CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Dec. 5, 2007 – 4:42 p.m.
Angry Hispanic Democrats Confront House Leaders
Tensions between Hispanic Democrats and House leaders exploded Friday when a bloc of Hispanic lawmakers voted to derail a major tax bill, relenting only after an angry confrontation on the floor with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md.
The rebellion was a response to votes by 36 Democrats Thursday night in favor of a non-binding Republican motion Hispanic members called offensive. It instructed House conferees on an appropriations bill to accept a Senate-passed provision prohibiting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from suing employers over certain English-speaking requirements.
That motion was the latest in a series of immigration- and language-related votes that Republicans have used to splinter Democrats, some of whom are nervous about GOP attack ads that could portray them as “soft” on illegal immigration.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said Thursday night’s vote was their breaking point. They retaliated by initially voting against the rule allowing debate of the tax bill, very nearly sinking the measure and prompting a fiery exchange on the floor.
Hoyer was toe-to-toe with the much shorter Joe Baca , D-Calif., chairman of the Hispanic caucus. According to one Hispanic Democrat, Hoyer jabbed his finger at Baca and yelled, “How dare you destroy this party? This will be the worst loss in 10 years.”
That same Hispanic lawmaker reported that Pelosi said, “You see this on the board? This is against me, this is against me personally.”
The Hoyer and Pelosi comments were part of private conversations, not audible in the press gallery above the chamber or captured by C-SPAN microphones.
Ultimately, enough members of the Hispanic caucus switched their votes to ensure adoption of the rule. They said they had made their point.
But it was clear there would be plenty more discussions in the future.
Comments
The article says....."that could portray the democrats as being "soft" on illegal immigration... That COULD portray them as "soft". Are we playing head games now?? THEY ARE SOFT ON ILLGELL IMMIGRATION. They(the democrats) are robbing American taxpayers blind with their advocacy of social services and the rest for illegal aliens. GIVE ME A BREAK. They are in bed with El Presidente Bush on illegal immigration--ALL THE WAY.
The problem with the Democratic Hispanic Caucus is they are racists. They want to maintain the current 10 to 1 advantage for Hispanic immigrants vs. non-Hispanic immigrants. If the Democratic Party in general keeps supporting this they are going to lose big time.
Democrats are a joke to immigration as well as the Republicans. Both parties feel they are above the American people and have to realize that this issue alone is Americas number one concern even over the war on terror; how can wee have a war on terror while we are leaving the back door open. America will not tolerate their undermining of the American people. Americans will up rise before we allow our treasonous representatives to sell us out.
Hispanics stopping US Law Makers from getting what they want. This has gone far beyond Demacrazy's and Republicans. This is about AMERICA. It is time for "WE THE PEOPLE" to go in the right direction for what the Founding Fathers wanted for this country, not for what the extme left want. I am sick of all of this BS. I am saying it is time to not let the media and other sources tell you who to vote for. The only reason Ron Paul is not leading in any pols is because the "powers" that be do not want you to vote for him. Look him up! He wants the troops home, and not only from Iraq. People it is time for us to come together, or fall as a whole. Don't let big business tell you who is going to be President. Don't vote by party line. The Repubs are for the rich, the loony left is for the poor. There are a lot more of us in the middle. VOTE FOR RON PAUL. He will make the USA, the USA AGAIN!!!!
What's in a name, a lot really, especially if it is the "Congressional Hispanic Caucus," Who's betting that 1) they don't want their illegal supporters to have to speak English, the language of the country, 2) or respect our laws & border, as Americans respect their's, 3) or allow that Americans already have a culture and don't want to Latinize our culture.
As a legal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, a US Navy Veteran, and licensed Social Worker of 40 years, the claims, the retoric and the blind support of illegal immigration is pure insanity, it's self destructive, and it willl equal in damage to the actions that caused the fall of the Roman Empire ,and the decline of great nations throughout history. A nation cannot survive without secure borders, common language and common culture, as persons wiser than I have noted. Another quote: "Democracies are not murdered. They commit suicide." Those of you whose hatred & blind allegiance to ideology, instead of to truth, impels you to act against your National interests, you will watch the destruction you have helped to create, and you will blame others for your stupidity. Good luck, Estupidos....Frank...
