Lindsay Graham loses his bearings on immigration
Years ago, I was startled to see an old historical sign in the JFK presidential library that said, “No dogs or Irish allowed.” From sometime in the 19th century, the sign had hung on the door of a commercial establishment. Hanging in the library, it served as a stark reminder of the vicious prejudices that always accompany a period of high immigration into this country.
These days, the targets of that prejudice are people from countries to the south of the United States — Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia, Honduras, etc. Eventually, many of those who are here illegally will gain their citizenship, and we’ll forget that we went through another wave of hysteria over their arrival.
But before we get there, we’re seeing some folk who ought to know better lose their bearings over the issue. One of those is U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), who told Fox News last week that he would introduce a constitutional amendment to repeal birthright citizenship. From Politico:
“I may introduce a constitutional amendment that changes the rules if you have a child here,” Graham said during an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “Birthright citizenship I think is a mistake … We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.”
Asked how intent Graham is on introducing the amendment, the South Carolina Republican responded: “I got to.”
“People come here to have babies,” he said. “They come here to drop a child. It’s called “drop and leave.” To have a child in America, they cross the border, they go to the emergency room, have a child, and that child’s automatically an American citizen. That shouldn’t be the case. That attracts people here for all the wrong reasons.”
Up until just a few months ago, Graham was among the saner voices on immigration reform. He supported a comprehensive bill that would lead to a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here. He is obviously feeling the heat from the nativists in his party.
Even if there were huge numbers of women coming to the U.S. just to have a child — and there is absolutely no evidence that there are — so what? The United States is expected to weather the next several decades in much better economic shape than most of the other Western countries, in large part due to immigration and the younger citizens it has brought us. While Europe and Japan are aging rapidly, we won’t. That’s a huge benefit for us.
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246 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
8:10 am
“Eventually, many of those who are here illegally will gain their citizenship,”
Which I have no problem with if they do it the right way that’s already in place. Not through amnesty. There’s no need to change our current laws, the enforce them.
“We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.”
What’s wrong with this exactly? It actually makes pretty good sense.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
8:13 am
I need to add “Not through amnesty or any other shortcut you Democrats may think of.”
Enoch
August 2nd, 2010
8:21 am
Here is the democrat immigration plan.
1. Make a half hearted attempt to control the border mostly for show
2. After people are here illegally, do everything we can to legitmize their presence.
3. Call them citizens
4. But don’t call it amnesty
5. Sue AZ for having it’s own immigration policy but leave the sactuary cities alone
6.Scream racist at anyone who disagrees.
godless heathen
August 2nd, 2010
8:22 am
Somebody has to spread the pine straw.
Granny Godzilla
August 2nd, 2010
8:23 am
First this is what they’d have to do.
Article V – Amendment The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Ten years of hard work could not get this Amendment to the Consitutuion ratified
The Equal Rights Amendment
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
I think Senator Graham’s idea is a real stinker, and obviously not what our founder fathers and mothers had in mind, but you righties….go for it
It’ll be fun to watch.
gale
August 2nd, 2010
8:24 am
“We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.”
I agree completely. We keep encountering the situation of a child of illegal parents being forced to keep silent of “narc” on his/her illegal parents. None of them should be legal because of the loophole in the interpretation of one phrase.
Tommy Maddox
August 2nd, 2010
8:25 am
It’s called pushing back [in the right direction].
Bubba Bob
August 2nd, 2010
8:31 am
I have to agree with him on this.
Granny, if you want what our founding fathers wanted then I assume you are for enforcing our current laws as well. Glad to see you support sending illegals home.
Cynthia Is Sexy!!
August 2nd, 2010
8:34 am
“We should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.”
*APPLAUSE*
And I would like to add upon release from hospital, Ma, Pa and the little papoose win a free plane ride to Mexico city. Thats it and adios.
Get them out!!
southerngal
August 2nd, 2010
8:40 am
I spent the first 19 years of my life without citizenship to any country…did not hurt me in the least.
