Latino Civil Rights Leader Has A Harsh Warning For Republicans

MrJim

MrJim

Member
n-JANET-MURGUIA-large570.jpg



NCLR President: GOP Will Lose White House If Attitude On Child Refugees Continues
Click to expand...
LOS ANGELES -- Janet Murguía, president of the country's largest Latino advocacy group, has a formal warning for Republicans: Help the child refugees at the border and act on immigration reform, or say goodbye to the idea of winning the White House.

Murguía, the head of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, delivered her remarks Monday afternoon at the Los Angeles Convention Center during day three of the NCLR's annual conference. On the subject of the current border crisis, Murguía said she was "sickened" by the hostile reaction of many Americans to the child refugees and blamed House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for Congress' inability to pass immigration reform.

More than 57,000 children escaping poverty and violence in Central America have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border since October, overwhelming local resources. Many of the children, upon arrival, are turning themselves in to authorities and attempting to seek asylum.

In late June, overcrowding at the Texas-Mexico border prompted the Department of Homeland Security to transfer many of the children to California facilities, where they were blocked by anti-immigration protesters in Murrieta.

"The plight of these child refugees has sadly brought out the worst in a lot of people," Murguía told an audience of hundreds on Monday. "I was sickened by the sight of angry protesters this month in Murrieta, California, blocking busloads of refugee children and shouting 'Go back to where you come from!' and 'No illegals!' ... When they cloak their hatred in patriotism, shouting 'USA! USA!' it made me angry."

"In fact, I was outraged," Murguía continued. "There is nothing more un-American than denying compassion and decency towards a group of young children in need. There is nothing more un-American than deliberately frightening an already traumatized group of kids -- some of them were still in diapers. There's nothing more un-American than a mob taking the law into their own hands and preventing authorities from doing their job processing these refugees. What we saw in Murrieta is not patriotism. It is ugly, divisive and yet another low in a debate that I thought could not get much lower."

Murguía said that politicians like Murrieta Mayor Alan Long, who urged his constituents to complain to elected officials about the influx of children, and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), who said the children were carrying ebola and other deadly diseases, were the most "shameful."

She also cited Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and his recent decision to send 1,000 National Guard troops to the border, although Perry has said the soldiers will be there not to challenge the children, but to stop criminals from taking advantage of the situation and crossing illegally.

"Soldiers with guns confronting children seeking refuge," Murguía said. "What is wrong with these people? How can they talk about children like this? Who treats children this way? Every one of the elected officials I just quoted consider themselves people of faith, but there is nothing godly in their words. It is disgraceful."

This border crisis -- part of what Murguía called an "international humanitarian emergency," echoing Pope Francis' recent words -- will define how the rest of the world perceives the United States, she said.

"We will not let the faces of hate define America to the rest of the world on how we address this emergency," Murguía said. "We will uphold and we will live our values when it comes to these children. That is our promise."

Murguía recalled how in March, during remarks at an awards dinner, she called President Barack Obama "the deporter-in-chief" because he had not used his executive power to give relief to families being torn apart by his administration's record-high number of deportations. Murguía said she now had some choice words for Boehner, accusing the speaker of a "dereliction of duty" on the issue of immigration reform.

"The reason immigration reform is not going to happen this year is because of Republican extremists in the House of Representatives and the willful neglect of Speaker John Boehner," said Murguía, noting that Boehner has blocked every immigration bill to come through Congress and has been unwilling to compromisewhile blaming Obama for the lack of progress.

Murguía then called the crowd to action, asking Latinos to hold their elected officials accountable in November's midterm elections and in the 2016 presidential contest. She said that while Republicans still had time to correct their course, the country's Latinos will be watching to see how they address the child refugee crisis and immigration reform.

"I promise you this," Murguía said to a cheering crowd. "The road to the White House runs right through the Hispanic community, and you will not see a Republican become president without it."
Click to expand...


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/22/nclr-child-refugees_n_5610512.html



 

Last edited:
I just had to look this woman up. She has a very impressive biography. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Murguía

I note that she was born and educated in Kansas City and her older brother and twin sister are federal judges. This is no radical extremist IMO. I think she has a warm heart to care about children and enough backbone to speak up for them.

I wish we had her like over here.
 
Hispanics are becoming a very powerful voting block here in the US.

