A Republican photo finish on illegal immigration
Next Monday is the official start for the shipping of Georgia’s Vidalia onion crop. Prospects for a high-quality season are good.
To some rural Republican members of the state Senate, that means a large number of hands, in the field and beyond, will be needed quickly and temporarily, through June. Hiring will often be done on the spot, in isolated places without Internet service.
To many suburban Republicans in the same chamber, illegal immigration in Georgia has become such a drag on taxpayers that a slight, inexpensive inconvenience — specifically, requiring all businesses to run hiring prospects through a federal database — is an absolute necessity.
If a crop can’t be brought in without a certified, legal labor force, then perhaps it should stay in the field, the hardest of the hardcore argue.
We have arrived at the end of the winter session of the Legislature. HB 87, a measure addressing illegal immigration and sponsored by state Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, remains the last big issue on the table.
The bill is before the Senate. That chamber began its work in January, split by an internal Republican power struggle that descended into frat house-level confrontations.
The Senate will end its work with a more serious division — between Republicans whose constituents think of food as something you get from the grocery store, and Republicans whose voters think of food as something you send there.
Illegal immigration is the ultimate base-versus-business confrontation among Republicans, and has stretched across three months. But the final chapter began only Monday, when the Senate — in a first look at HB 87 — stripped the measure of its most aggressive features.
The work was done by an odd, impromptu coalition: The Democratic rookie Jason Carter of Decatur, who has taken to the family business of politics like a house afire, and Republican John Bulloch, a southwest Georgia farmer who — during this debate — has become the strongest agribusiness voice in the Legislature.
An amendment by Carter weakened law enforcement provisions by giving police the right to stop suspected illegal immigrants and those who harbor or transport them only when a possible felony is involved.
The move was backed by elements of the state’s hospitality industry, which is fearful of a tourist backlash against “driving-while-brown” arrests.
Bulloch sponsored the amendment that stripped away the requirement that businesses use E-Verify, the federal database that indicates whether hires are legal U.S. residents. He and others have described the service as flawed.
The changes were approved with head counts rather than recorded votes, shielding GOP senators from the wrath of illegal immigration activists.
The revised version of HB 87 passed on a 39-17 vote, and was sent back to the House. Which rejected the Senate changes, reinserted the tougher provisions, and lobbed the bill back to the Senate like the hot potato it is.
“We have been looking…at the result of what the Senate did, which I think really brings into question whether they are serious about immigration reform,” House Speaker David Ralston said.
When the Legislature reconvenes for the final time today, supporters of HB 87 will attempt to force the Senate to accept the tough portions restored by the House — ending the fight with a single, recorded vote.
But word late Wednesday was that HB 87 supporters were short of the votes necessary for majority passage. As many as a dozen of 36 Republicans are balking.
State Rep. Ross Tolleson, R-Perry, who cannot be described as anything but conservative, says HB 87 — as now written — threatens Georgia agriculture.
“A bill like that could do heavy damage to the state and the economy. It could criminalize your friends and neighbors,” he said.
Tolleson supports the move to remove the E-Verify requirement.
One reason: The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to a similar Arizona law. The case questions whether a state can require a private business to use a federal program. A decision is expected by the end of June.
Look for HB 87 to be pushed into a six-member, House-Senate conference committee. Four signatures and much compromise would be required for the bill’s survival. Plus a vote by both chambers during the rush of last-minute legislation.
Georgia business, whose campaign contributions fuel the Republican machine, would be perfectly satisfied to run out the clock. Which would infuriate the Republican base.
Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday said he was staying out of the negotiations, and would simply wait for the result — an entirely understandable approach, given the situation.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
134 comments Add your comment
GardenoftheGods
April 13th, 2011
6:50 pm
It’s time that we stop the arguing about how hard it is to use E-Verify in the field…there are so many American CITIZENS out of work–go to the Unemployment office to hire workers–there’s plenty of computers there. Hire Americans, it helps us in more ways than just 1 job–it’s people paying taxes, keeping their houses, feeding their families & keeping *ILLEGALS* out of our country.