Josh
August 2nd, 2010
8:41 am
Have to agree with Graham as well. Its time to enforce the laws on immigration. If we enforce the laws, then we would not have illegals coming here to have their babies.
Cynthia said, “Graham was among the saner voices on immigration reform.”
So, if anyone is against amensty for all they are insane? What is insane is not enforcing the laws of this land and following them. What is insane is the Obama adminstration and the DOJ suing Arizona for following Federal and State laws on illegal immigration.
jasper
August 2nd, 2010
8:43 am
Obama is coming to town today and is getting snubbed by Roy Barnes, and you want to talk about Lindsey Graham. Unless he’s having a tummy-tuck, there’s just no excuse for it. Please alert the metro democrats to snub Ol Roy come this November.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
8:44 am
Cynthia and Granny remind me a lot of the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
8:45 am
“Unless he’s having a tummy-tuck, there’s just no excuse for it.”
It’s probably the same reason Republicans should be snubbing Palin. Their respective parties should realize how big of a goof both of them are. Do you really think Barnes wants to be linked to Obama? Look where McCain being linked to Bush got him….
Josh
August 2nd, 2010
8:46 am
Sorry Jasper, but Roy Barnes is a very, very smart man for snubbing Obama. He is not the only Democrat doing it either. Tons other are doing the very same thing. Lets be completely honest. Obama is not a popular man with Democratic leadership. Besides, Barnes wants to be seen as a Southern Democrat and not a Washington Democrat. Very smart man in Barnes. This is coming from the mouth of a Conservative who votes Conservative.
jake
August 2nd, 2010
8:55 am
peadawg,
You remind of the banjo playing boy in “deliverance”.
Van Jones
August 2nd, 2010
9:03 am
“These days, the targets of that prejudice are people from countries to the south of the United States — Mexico, Guatemala, Columbia, Honduras, etc.”
Targets of prejudice? Then I guess if I disagree with our president I am racist? Oh wait, you already think that. {rolleyes}
harold
August 2nd, 2010
9:06 am
Cynthia: This legislation is long overdue. There is every good reason to deny citizenship to babies whose mothers are illegal. They are the “fruit of the poisonous tree” so to speak. From the moment an illegal comes here illegally, everything they do is illegal, and that includes having that child on our soil. America cannot afford the excessive generosity you want it to give to illegals. We are suffering, going bankrupt and you are asking for generosity. Illegals are draining our resources exponentially.
martin
August 2nd, 2010
9:08 am
I think that is a brilliant idea! U.S. citizens should be born from U.S. citizens! What I’d like to know is what major country doesn’t already have that restriction. Could my wife and I sneak in to Britain, Germany, France, Mexico, Honduras, Australia and have a child and they automatically become citizens of that nation they are born in? Cynthia, are you advocating open borders?
Scout
August 2nd, 2010
9:15 am
HA! HA! HA!
Local Headline: “Democrats Scatter Monday as Obama Comes to Town”
“And so he bowed.”
Scout
August 2nd, 2010
9:17 am
Cynthia:
“Even if there were huge numbers of women coming to the U.S. just to have a child — and there is absolutely no evidence that there are — so what? The United States is expected to weather the next several decades in much better economic shape than most of the other Western countries, in large part due to immigration and the younger citizens it has brought us. While Europe and Japan are aging rapidly, we won’t. That’s a huge benefit for us.”
IF WE WEREN’T KILLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR UNBORN IT WOULD HELP TOO !
TGT
August 2nd, 2010
9:17 am
Quoting myself from just a few days ago on CT’s blog: since (CT) is so keen on the economic impact of illegals (and their children), I propose a trade: the 20 million or so illegal immigrants for the 40+ million aborted children in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
9:19 am
Good luck with that TGT. Cynthia’s pro-abortion(pro-choice for the pc crowd).
Jimmy Carter was a fool
August 2nd, 2010
9:25 am
Jake – are you the guy with suspenders in “Deliverance”?