Politicians who piss them off, do so at their own political peril.
 

Times are changing in America, and things aren't and never will be the way they were in the past when we were children. I think that Republicans have to lighten up their attitudes on many things to win elections, like gay marriage, abortion, etc.
 
I think she is asking for a compassionate bipartisan approach to a problem.
Perhaps she needs to wave the big stick around to get attention.

Even though our pollies aren't in bipartisan agreement on a similar issue (boat people) neither one is demonstrating any compassion. There is no section of the electorate with enough clout to get them to be more humane in their approach to unauthorised arrivals by boat. However some lawyers, acting on behalf of 157 unfortunates that our customs and navy have cooped up at sea, having intercepted them in Australian waters, have taken the Australian Government to the High Court, arguing the detention of the 157 was tantamount to piracy.
The UNHCR has voiced “profound concern” at the treatment of those on board and those on a separate boat carrying 41 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka who were subsequently handed over the Sri Lankan navy in an unprecedented on-sea transfer.

Of the 157 people we have locked up below deck on a customs vessel, 37 are children, some are infants.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-being-held-at-sea-in-windowless-locked-rooms

I guess our Janet Murduia is civil rights lawyer Julian Burnside but he can't rally the voters.
 
Like so many other issues that have become hot topics here in the U.S., immigration is an issue that will not go away until a comprehensive plan is put in place. I have always been on the side of being good with anyone that wants to come to the U.S., so long as they do it legally. After all, what other country has the problem we have here in the U.S. with people just coming in without following the proper procedures? Where am I going wrong with expecting people to following the rules to gain entry?

Even if the Republicans would roll-over and except the plan laid out by the Democrats, I seriously doubt if blacks or Hispanics would all of a sudden switch parties. We have been lied to so much about immigration that people just do not trust their government. Remember when President Clinton, who I whole-heartedly supported, told the American people that by allowing free trade between the U.S, and Mexico (NAFTA) that more jobs would be gained in Mexico at better wages and therefore more of their people would want to stay in their own country? How did that work out for us?

I do not like to argue politics. You just aren't going to win an argument. So, I leave it up to the politicians to work out. They do not care about the people, it is all about their party.
 
oldman said:
Like so many other issues that have become hot topics here in the U.S., immigration is an issue that will not go away until a comprehensive plan is put in place. I have always been on the side of being good with anyone that wants to come to the U.S., so long as they do it legally. After all, what other country has the problem we have here in the U.S. with people just coming in without following the proper procedures? Where am I going wrong with expecting people to following the rules to gain entry?

Even if the Republicans would roll-over and except the plan laid out by the Democrats, I seriously doubt if blacks or Hispanics would all of a sudden switch parties. We have been lied to so much about immigration that people just do not trust their government. Remember when President Clinton, who I whole-heartedly supported, told the American people that by allowing free trade between the U.S, and Mexico (NAFTA) that more jobs would be gained in Mexico at better wages and therefore more of their people would want to stay in their own country? How did that work out for us?

I do not like to argue politics. You just aren't going to win an argument. So, I leave it up to the politicians to work out. They do not care about the people, it is all about their party.
Click to expand...

I think the Repubs are boxed in on the issue.

Businesses, especially agriculture which is the backbone of our economy, benefit greatly from illegal immigrants who work cheap, recieve no fringe benefits, pay federal income taxes which are deducted & collect no retirement benefits. They also keep produce prices low which keeps the prices of all related products low.

Social conservatives want illegal immigrants gone because of the horror stories they hear about them & because they make a convenient scapegoat for everything wrong in the country.

Business & social conservatives together, comprise the Republicans' support base, while having competing interests on this issue.

Republicans get the lion's share of their contributions from business & industry lobby groups, while rank & file social conservative cast their votes for them.

No matter what they do, they're going to anger either the people who fund their campaigns or the people who cast their votes for them, which is why you don't see the Republican taking any action either way on immigration.


The Democrats would be wise to keep this issue front & center.
 
I don't get why someone that is as wonderful as this gal, don't go and straighten out Mexico. What happens to these countries if they are all deserted, because everyone moves to America? It's powerful Latinos like this gal that you would think would be working to save Mexico for their people. Instead, it's leave the country to it's poverty, or gangs, whatever??