Road Scholar
April 13th, 2011
6:51 pm
Use E verify. Citizen, no problem. Non Citizen, if the workforce is “special” and cannot be fully staffed with legals, provide a 6-8 month work permit to acknowledge their visiting worker status. Check back in 8 months.How hard is it!?
HB87 is wrong
April 13th, 2011
6:53 pm
It’s unconstitutional – how much money would our state have to spend defending this?
It’s bad for buisness – this will destroy our agricultural base, and cause businesses to think twice about relocating to Georgia.
And, it’s immoral. For all the religious conservatives out there, wasn’t Moses an illegal immigrant? Who would Jesus deport?
No person is illegal. I don’t get why our state seems to obsess so much about which minority we as a state need to legalize hate against next. People are saying with respect to SB10 that we’re moving into the 21st century. This bill would put us back to the stone age.
Road Scholar
April 13th, 2011
6:55 pm
GOTG: Time studies have shown that migrant workers work at a pace 4 times the American work at! Americans can’t handle it!
If someone collects unemployment, they must attend classes to retrain themselves. No classes; no check! Let businesses have access to the graduate list. Free trainning; new skills; new job!
td
April 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
“Which would infuriate the Republican base”
Yes, the conservatives will be highly angry and out for blood for anything less than HB 87. Corporations listen up. If this bill does not pass then we conservatives are going to be pushing real hard to tax your industries a higher amount to cover the cost of these illegals right after we put your corporate cronies out of office. E-verify for every job.
Road Scholar
April 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
“No person is illegal.” What? OK. They are not citizens of the US; by Federal law they aren’t suppose to be here unless they have a permit. Correct?
AZ
April 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
For all of those “illegals are stealing our jobs” proponents out there: Get real. Illegals take the crap jobs that pay very little and have no benefits — the jobs that even most unemployed Americans wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. Go to the unemployment office and ask the people applying for unemployment if they would rather search for decent work or go pick onions in a field for minimum wage and no benefits. Guess what they’ll say? Get rid of illegals and you won’t be opening up jobs for Americans — you’ll just see poorly kept lawns and higher produce prices at the grocery store.
do dat
April 13th, 2011
7:06 pm
get them out of the country, so we can stop paying for them to have babies and then go to our schools.
By By and don’t come back
Economic Risk
April 13th, 2011
7:07 pm
Very good assessment of the challenge between politics vs. policy. Campaigns are for politics and legislating for a strong economy is for policy. If we want to support our largest economic engines provided by our farmers and our tourism, the federal government must act to create necessary and usable guest worker visa programs. Killing our economy for the sake of politics is FLAWED policy, NOT good policy. Legislators need to quit politicking and start creating jobs. HB 87 will only provide work for lawyers while killing our economy.
alphadog71
April 13th, 2011
7:07 pm
Today the AJC reported that Gov. Deal, speaking to reporters at the Capitol after an economic development announcement, said immigration is a sticky wicket, best left up to the Legislature. What the article didn’t mention was that the “economic development announcement” was about Health Lean Logistics, a Barcelona (Spain)-based health care logistics and distribution company, that chose Atlanta for its U.S.headquarters. Could it be we need Spanish-speaking people around for economic development? I suppose the Governor, and the State lawmakers, can not support limiting immigration while trying to attract international business. A sticky wicket, indeed!
PastorTim
April 13th, 2011
7:10 pm
I agree with “HB87 is Wrong.”
Road – No human being is illegal. The fact that you could even consider a fellow human being “illegal” speaks volumes.
There very well might be undocumented workers. But calling someone “illegal” sends out the implication that they are less of a person, less of a human than you. Which is a falsehood.
We’re all children of God, no matter where we’re from. This is a law steeped in hate and fear of the unknown. Instead of rallying for xenophobia, we need to dialogue, and we need to examine where this fear and hatred is coming from.