There is a one word solution for the illegal problem, it makes everyone LEGAL and DOCUMENTED: DEPORTATION. It also unites families back home and keeps kids out of harms way. If we need workers there is a legal way to get them already. DIVERSITY is the reason we are having these problems. Minorities rule everything even CHRISTMAS is banned by a minority. How can we allow this go one on? DEPORTATION levels the playing field, allows legals that have been waiting to come in and promotes self-deportation. How can we go after employer for hiring illegals when we don't IMPEACH Jorge Bush for the "illegals invasion"? Any police chief that looks the other way while a crime is going on gets jailed or fired. El Presidente Bush has been looking the other way while we get invaded. We don't need another useless law....ENFORCE EXISTING LAW. NO AMNESTY no way...amnesty is amNASTY. DEPORT THEM ALL....I'll agree to a tax increase for that purpose. GOD BLESS THE USA and help us open our eyes and help us support what made us great....EQUALITY not STUPIDITY. TIME for a new REVOLUTION.
I love to watch the Demicrats eat their own ... well, okay, toss in the Republicrats, too ... there's not enough difference between 'em so that it's noticeable anymore ... it's all about the power, money and control ... anyone who believes there are 'noble' motives at work, well, I got a buncha bridges and some desert land just waitin' on a buyer ...
Pelosi needs psychiatric help, more than Howard Dean. I would recommend Xanax, what a nut case. Dems ARE soft on illegal immigration, hard up for votes for their failed policies(9th ward New Orleans comes to mind as the Dems "model" for their socialist policies), what a dismal failure. Government gonna take care of you? P.T. Barnum was right... When the hell are we going to get leaders that do what WE want them to, which is their job? TERM LIMITS is the only answer... Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy solidify this argument, just to start...
Nanci P. is the reason my whole family has Officially switched to Independent Party. She is trying to bring San Fransicko values to our Country. The catering that the Congress are trying to make for Illegals who don't belong in our Country took us to the extreme. There are another 6 votes they can't count on. Manny
The Democratic Party today is not the Democratic Party of our parents. We are dealing with socialists and communists pure and simple. Everything they do hurts america. Why do you think Al Queida wants them to win.
I think the following question should be asked of every politician running for office: Will you submit , endorse and support legislation that will deny any benefits provided by both state and federal government to individuals who cannot prove they are legal citizens of this country, yes or no? A politically correct explanation should be considered a no answer. If we deny them benefits many will go home.
Mr. Frank Ramirez, thank you for your service to our country. I hope your children share your views and opinions. You are a true American, I hope that someday, my family and I have the oppurtunity to elect a person with your views and opinions to the Oval Office. God Bless you!
"Hispanic Caucus" The name itself implies a special need to be recognized by race. I'm an American. Nothing more, Nothing less. First and Foremost. All other AMERICANs should feel the same way. I'm disgusted by both the Dems and Repubs for their lack of Immigration enforcement.
THE DEMS are finally beginning to see how anti-American many of the Hispanics in gov't truly are. These are people who DO NOT put the interest of the United States first. THE ISSUE here was one of language. They felt that if an employer says, "hey, you need to be able to speak English on the job," then the employee should be able to sue. Can you imagine not being able to communicate to an employee in a time of need? Whether you need a refill or a call to 911, we need to be able to communicate. Hopefully the Dems will wake up.
The liberal elites democrats and republicans need to be dragged out of office and replaced by people that will do the right job
In this age of political correctness, diversity, and multiculturism, an official language is not a non-issue . Pressing for english as an official langauge is a not unexpected escalation in the battle between the left and the right over what this nation is about. The left (the EEOC) drew first blood, in the case of the Salvation Army. See englishfirst.org for background. Then donate to the Salvation Army.
