By now I am sure most of us have heard about Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s unprecedented speech before Congress. No, the idea of a foreign leader or dignitary giving a speech to Congress isn’t unheard of, but the content of Calderon’s speech crosses a line, in my opinion. This speech and the response by some members of Congress to his remarks about the Arizona immigration law, ie. a standing ovation, is being discussed and probably even cussed across the Internet. Steve Dennis at America’s Watchtower has the video of the standing ovation and John Carey at The Current has a video of CNN’s Jack Cafferty strong response to Calderon’s speech. I could possibly do without posting my own thoughts, but since I have been steaming about it since it happened, here goes nothing.
Honestly, the gall Calderon shows by trying to lecture America or Arizona on our immigration policy is trumped only by the disrespect it shows. It is is prerogative to disagree with American policy, but he does not have the right to do so on American soil, much less in front of our Congress. Concurrently, it feels like a knife stab in the back to see some members of our Congress give him a standing ovation for doing just that. Doing so goes far beyond mere disagreement over the Arizona law. I do not know the breakdown of the ovation, if it was only Democrats or if some Republicans joined in the show of support, but their names should be carved in stone and remembered in November.
Can you imagine what would happen if President Obama or a member of Congress were to go to Mexico or any other foreign country and give them a lecture on a policy our country disagrees with? The outcry would be instant and unabated. America would be bashed for interfering with another country’s domestic policy and apologies would be demanded. Why does Felipe Calderon get a different treatment and why do some members of Congress insist on groveling at his feet, instead of standing up for our own. It used to be that picking on one of us stirred up the ire of the rest of the country, but sadly, that appears to have changed.
Strong words, you say? Maybe they are, but something like this really gets under my skin. Calderon has already made his feelings about the Arizona law known in his own country, as is his right. However, when you look at Mexico’s immigration policy and that of America, if it were to be actually enforced, there is much difference. Mexico’s policy does not reflect what Calderon says he would like to see in American policy. That is the height of hypocrisy and President Calderon and his country needs to be called on the carpet for it.
Not every member of Congress is toeing the line and showing their support for the Mexican President. Representative Tom McClintock of California has let his displeasure be known and quite eloquently, I might add. Not only does he chastise Calderon for his speech, he also does a great job of explaining how American immigration policy is supposed to work. The video is short and sweet, so take about five minutes and see what McClintock has to say. It’s a great response to what happened yesterday in Congress and our entire country would do well to take it to heart. If we did so, there would be less division over immigration and more Americans in America.
Nice post Larry. It gets under my skin as well. I was telling Matt from Conservative Hideout that I feel that this was a defining moment for the Democratic Party. I was listening to a conservative radio talk show shortly after the speech and I heard a number of Democrats call in and express how disgusted they were. Some even said they were done with their party.
I don’t believe the Democrats in Congress realize how appalling their actions were and how they were viewed by the American people. This is going to cost them for many years to come. They seem to be on the wrong side of history and the American people are starting to see this.
.-= John Carey´s last blog ..Jack Cafferty Hammers Calderon and the Obama Administration on Arizona Immigration Law =-.
Thanks for the link Larry, I have made my feelings well known on this issue, I still can’t believe that members of congress stood up and cheered a foreign leader for bashing the United States. I can’t wrap my arms around that thought. As for the breakdown, when the ocation begins it seems to me that there are people on both sides of the aisle who stand up so I am not willing to give Republicans a pass either.
Dominique posted this video in her comment to my post and I have to say, this is great! He stood up and stated what everyone in congress should have been thinking. I am glad to know that there are some in congress who feel the same way that we do, it doesn’t always seem that way.
He should have been escorted out of the Hall, put on a plane and sent back where he came from and told to butt out and stay out. I received an email the other day that sums this up pretty well. Here is the context of that email:
LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET
A JOB,
A DRIVERS LICENSE,
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
WELFARE,
FOOD STAMPS,
CREDIT CARDS,
SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
FREE EDUCATION,
FREE HEALTH CARE,
A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY’S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH RESPECT
AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN VOTE.
IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!
I think I said over a John’s place that this video will come back to haunt quite a few candidates come November. For me, it was surreal. The more I think about it, the more that I think it is traitorous.
First of all, I’d like to admit that I really haven’t been following the situation and have not had a chance to watch any of the video footage. That said, after reading this entry, I would like to point out that America is built on the notion that we value other people’s ideas. Perhaps it was not the most sophisticated or classy way for Calderon to make a point, but it is a point and it deserves to be heard just as much as any other. I think that simply because he is not an American citizen does not mean that his opinion is less valuable. In fact, because he represents the people who are arguably going to be most affected, I would say that he has more than the right to speak to the US Congress.
As for the standing ovation, I do feel that perhaps that was not the most professional reaction that our elected officials could have engaged in, but can we blame them for getting excited about a rallying cry for political and social justice?
If we refuse to give credence to someone’s speech because he (or she!) is not an American citizen, it’s as if we are ignoring people with different ideas and vantage points. I think we can all use a little refreshment, a change of perspective, and a thorough discussion.
Calderon might not make our laws, but he certainly has every right to say what he thinks about them. That’s the whole point of the United States, after all.
So Calderon, McClintock – engage in a discussion, teach each other, teach your colleagues, teach who you represent. And we ALL will help do the same for you.
First of all, thanks for taking the time to comment on Political Realities, Ainsley. However, I strongly disagree with some of your comment. This has nothing to do with Calderon’s right to voice his disagreement with the Arizona law, which by the way, basically mirrors the federal law. He should voice that disagreement somewhere besides a televised speech before our Congress. Doing so is akin to one of our leaders visiting another country and publicly chastising them for some of their policies. It’s not something we do and our country should be given that same respect, but as has been the case of late, that respect is not forthcoming.
As for the members of Congress and their standing ovation, I can not voice my dislike of that strongly enough. They were not excited about a call for political and social justice, but were rather cheering a foreign leader in his bashing of one of our states. It was completely unappropriate.
This has nothing to do with ignoring other people’s ideas or vantage points. The fact of the matter is this; Calderon could and should be doing more for the citizens of his own country. Instead, he comes to American soil and critizes what we are doing, when it is his own people who are coming to our country illegally and breaking our laws.