The Goobernator
April 13th, 2011
7:13 pm
@AZ. Right On! I know businesses that tried getting American ‘day labor’. They were Unreliable, unwilling to work, and did not show up the next day. We aren’t going to get our lazy Americans off their butts to work manual jobs for $8, $10 or even $12 an hour. We also aren’t willing, as consumers, to support decent wages for our fellow Americans to have a car, home, health care, IRA and other benefits. Unfortunately, we would rather buy poorly made in China products at big box stores paying their mostly part time workers a bare wage so they can’t invest in their own benefits and future.
Hopeing
April 13th, 2011
7:13 pm
Hope it Goes Through 87 an it will save Legal Citizens its got to be done we cant handel but so much our Pockets are getting lower an lower an Hope it saves LIVES
Last Man Standing
April 13th, 2011
7:14 pm
HB87 is wrong:
“No person is illegal.”
Cry me a river . . . and while you’re at it, let that tiny leftist heart bleed for us.
Last Man Standing
April 13th, 2011
7:17 pm
PastorTim:
“There very well might be undocumented workers. But calling someone “illegal” sends out the implication that they are less of a person, less of a human than you. Which is a falsehood.”
Refer to my post to “HB87 is wrong”, and while you’re at it, keep your religion out of my politics!
Frank Meyer
April 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
The bull that most of your are stating here is a bold face lie abut Georgia suffering an agricultuarl disaster. The visa program is still there, but the farmers do not want to have to pay prevalinig wages and provide decent housing and sanitation.
The illegals in Georgia people are costing the state over $2 billon annually. They are stealing our tax funds by using food stamps, medical services, education, and are causing massive lock up costs to get them out of Georgia.
This is simply the afrmes and hospitality industries fighting the right way to catch or deter illegasl from coming here. They are taking Americans jobs. They are not, howvever, riding garbage trucks.
The illegals are expanding by birth and causing unacceptable costs in public schools and colleges which they are not entitled to.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
HB 87 in its full and unadulterated version needs to become law to send a firm message to the Feds that it’s time to get SERIOUS about enforcement. Illegals also need to get a firm and uncompromising message to stay the hell out of Georgia. No matter how much the ivory tower elitist proponents of illegal immigration and opponents of this bill claim that it will cost the state, the amount is almost NOTHING compared to what this state is being forced to spin to accommodate all the illegals in schools, hospitals, jails, social services, traffic, etc because the damn Feds refuse to do their damn job to protect our borders and keep foreigners OUT! The Senate needs to stop the childish games and get serious about enforcement. The crops need to stay in the damn fields if they refuse to let Americans do the work!
KENNETH BLANSIT
April 13th, 2011
7:21 pm
IF DEAL ,CAGLE,AND THE SENATE DONT GET HB87 WITH E-VERIFY PASSED, THEY CAN GET A JOB WITH THIER ILLEGALL BLACK MARKET LABOR WHEN ELECTION TIME COMES.
How will you
April 13th, 2011
7:23 pm
If this passes, Georgia farmers will either a) go out of buisness, b) break the law, or c) food prices will skyrocket. If local food prices skyrocket, then where are the people who support this bill going to go shopping? Walmart for cheap produce. Which would be coming from a different state, picked by migrant labor.
All those in favor of this law should be forced to buy things only made by legal American labor. And lets see what you’d be able to afford and how quickly you’d need food stamps.
RuleofLaw
April 13th, 2011
7:23 pm
This is symantics and the arguments against HB 87 are lame. Yes, a person is not “illegal” but in this case, their conduct is illegal.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
7:28 pm
HB 87 will not only send a strong message to illegals to stay out of Georgia, but HB 87 will also force a showdown with Obama and the Feds over illegal immigration and border enforcement, a national security showdown which is long overdue. Now is the time to take a stand and stop the invasion of America by illegals from Mexico and Latin America.
Last Man Standing
April 13th, 2011
7:28 pm
If my elected representative or senator either alters or votes for less than HB87 as it was drafted, I will contribute to and work for anyone who opposes them in their re-election bid.
