Just when I thought the Republican Party had come to their
senses, it pulls the same old, lamebrain thinking that lost it
the Congressional majority. Soon after the major
"thumping," a rumor spread that Michael Steele, an
African-American lieutenant governor who lost a Senate race in
Maryland, would be the new chairman of the Republican National
Committee. Brilliant, I thought, finally the Republicans were
getting back to its basics but noooooo. Next thing I know,
Senator Martinez of Florida has accepted the post. Big mistake.
I've been very impressed by the story of Mr. Martinez's struggle.
He arrived here as a Cuban refugee and rose to political success.
His is a terrific Horatio Alger tale, but what the Republicans
need to do is reach out to the black community not Hispanics. A
significant number of Hispanics are not citizens and are not
eligible to vote. Those of us who are native born Americans or
naturalized may have predominately conservative values and may
already vote Republican.
The percentage of blacks, however, who vote overwhelmingly for
Democrats is still quite high, particularly here in New York, and
the decision to jettison Mr. Steele for Mr. Martinez is
continuing the policy of ignoring the black community that
Lincoln, the first Republican president, freed from slavery.
The Republicans think they have a better chance to woo Hispanics
because the immigration issue played a big part in the November
election. But Hispanics are as divided about this issue as are
most Americans. The Minuteman Project has many Hispanic and black
volunteers in its group seeking to secure our borders.
This is a city full of immigrants from all over the world and
many of them may be undocumented. Just check who buses your table
at a restaurant. Every single construction job that I've seen
around Staten Island has a Hispanic crew. Are they all legal? No
one is asking that question; certainly not the employers who hire
them or the landlords who rent to them. Business is business.
A construction worker here illegally from Ecuador has been
charged with and has confessed to murdering Hollywood actress
Adrienne Shelley in her Manhattan office. Some illegal immigrants
have also been charged with other murders and rapes and their
crimes add to the distrust and xenophobia of those who want to
shut down all immigration from Central and South America.
This Hispanic looks at both sides now and offers solutions.
Radical Hispanic organizations that protest for the civil rights
of undocumented workers are guilty of extreme arrogance. They
have little respect for the citizens of this country and are more
concerned with promoting their own Marxist anarchic ideology on
the backs of desperate individuals. Can you imagine an American
sweeping into France and demanding to use all the social services
reserved for French citizens; making the government change the
language in the schools and all public buildings and forcing
other accommodations to suit the English-only invaders without
them making any attempt to assimilate into their culture? How
absurd - that nerve is reserved for the Islamic fascists.
As for the other side of the coin, the immigration alarmists need
to acknowledge that our illegal situation is self-inflicted.
Local governments held out a carrot and invited this so-called
invasion from the Southern hemisphere by allowing the same
accommodations mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Those signs of these protesters that read "no amnesty"
are shortsighted. Not all crimes are punishable by jail or
deportation. Some minor transgressions receive community service
or have fines charged.
We need immediate changes to our immigration laws to make it
possible for those who wish to work here to pay set fees, go
through intensive security clearance, and have their jobs and
housing pre-sponsored. Social services should be reserved for
citizens. Let charities handle the rest. If the illegals can pay
coyotes to get here they should be able to pay us as well. As for
those who have worked here under false Social Security numbers,
they can clear their records by waiving all rights to payments
made under that number. They can then pay a substantial fine
through a reasonable payment plan and they will then receive
legitimacy and documentation. This is not amnesty but closure.
We need a speedier immigration process. With today's technology,
picture and fingerprint ID processing can ensure homeland
security. We also need reform that will stop sending back
criminals and allow our law enforcement authorities to punish
them here. Most illegals are not criminals but are here for jobs.
The Republicans clearly do not understand us, and passing Mr.
Steele over for Mr. Martinez confirms they don't understand
either community. Karl Rove has said he wants Mr. Steele to head
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, historically the
most corrupt government agency. I say it's time for Karl Rove to
rove.