Bubba Bob
August 2nd, 2010
9:25 am
We should have a ‘You don’t have to obey the laws day’ and let everyone do what they want. Just to try it out. Maybe that works better.
david wayne osedach
August 2nd, 2010
9:29 am
The vast majority of the 12 to 15 million illegal immigrants are here to stay. We need to deal with that reality.
Bubba Bob
August 2nd, 2010
9:30 am
@David,
Maybe 12 to 15 million illegals need to realize they are breaking the law and deal with that reality.
Sending them back is dealing with that reality.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
9:30 am
“We need to deal with that reality.”
You plan taking any of them in? You plan paying for their medication, clothes, and housing?
Larry
August 2nd, 2010
9:38 am
Maybe one of them will be a good jounalist and take your job
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
9:42 am
i remember when the law of the land was to count some people as 3/5 human. then it was a call to send them back (to wherever that was). let’s not forget women. immigrants from europe are in this historical conversation somewhere. oh yeah, when the asian population exploded in America many people were concerned they were going to “take over.” now it’s middle Americans. can’t imagine who it will be next… fellow Americans?
Jonathan
August 2nd, 2010
9:47 am
Ponder the thought of every night your kids risk their life to escape your house to go to your neighbors. Every night you tell them that they may be shot or arrested, but yet they do it anyway. You also say the folks over there are racist, out of shape, and will not provide you healthcare, but yet they do it anyway. Your reaction is to call the police on your neighbors and demand a public statement denouncing your neighbors and their racism. Our fearless leader decides that is a heckuva strategy.
Maybe a little article or two about the wonderful natural resources and folks that are in Mexico, but yet the government continues to race Afghanistan and Pakistan to the bottom.
Sounds a little far fetched and foolish- but I guess we are allowed to be.
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
9:48 am
i found many hispanic children who were “anchor babies” were pretty good students once they learned basic English concepts. they worked as hard or harder than many of the other students in class. by and large their parents were supportive. many of the students knew they had a chance their parents didn’t have. i wished some white and black American studentns were as focused.
Bubba Bob
August 2nd, 2010
9:53 am
@WAR,
Counting a citizen as 3/5 human was against our Constitution and should have been wrong from the beginning.
I agree on the student side. It starts at home. As soon as the government figures out schools can’t fix bad parenting maybe they’ll quit wasting money on things that don’t work.
Kamchak
August 2nd, 2010
9:54 am
WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
Just thought I would throw that out there.
Thirty-some odd comments and no one else has.
You guys are getting slack.
Geez.
Eric Pearson
August 2nd, 2010
9:56 am
Lindsay Graham, that screaming closet case, lost his bearings years ago. Peabrain, I meant dawg, never had any.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
9:57 am
Since you were the first, Kammy, does that mean you finally understand it?
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
9:59 am
bubba bob
the 3/5 compromise was IN the constitution. many things should have been wrong from the beginning–true. i am no amnesty kind of guy, but Americans can’t use the cheap–almost free–labor from these people and then kick them out. i’m curious about the idea of kicking out people who come here illegally… wonder what the indians would have done to the pilgrims if…
Upon Further Review
August 2nd, 2010
10:03 am
Granny Godzilla wrote:
I think Senator Graham’s idea is a real stinker, and obviously not what our founder fathers and mothers had in mind …
___________________________________________________
*** Ummm, Granny, the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted in 1868. I wasn’t aware that Washington, Jefferson, Franklin et al. were still around after the Civil War.
And since you presume to be the modern-day spokesperson for the Founding Fathers (or “founder fathers”), I’m sure you can explain why, if they intended for the children of illegal immigrants to automatically become citizens, they didn’t include this provision in the original version of the Constitution.
Jonathan
August 2nd, 2010
10:03 am
War- thanks for your little opinion. You may want to check on national test scores by race. I will put my “white kid” and his “black and Asian” friends against anyone. No need for my good friend War to be “wishing”.
Russ555
August 2nd, 2010
10:05 am
People are natural born citizens of the countries where they are born. That’s basic law. Don’t make changes to solve a problem we have that will prove to be temporary in nature. We can solve the problem by controlling the border. Illegal immigration is already down.