I am weary of the burden on the taxpayers created by these illegal aliens. I am also weary of their other criminal actions and weary of the injuries and deaths they have caused in motor vehicle accidents.
PastorTim
April 13th, 2011
7:31 pm
Last Man Standing – I assume then you’re pro-choice, against blue laws, anti-prayer in schools, anti-Intelligent Design, against vouchers for private schools, in favor of gay marriage, and more, if you want religion out of politics. Or do you just not want religion and politics to intertwine when God’s stand doesn’t match yours?
I’ll be praying for you tonight.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
7:36 pm
How will you
April 13th, 2011
7:23 pm
“If this passes, Georgia farmers will either a) go out of buisness, b) break the law, or c) food prices will skyrocket. If local food prices skyrocket, then where are the people who support this bill going to go shopping? Walmart for cheap produce. Which would be coming from a different state, picked by migrant labor.”
“All those in favor of this law should be forced to buy things only made by legal American labor. And lets see what you’d be able to afford and how quickly you’d need food stamps.”
Whatever the people of this state supposedly “save” by letting big business overrun our state with illegal workers is being wiped out by what we have to spend to support them in jails, hospitals, social services and schools. If we need to subvert our own laws to lure foreign industries here from Spain, of all places, then maybe we don’t need the the FOREIGN business and lawbreaking illegal immigration apologists here in the first place.
jconservative
April 13th, 2011
7:38 pm
The last onion and watermelon fields I visited did not have Internet hookups to use E-Verify.
But I guess a 50% increase in the price of produce is just what this state needs. So lets let the the onions and watermelons rot in the fields.
Only commies, socialist and foreigners eat onions anyway!
Brooke
April 13th, 2011
7:44 pm
We can attribute America’s current dilemma not so much to greed, but to IGNORANCE. Our schools and government have failed us and our churches have failed us even more. Pastor Tim knows little about the history of America and even less about the contents of the Bible.
This so called Pastor shows more compassion for those here illegally than law-abiding citizens whose property, hearth and home, as well as their schools and hospitals, have been brazenly assaulted or exploited. Where is the compassion for them? We seem to pay more respect to political groups manned by illegals than our own people. Those who raise a voice in their own behalf are demonized as racist or bigots. Perhaps that is why there is no faith, no confidence, in our lawmakers. Is this simply a quick fix”?
”Borders are an imperative to a nation’s cohesion and survival is amplified in the Bible numerous times: “And if you shall follow My ways, I will protect your borders so that the strangers and enemies will not fill your camp and be a thorn in your side”. As a compassionate but sensible book the Bible understood that any country wishing to preserve its culture and way of life is one that must be able to manage its borders. Those who neither understand that nor give it credence simply no longer value the historic American culture. And they most certainly are not led by compassion greater than mine or others. They seem to be guided by an indifference to the citizenry.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
7:45 pm
Nathan Deal ran for Governor on the promise of taking a stand against illegal immigration. Now that the rubber has hit the road and the people of this state really him to step up and take the lead on this thing he has been very quiet and very timid in helping Georgia to take a courageous stand and forcing the Feds to stop the invasion of our country by Mexico and Latin America. Nathan Deal is proving that he is certainly no Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona in the critical battle for this nation’s future against illegal immigration.
Aquagirl
April 13th, 2011
7:49 pm
Illegal immigration is a complex problem. The Republicans got elected by screeching to the lowest common denominator, people who shriek uncontrollably and foam at the mouth at the mere mention of illegal immigrants. Now the legislators have tied themselves in knots trying to balance reality and the imaginary world of their base.
I predict they’ll pass a toothless bill to placate angry folk and nothing will change. There’s too much money on the table. They know our agriculture would tank like a Sadie Fields float in a gay pride parade.
td
April 13th, 2011
7:52 pm
AZ
April 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
I am calling BS on you. There was a farmer in a story last week that said the illegals work by the piece in the field and make more than minimum wage. Now let us talk about minimum wage. It is $7.25 per hour. If you do not take taxes out then that is equivalent to $10 per hour tax free money. I personally know many construction workers who will gladly take an illegals job in the construction industry today.
td
April 13th, 2011
7:55 pm
alphadog71
April 13th, 2011
7:07 pm
Plenty of legal immigrants and citizens that speak Spanish that can take those jobs. Get rid of the illegals.