I'm a liberal Democrat, but that fact does not make me a fool! I would, however, have to be a fool to believe that amnesty for 12-20 million illegal aliens is a good thing for US working families. Knowing that, I would have to be an even bigger fool to vote for any candidate, Democratic or Republican, who supports amnesty, or who refuses to impose increasingly harsh penalties against anyone who hires an illegal alien. Although I'm a Democrat and want to support my party, I cannot see how I win anything by voting for Democratic candidates who pursue policies that injure my family and the families of other working US citizens. The party should be working for us, US citizens, not corporations and illegal aliens. Flooding the labor pool with millions of workers is not a progressive value; it is a corporate value! The Democratic Party leadership has yet to tell us what is so special about today's 12-20 million illegal aliens that current law should not apply to them. Instead of telling us that or how US citizens would benefit from granting them amnesty, party leaders give us childish and irrelevant slogans. We are a nation of immigrants, or they only take the jobs that US citizens will not do, or there are too many to deport, or you are a racist if you oppose amnesty, etc., etc., etc. Party leaders treat us like they are used car salesmen trying to unload a pile of junk at an exorbitant price. Party leaders also fail to tell us the clearly foreseeable consequences of granting amnesty to so many illegal aliens. One foreseeable consequence is astronomical costs! We know that today illegal aliens cost us100s of billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs, and those numbers will turn into trillions of dollars should amnesty be granted. Who does the Party leadership say will pay these costs? Of course they never discuss costs much less who will pay for them; but you know as well as I do that it will not be those who benefit from the flood illegal alien workers. It will be working class US citizens who will pay them through higher taxes or reduced benefits, or most likely a combination of both.
Are there any Hispanics who support our laws? These racially-separatist caucuses are a disgrace. Instead of representing Americans, they only have interest in supporty their own ethnic group. Shame on thiese racists. Throw the bums out and ban their advocats...MALDEF, LULAC and mucho mas..
When in God's name will the Congress and Senate begin working on behalf of American citizens? Not the fat cat, big business robber barons which get all the gravy now,,, but the American people who shoulder the weight of every ill conceived piece of legislation these dim wits come up with.
There are a number of factors that must be adhered to if a country is going to survive; a. A common languange is a requirement. History has shown that any nation that did not have a common languange was doomed. Austria-Hungary; Russia; Napolian France; China realized this and eliminated some one hundred forty ethinc groups that spoke a languange other than Manderiran or Go. b. a single flag The immigrants (legal & illegal) tend to display the flag of their home country although they reside within the borders of the United States. Flags reprenting Mexico, Hondurus, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and othe centraol and south American countries should never be displayed in public at meetings for ANY reason. This is the United States of America and we serve under ONE flag! Duel citizenship is not allowed! One is either an American Citizen or a citizen of another country. Mexico may recognize duel citizenship but the United States does not! c. Repect and obidience to the Federal and Stae Laws. Those that fail to obey our laws should be arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to a prision term. In abayence of the prison term they may be deported and in the event they return they would then be incarcerated, without hope of parole and when their sentence is completed thay would then be deported again. If they ever return again they will immediately be sentneced to prision for thirty years without any hope of parole and deportaton anr the end of that sentence. This should apply to ALL illegal immigrants, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, African, Central American, Mexico and South American.
The idea that illegal immigration is new is ludicrous. People have been coming from Mexico for 100's of years..."Illegally"!!!! Fortunately, or not 100's have done it legally. I personally know people who are here from Mexico and are decent, hard working people. The difference is, they are LEGAL!!! I'm not sure where the confusion is, except that our lawmakers seem to be more concerned with every bleeding heart organization than the well being of the "REAL" American people...those whom are legal. One thing we are overlooking are the folks with prorperty along the Mexican border. Ranchers see these people come through their property almost everyday and CAN'T do a thing about it. In any other country, given the numbers coming across, that would be considered an invasion and everyone with a weapon would be out there protecting what is theirs. NOT HERE!!!! While we have fellow Americans along the border being invaded by a foreign country we have "RICH" (do the research and see where our leadership comes from) politicians from both sides trying to decide what else WE, as in YOU AND I are going to do for them...at OUR EXPENSE!!!! What will your Social Security check look like? As for me, I have two more years with DHS until I can retire. At that time I will take my scrawny butt to the Mexican border and do all in my power to protect this country from the invaders. In the meantime I will do everything I can to make sure Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the others know how I feel about their LACK of action on my behalf. I AM AN AMERICAN!!!
The real problem is the lack of enforcement of EXISTING laws. There is no real issue here. The GOP's stance is to punish the illegal immigrant, but the true focus should be on punishing the employer of that illegal immigrant. Since the GOP is in bed with big business, they won't ever do that because Wal-Mart needs its eastern european cleaning ladies and Tyson Chicken needs its mexican chicken processing workers. So lets once and for all jettison this silly false controversy. Enforce existing laws, end of story.
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