law on immigration be followed a "restrictionist".

Personally, especially after 9/11, I think we should upgrade the penalty for crossing into our country illegally from a misdemeanor to a felony, and start aggressive enforcement.

I agree with President Obama, "for those who wish to become citizens, we would require them to pay a penalty and pay taxes, learn English, go back to the end of the line behind those who had played by the rules. That is the fair, practical, and promising way forward..."

Anonymous said...

I like the personal interviews. Each person has different reasons why they are against illegal aliens. None of them sound like loons as the press, politicians and racist groups like La Raza portray them. In fact, they all give certain emotional and valid logical reasons why they believe the way they do. I think most Americans can identify with them and their reasons. They seem to be a cross section of local Americans who are fed up with the non action by our elected idiots. Kudos to these folks.

DAVE01 said...

Robin, I agree with you to a certain extent. I like the idea of upgrading the penalty for crossing into our country illegally. However, I disagree with your statement requiring them to pay a penalty and pay taxes, learn English, go back to the end of the line behind those who had played by the rules. Your ideas are not fair, practical and promising a way forward. I will explain why.

First, if you want them to pay a penalty, how much would you penalize them? How much is US citizenship worth to you? It is far more valuable than the measly five grand I remember they wanted to charge them. Since they are undocumented, how do you make them pay back taxes? Remember most of these people are not making a ton of money and send most of their disposable income home. Are they going to request that their families in mexico send some money back? I have a feeling that the government in all their compassion will provide loopholes so that most of the will not have to pay a penalty (or pay it for them with our tax money) or back taxes. How will you prove what back taxes are owed?

Second, the back of the line is in their home country where there are a lot of people doing it the right way. In the US, this is the front of the line. Essentially they are rewarding the line jumpers. Ask anyone who has done it legally and ask them what they had to do to get here. Ask them if they think it is fair to amnesty these criminal aliens. Also ask if they have family members who are illegals. Their emotions will twist any logic they might try to use on you. My girlfriends step father is a legal immigrant. I know several others and they are pissed at talk about an amnesty for line jumpers. They had to spend a lot of money and time to be rewarded with permanent residency or citizenship.

There are other reasons why I don't believe they should be rewarded, but I'm commenting on your statements.

US citizenship should be rewarded to high quality people (people with a high education or skills. They should spend time and money earning it, not jump a line and presto here is the paper. We don't need any more lettuce pickers or gardeners. We have enough of our own.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:06 Are you really that f'in stupid?!

The article talks of how NO OTHER SUBJECT gets more calls, e-mails or comments than Illegal immigration and the invasion of Mexico, then an ELITIST PROF. claims that OFIR or Daniel are "Fringe" groups.

This article is a reminder that YOUR Government and the mainstream Media are so far out of touch with what concerns Americans the most - Illegal and massive legal immigration.

And Poll after Poll, no matter how worded proves that a majority of R's, D's and I's want Illegal immigration to STOP, the goal of OFIR & Daniel.

In FACT the poll in this article was cunducted by the group that wants Amnesty and worded it in thier favor and it still shows most people want this issue resolved and not by rewarding criminals with amnesty either.

There is now another 100,000 Commercial Airline Mechanics and 5,000 IBM techies that want this to end now also.

Far left reporter also ignored latest Ramsussen poll that shows a huge majority of Americans do NOT want illegals to get Free Health Care in the D's care for all plans.

Anonymous said...

You angry ignorant rednecks. Frankly I'm amazed that you immigrant hating backwards hillbillies can even work a computer to leave these online comments.

Wow, finally some honesty out of Miglavs. This has got to be a first. Just goes to prove that people can change.

Now about your hatred, bigotry and backwardness...

Anonymous said...

Keep dreamin' your anti-immigrant dream, anon 11:33. I got your polls right here, dolt:

NY Times/CBS Poll dated April 22-26, 2009; 65% would like to see undocumented immigrants legalized

Pew Poll: 63% of Americans Favour Path to Legalization for Undocumented

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows similar strong support

Scottiebill said...

Anon 4:56: Everyone has the right to be stupid now and then, but you are really abusing the privilege.

DAVE01 said...

Thanks for the laugh first thing in the morning Scottie. Your comment about anon 4:56 gave me a good laugh today. A lot of people cannot communicate effectively. That shows their education was stolen by criminal aliens.

Anonymous said...

Once again, Daniel reveals himself as either incapable of perceiving reality as it actually exists, and/or incapable of reporting it honestly.

After presenting the first few paragraphs of Gosia Wozniacka’s article, Miglavs snaps:

You angry ignorant rednecks. Frankly I'm amazed that you immigrant hating backwards hillbillies can even work a computer to leave these online comments.

... as if to suggest that this is the tone of the entire piece — which it clearly is not. But if there’s any doubt as to whether that’s Miglavs’ interpretation, his next comment is telling. The italics are added for emphasis:

Rest assured that the "expert" in this piece also identifies us as "fringe" because I guess nothing says "out of the mainstream" like an overwhelming response any time this issue comes up.

This is a dishonest characterization of the article, on multiple counts.

In the first place, the “also” suggests that the “expert” is echoing Wozniacka’s sentiments, which is bullshit. Wozniacka clearly made a significant effort to get the voices of as many of Daniel’s ideological soulmates into the article as she could, and she treats them fairly, and even has many positive things to say about them. In fact, the entire package, in fact, is overwhelmingly top-heavy with the voices of anti-immigrant activists.

In the second place, the expert, a UO political science professor, says that OFIR and the Minutemen “are close to becoming fringe organizations” because of the “scapegoat politics” they use ... not because anti-immigrant folks have “an overwhelming response any time this issue comes up.”

You just can’t get anything right, can you Miglavs? Or were you just pissed off that she didn’t interview you?

Anonymous said...

Miglavs, if you're having difficulty figuring out why the anti-immigration crowd has a reputation as bitter angry ignorant rednecks, I'd put The Oregonian down and would instead direct your attention to the dumbass who stares back from your bathroom mirror every morning.