Brooke
April 13th, 2011
8:05 pm
Will the Republican controlled Congress sell out Georgia’s jobless in order to appease the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, the ACLU, and the Mexican organizations who have become accustomed to running Georgia’s government? We shall soon see.
Apparently, everyone with the exception of our elected officials understands the correlation between the budget deficit, the crime, the joblessness and the illegal alien invasion.
The main source of methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and heroine are the Mexican drug cartels that now reside in almost every city in Georgia? Professor Grayson of William and Mary, an expert on Mexico, had the courage to report why Georgia has so many illegals: “The Drug issue and the illegal immigration issue are linked, because often those newcomers who are in this country without the proper documentation are the social infrastructure for the cartels. That is, they serve as look-outs. They serve as mules. They serve as distributors. They aid and abet the illegal activities”.
The H2A visas have left no more room for lies and excuses as to why elected officials have allowed cities in Georgia to become the epicenter of the Mexican drug distribution to the world while ignoring the suffering of Georgia’s unemployed.
td
April 13th, 2011
8:05 pm
PastorTim
April 13th, 2011
7:31 pm
I am a southern Baptist and have many friends that are Methodist and Church of God. None and I repeat none of them are for allowing these undocumented workers (your words mine are illegals) to stay here. I have talked to several pastors and none of them are for what you are saying. The only person of any religious authority I have talked to in favor of what you state is a Catholic Priest and he is for the Dream act to pass not to do nothing.
Not Blind
April 13th, 2011
8:07 pm
You can’t have millions of illegal aliens without having identity theft, drug runners, gun runners, government services theft, jails and prisons overrun, wages depressed, etc etc. This doesn’t affect the few jerks making millions off of illegal aliens but everybody else gets screwed. Just yesterday there was the story about the 55 yr old illegal alien woman that committed ID theft. This is the reality of the situation. They are unethical and immoral and not what I want as potential citizens or even legal residents of this country. All the talk of the price of produce going up is a bunch of lying BS. What would actually happen is the artificially high profits would come down.
Aquagirl
April 13th, 2011
8:08 pm
The main source of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin is demand here in the U.S. I thought conservatives understood the basics of supply and demand and the free market. It works whether you like it or not.
Not Blind
April 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
Brooke @ 8:05 Excellent post. The whole truth and nothing but the truth.
double
April 13th, 2011
8:09 pm
@HB87 is wrong…You bring Moses into this .You do know he was a basket case.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
8:11 pm
The Senators who voted to strip out the toughest parts of HB 87 need to be outed to thier constituents and the people of this state as the cowardly illegal immigration apologists that they are. Republicans who vote against taking a stand against the illegal invasion and subversion of this nation’s laws and culture by big business and bedwetting bleeding heart liberals WILL face the wrath of voters in their next Republican primary. Democrats who vote against this very necessary bill will feel the heat in their next General Election campaign. The people of Georgia will not go quietly into the night on this issue. If this governor and legislature won’t pass tough, no-holds barred illegal immigration, the people of Georgia will replace them with a governor and legislators who will.
Not Blind
April 13th, 2011
8:14 pm
Aquagirl @ 8:08. Here is an idea for you to chew on. The lower income earners probably make up the majority of illicit drug users. It’s probably safe to say that the outlook for these people is not good and they feel that they have nothing to lose. Now imagine there are no illegals driving down the wages in the jobs that these lower income earners are capable of holding. They can now make a decent wage. Their outlook is way better. They feel less discouraged about their chances to have a decent life. Doing drugs can destroy this dream and they know it. I bet a lot would reform their ways or have never went down that path if our federal government had not encouraged the mass migration of illegal aliens.