I mean, more and more people are talking about relocating to other countries because America is looking so bad. Ever hear of the story about the family that invited all the neighbors in to live with them, and the neighbors took over the house and the family ended up having to move out??

Something else on her "warning" Republicans, it isn't just republicans that are against different issues. And there are a lot of people like me that see good on both sides of the coin, I don't consider myself either R or D now??
 
kcvet said:
what's she gonna do stand in front of the polls with a shotgun??? just another blow hard. all smoke and hot air
Click to expand...

Yeah, you keep on telling yourself that.

And practice saying the words "Madame President"...

Hillary_Clinton_2016_president_bid_confirmed.jpg


:rofl:
 
MrJim said:
Hispanics are becoming a very powerful voting block here in the US.

Politicians who piss them off, do so at their own political peril.
Click to expand...

It's my experience people that throw rocks best be prepared to get hit back. I she wants to help her people, why not move to Mexico and get tough? Because she has it so good here that's why. I met a gal recently that stayed here after attending Nursing College. She was from Japan, and wanted to go back and serve in her country. She liked it here better.
 
MrJim said:
Yeah, you keep on telling yourself that.

And practice saying the words "Madame President"...

Hillary_Clinton_2016_president_bid_confirmed.jpg


:rofl:
Click to expand...

She won't have my vote. I can only hope a better candidate runs, if not, I doubt I'll vote at all. That's the way it's getting for me. Last time it was lesser of two evils, and this time, I'm not voting for any "evils". I don't think Hilary is evil, just don't believe in her is all.
 
oldman said:
Like so many other issues that have become hot topics here in the U.S., immigration is an issue that will not go away until a comprehensive plan is put in place. I have always been on the side of being good with anyone that wants to come to the U.S., so long as they do it legally. After all, what other country has the problem we have here in the U.S. with people just coming in without following the proper procedures? Where am I going wrong with expecting people to following the rules to gain entry?

Even if the Republicans would roll-over and except the plan laid out by the Democrats, I seriously doubt if blacks or Hispanics would all of a sudden switch parties. We have been lied to so much about immigration that people just do not trust their government. Remember when President Clinton, who I whole-heartedly supported, told the American people that by allowing free trade between the U.S, and Mexico (NAFTA) that more jobs would be gained in Mexico at better wages and therefore more of their people would want to stay in their own country? How did that work out for us?

I do not like to argue politics. You just aren't going to win an argument. So, I leave it up to the politicians to work out. They do not care about the people, it is all about their party.
Click to expand...

Ditto, I love what you had to say, I am not very educated on politics, but I go with what I believe to be right and wrong. You are right about the politicians, they are gonna run the show anyway. Or the power (money). And no, there is no end to the arguing, no one wins although some love to gloat that they have. I again, can hardly bare to see America so divided. One day something will happen, again, that will force us to stand together, maybe we still will, who knows:(
 
nwlady said:
She won't have my vote. I can only hope a better candidate runs, if not, I doubt I'll vote at all. That's the way it's getting for me. Last time it was lesser of two evils, and this time, I'm not voting for any "evils". I don't think Hilary is evil, just don't believe in her is all.
Click to expand...



ok so it does make a difference

Hillary-Clinton-in-jail.jpg
 
nwlady said:
I don't get why someone that is as wonderful as this gal, don't go and straighten out Mexico. What happens to these countries if they are all deserted, because everyone moves to America? It's powerful Latinos like this gal that you would think would be working to save Mexico for their people. Instead, it's leave the country to it's poverty, or gangs, whatever??

I mean, more and more people are talking about relocating to other countries because America is looking so bad. Ever hear of the story about the family that invited all the neighbors in to live with them, and the neighbors took over the house and the family ended up having to move out??

Something else on her "warning" Republicans, it isn't just republicans that are against different issues. And there are a lot of people like me that see good on both sides of the coin, I don't consider myself either R or D now??
Click to expand...

Well, first of all, she's an American citizen. Why should she leave the country she was born & raised in? Secondly, what exactly do you think one person, woman or man, could possibly do to turn the economic problems of an entire country around???

Kind of a silly notion when you think about, eh? Or a deflection designed to change the conversation or divert attention from the subject.