Aquagirl
August 2nd, 2010
10:07 am
Politicians are dependent on campaign contributions. That’s why Lindsey Graham would rather try to amend the Constitution than crack down on businesses employing illegals.
You Asked
August 2nd, 2010
10:09 am
Illegal immigration hurts the immigrants.
Coyotes (people smugglers) harm them when they take their money and leave them to die in the desert.
Employers hurt them when they pay them less than market wages and fail to pay into social security for them.
Renters hurt them when they pack them 12 to a trailer and threaten to turn them in to INS if they complain.
Predators hurt them when they rape and molest children knowing their families will be hesitant to report them to police.
Diseases hurt them when they are exposed to other illegal immigrants who do not have proper immunizations and medical care.
Get it straight liberals. If you want to help immigrants than help strangthen our ability to make sure they are LEGAL immigrants with access to full protection under our laws.
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
10:10 am
Jon
i didn’t say they were blowing test scores off the charts. i stated they were pretty good students and hard workers. as an educator, i know that test scores often do not reflect the overall ability of students. i’m not wishing for anything other than good kids to have a good education. the argument is do we want to pay for their education? in some instances yes. it’s a good investment. but securing the border is also.
You Asked
August 2nd, 2010
10:11 am
stranghten = strengthen (heh. I must be going native)
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
10:12 am
you asked
that’s a tough argument to disagree with. i like that.
Don't Forget
August 2nd, 2010
10:14 am
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
8:13 am
I need to add “Not through amnesty or any other shortcut you Democrats may think of.”
——————————————————————————————————————————
I think you mischaracterize the position of many democrats. From your previous post I can assume you don’t advocate deporting 20+ million people and I would agree. I have heard several democrats propose that illegals should come forward and declare themselves at which time they would pay a fine (I’ve heard $1500 or so talked about), payment of any unpaid taxes followed by getting to the back of the line for citizenship which would require learning English and passing exams showing knowledge of US history and our constitution. Those that fail to come forward would be subject to deportation. This debate, like so many others, is being dominated by the extreme ends of the political spectrum and preventing rational solutions from being implemented.
Upon Further Review
August 2nd, 2010
10:15 am
WAR
i’m curious about the idea of kicking out people who come here illegally… wonder what the indians would have done to the pilgrims if…
_________________________________
*** Yeah, but the problem with that premise is that for consistency’s sake, you can’t argue that the American Indians should have kicked all non-Native settlers off their land without also arguing that the native tribes in Mexico should have kicked all the non-Native settlers off their land, too.
I mean, the Aztecs didn’t originally speak Spanish, y’know.
So I think it’s hilarious that La Raza types are demanding that America return “their” land to Mexico. As an American, my response to that is, “Once you descendants of the Spanish move back to Spain and return all of Mexico to the descendants of the Aztecs and other native tribes, we’ll talk.”
WAR
August 2nd, 2010
10:19 am
i took the citizens’ test that everyone has to take to become official, legal American citizens. i passed of course, but i venture to think many of us would have a difficult time. some of the questions are really hard if you havent’ studied history or social studies in a long time.
You Asked
August 2nd, 2010
10:19 am
The problem with a one time fine is that it would be prohibitive to many families who are here illegally. I am all for letting them pay back unpaid income taxes over time (interest free) as they work here on expidited visas.
If they have no work here or no sponsor with work (family members, employers, colleges, etc.) they cannot stay. As far as citizenship they can apply while they work and get in line with everyone else.
The bottom line is: if the political parties would stop using this as a football thinking they can curry favor with constituencies (Hispanics, Latinos, White Males, Soccer Moms…) they could be hammering out some very good policy changes that would protect legal immigrants as well as the economy and find an honorable path to citizenship for those here illegally but who would otherwise obey our laws.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2010
10:20 am
” From your previous post I can assume you don’t advocate deporting 20+ million people and I would agree.”
Actually I do advocate deporting 20 millions illegals. They should go through the process to become a citizen like millions of others have before.