Aquagirl
April 13th, 2011
8:17 pm
The economy was darned good a few years ago, with very low unemployment. I didn’t notice a tidal wave of drug abstinence wash over America.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
April 13th, 2011
8:17 pm
Out there on the campaign trail it’s easy to spout off — to be a tough law-and-order, hellraisin’, conservative; but when the water meets the wheel, and they have to “man-up on their rhetoric” they fold like a cheap suit.
Neither party wants to deal with this issue and it’s far more complex than the rhetoric on the stump will allow. But, if you ran on it, man-up and take your medicine.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
8:20 pm
Shoulda known that the lawmakers here in big business-controlled Georgia would lack the gumption and the backbone necessary to pass a bill as tough as the one that passed in Arizona, where lawmakers are known for throwing caution to the wind and taking a stand for what they believe in whether or not it is popular with the ivory tower elitist-controlled liberal media.
Road Scholar
April 13th, 2011
8:27 pm
Pastor Tim: You can call them whatever you want. They are still here without a permit.
Not so fast, my friend...
April 13th, 2011
8:29 pm
Not Blind
April 13th, 2011
8:14 pm
Aquagirl @ 8:08. “Here is an idea for you to chew on. The lower income earners probably make up the majority of illicit drug users.”
Actually, one of the main driving forces behind America’s continuing insatisable demand for illegal drugs is the large amount of high-income earners who buy and use drugs because of their high amount of disposable income. There’s just as big of a drug problem on the cul-de-sac in the suburbs as there is on skid row in the inner city.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 13th, 2011
8:30 pm
PastorTim…you are why religion and politics should never mix. Utopians make sh*tty law.
Gwen, a Liberal
April 13th, 2011
8:31 pm
Knew this was going to be ” a really big show”. In the end, it was an embarrassment because when push came to shove, the Republican party, had to show its true colors. Too many industries/businessmen rely on illegal laborers to make their profits. And, though it makes good points with the base to come down hard on illegal alien “enforcement”, in the end it was just for show. When it comes to the almightly, apparently the buck is what matters to the majority party.
Brooke
April 13th, 2011
8:32 pm
The cost cheap farm products:
Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. With six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an “earned income credit” of up to $3,200, free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are, or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. If qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicaid. All of this is at (our) taxpayer’s expense.
He doesn’t worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.
Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after paying their bills and his.
Cheap labor? YEAH, RIGHT!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 13th, 2011
8:38 pm
@Brooke…LOVE your post!!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 13th, 2011
8:39 pm
Senate republicans , we WILL get you on record tommorrow..one way or another..and we WILL hold you responsible.
Southern by the grace of God
April 13th, 2011
8:40 pm
Aquagirl
April 13th, 2011
7:49 pm
“Illegal immigration is a complex problem.”
Clinton “Skink” Tyree
April 13th, 2011
8:17 pm
“Neither party wants to deal with this issue and it’s far more complex than the rhetoric on the stump will allow.”
How in the hell is this a “complex” issue or problem? Like hell it’s complex, these people are here ILLEGALLY, meaning that they have no legal right to be in this country because they were not born here according to the LAW. Sounds like a black-and-white issue that is pretty cut-and-dried to me. The United States is for LEGAL U.S. Citizens who were either born here or have the permission of the U.S. Government and it’s people to be here. NON-U.S. Citizens have NO right to be on American soil without rightful and legal permission. What in the hell is so damned complex about that?
Darn Right
April 13th, 2011
8:45 pm
Darn Right Brooke! We shouldn’t feed children of illegal immigrants school lunches! We should let children who had no control over whether they were brought to this county starve to death! Damn right! The good, Christian thing to do.
The hypocrisy here kills me. I’m wiling to bet most of you lambasting that PastorTim for bringing religion into this argument are the same that say gay marriage is wrong because the Bible says so. Or, Trisha, weren’t you going on on a different post about how Muslims are wrong and Christians are right? Hypocrite much?