The point is, that the number of Hispanic voters is growing fast. So are the numbers of younger, more liberal & progressive thinking voters. The number of older, mostly white conservative voters who the Republicans appeal to, are shrinking. The Republicans are about to be left in the dust & will be if they don't moderate their views & start attempting to compromise on certain issues. It might not happen in the upcoming mid term elections where they could still possibly make gains, but it won't be far off if they continue to obstruct progress.

I think what we're seeing in the tea party movement is the last desperate gasp of a dying ideology trying to hang on to a set of outdated ideas.
 
MrJim said:
I think the Repubs are boxed in on the issue.

Businesses, especially agriculture which is the backbone of our economy, benefit greatly from illegal immigrants who work cheap, recieve no fringe benefits, pay federal income taxes which are deducted & collect no retirement benefits. They also keep produce prices low which keeps the prices of all related products low.

Social conservatives want illegal immigrants gone because of the horror stories they hear about them & because they make a convenient scapegoat for everything wrong in the country.

Business & social conservatives together, comprise the Republicans' support base, while having competing interests on this issue.

Republicans get the lion's share of their contributions from business & industry lobby groups, while rank & file social conservative cast their votes for them.

No matter what they do, they're going to anger either the people who fund their campaigns or the people who cast their votes for them, which is why you don't see the Republican taking any action either way on immigration.


The Democrats would be wise to keep this issue front & center.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

Its not only the hispanics, its women, its gays, its blacks and it is the poor that the GOP have thrown under the bus.
 
Jackie22 said:
Exactly!

Its not only the hispanics, its women, its gays, its blacks and it is the poor that the GOP has thrown under the bus.
Click to expand...

Yep.

And those are all people who come out & vote in Presidential elections.
 
MrJim said:
Well, first of all, she's an American citizen. Why should she leave the country she was born & raised in? Secondly, what exactly do you think one person, woman or man, could possibly do to turn the economic problems of an entire country around???
Click to expand...

History shows "one" person can make a difference, hell, she seems to be influencing quite a few from the OP already??

Kind of a silly notion when you think about, eh? Or a deflection designed to change the conversation or divert attention from the subject.
Click to expand...

name calling doesn't really bring America together does it? I am not as wise as some about politics, but you definitely give more credit then I should get, about "trying" to divert attention. Either that or I am sneakier and smarter then I think;)

The point is, that the number of Hispanic voters is growing fast. So are the numbers of younger, more liberal & progressive thinking voters. The number of older, mostly white conservative voters who the Republicans appeal to, are shrinking. The Republicans are about to be left in the dust & will be if they don't moderate their views & start attempting to compromise on certain issues. It might not happen in the upcoming mid term elections where they could still possibly make gains, but it won't be far off if they continue to obstruct progress.

I think what we're seeing in the tea party movement is the last desperate gasp of a dying ideology trying to hang on to a set of outdated ideas.
Click to expand...

And I don't think this is a good thing. I think the point here is, what is best for America as a whole, not just "her ancestory". I think our leaders need to be objective for America's sake. America is made up of all nationalities. I wonder if she would be as loud if it were another nationality crossing the borders?
 
Jackie22 said:
Exactly!

Its not only the hispanics, its women, its gays, its blacks and it is the poor that the GOP have thrown under the bus.
Click to expand...

And I've never agreed with this. If the US is going to allow illegal immigrants to work here, they should be payed the same. Otherwise, what does that make us? I'm sure someone can think of a country that would do that. Well yeah, you can work here, just has hard as citizens, but you don't get the good pay or bennies. I'm confused:confused: You see, you seem to think people that are against illegal immigrants coming into America, and being able to stay, don't care about them.
 
nwlady said:
And I've never agreed with this. If the US is going to allow illegal immigrants to work here, they should be payed the same. Otherwise, what does that make us? I'm sure someone can think of a country that would do that. Well yeah, you can work here, just has hard as citizens, but you don't get the good pay or bennies. I'm confused:confused: You see, you seem to think people that are against illegal immigrants coming into America, and being able to stay, don't care about them.
Click to expand...

Well, I'll agree with you that they should be paid the same, but when you get to digging into the voting record of our elected leaders you will find that it is the republicans that vote for the rich and the corporations and they vote against the welfare of the above mentioned.

Anyone that keeps up with the voting record of our elected leaders is aware of this.

Now are the Democrats perfect....NO, do they make mistakes....YES

BUT when you research and study their record against Republicans, you'll see the difference.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top