Black Dems Claim GOP Attempting to ‘Manufacture Tension’ Between Minorities
- Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:22pm by
Meredith Jessup
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Black lawmakers accused Republicans on Tuesday of trying to “manufacture tension” between African-Americans and immigrants as GOP House members argued in a hearing that more minorities would be working were it not for illegal immigration.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, criticized the hearing’s premise in a statement. Several other Democratic lawmakers echoed that argument, saying Republicans were ignoring their lack of support for job training, affirmative action, college financial aid and other programs more critical to employment of minorities.
“I am concerned by the majority’s attempt to manufacture tension between African-Americans and immigrant communities. It seems as though they would like for our communities to think about immigration in terms of ‘us versus them,’ and I reject that notion,” Cleaver said in his statement.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, issued a warning at the start of the hearing against any attempts to pit blacks against Latino immigrants, a notion that he said he found “so abhorrent and repulsive.”
The Republican takeover of the House has given the GOP the chance to shape the immigration debate this session. Republicans have been couching their immigration agenda in the context of the slumping economy and consistently high unemployment. Tuesday’s hearing by the immigration and enforcement subcommittee was the third focusing on jobs, the economy and immigration enforcement.
Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., the subcommittee’s chairman, argued that the “real victims of the failed immigration policies” are low-skilled legal workers. Gallegly said the topic is often ignored by immigration supporters.
“Our focus should be on ensuring every U.S. citizen American who is willing to work has a job instead of (filling) jobs with foreign laborers,” Gallegly said. Immigrants often compete for jobs with low-income laborers, he said.
Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, pointed out that after Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Georgia Crider Inc., which had 600 jobs filled by people not working in the country legally, the company raised wages $1 an hour and attracted legal workers, primarily black Americans.
“With unemployment at over 9 percent for 21 months, jobs are scarce. And that is especially true in minority communities across the U.S.,” Smith said.
The three witnesses supporting the Republican view at the hearing were Hispanic and black. Lawmakers and witnesses presented their own studies and statistics supporting their positions.
A recent Pew Hispanic Center report found immigrants were returning to work more quickly than native-born workers but earning less than they had before the recession, stoking views among advocates for tough immigration enforcement that jobs held by Americans were being taken by immigrants. Studies indicate that the correlation is not as direct as some would suggest.
On Tuesday, the Economic Policy Institute issued three reports on the low wages of black workers. One report found that the average annual wages of jobs in which black men are overrepresented is $37,005, compared with $50,333 in jobs where they are underrepresented. In another institute study, researcher Patrick Mason found that black immigrant men are not better off in weekly wages than black American men.
Wade Henderson, chairman and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, acknowledged that because of the higher unemployment in their communities, African-Americans fear the immigrant work force will make it harder for them to get jobs.
Henderson said high unemployment among blacks has a wide variety of causes. Unemployment rates for more than 50 years have been almost double what they are for white Americans, he said, even as the population of foreign-born people in the U.S. has increased.
Denial of equal opportunity in education, criminal justice, housing and jobs “continues to contribute more directly to the high unemployment rate that African-Americans endure and not the issue of illegal immigration as has been cited by virtue of this hearing,” Henderson said.
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Comments (58)
jjoy
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 9:56amThe real “race-baiters” in the USA are jessie jackson and al sharpton…
Report Post »matt708
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 9:53amhey racist Black Causus, why do you have to seperate yourselfs as a black causus. STFU you liberal idiot hyprocrites
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:57amThe only race war the Republicans fought was the Civil War when they fought the pro-slavery Democrats.
Report Post »JOE6742
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:53amAs usual, statements made by progressive/liberals are 180 degrees out of context. THEY are the ones who always attempted to create racial and social tensions in order to protect and increase their power base.
When these people spout this garbage, a simple answer should suffice:
I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT WHAT AM I ??
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:41amHere we go with the race card again. As usual from a black or Damocrat. They are all troublemakers. It is a wonder there aren’t race riots in this country. They sure work at it hard enough. Says a lot of good things about the people that ignore this trouble making crap and keep plodding along.
Report Post »jdw2469
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:36amI feared the immigrant work force would make it harder for me to get a job as well! So: I received an Honorable Discharge from the US Marine Corps, graduated from an institute of higher learning with a skill set making myself more marketable, and went out and got my job! IT’S CALLED THE AMERICAN WAY!!!! But………. I guess that makes me an evil, racist white man who stepped on the necks of minorities to obtain the life I have! Shame on any Rep that advocates affirmative action, reverse racism is STILL racism!!!
Report Post »Chasvs391
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:31amNow isn’t this familiar. When a Democrat doesn’t have a valid argument they play the “race” card. Why don‘t they take a close look at their President and see just who’s stirring up racial tensions?
Report Post »Amazingoly
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:15amHere is another idea from the people who fund the treasury, end the Black and Hispanic caucuses in Congress. Not needed. We are all Americans – do not need the divisions. Try it-you just may like it.
Report Post »Rick300
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:04amThere only should be tension between “legal” and “illegals” in America! God bless the immigrants who want to make the United States home by applying for citizenship. It is the illegal immigrants who are taxing our health care and municipal services to the limit in every state of the union.
Let us stop funding the United Nations and use that 50+ billion to secure our own borders and to deport all illegals back to their country of origin. That would open up jobs with higher starting pay due to the fact that there are less available employees and more jobs.
We The People need to STOP all of this infighting between the races and creeds of this great country of ours and we need to start protecting our sovereignty and borders from those who wish to take us apart from within.
Report Post »Repeal10
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:50amMaking a true statement is not manufacturing! A lie is a manipulation or (manufacture)!
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:43amWell they are half-right. The Elites have been doing this for decades. It has nothing to do with parties like Dems or GOP, etc. The people need to wake up and get wise to what the evil is and who is propagating it.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:23amMY God–You mean they may just have to get off their freeloading A**es and work, pay taxes and rent or mortgages like the rest of us? PITIFUL—JUST PITIFUL !
Report Post »zeban48
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:22amPeople don’t get it at all. The Democrats do not want the black people to have good paying jobs. They want them on welfare and low paying jobs so they can keep their votes. They do not want the Tea Party or the Republicans to try and help these people. It has always been the Democrat who are in politics who keeps hollering race so they can keep control of the black people. They are afraid for these people to wake up and see the truth. Why do you think the racist Holder is not saying that going after the Black Pathners demeans “MY People”. They are afraid that the black people are waking up and turning toward the Republicans because every black person I have ever met are die hare Democrats because they have been brain washed to think these are fighting for their rights and the Republicans are fighting to keep them down. The Democrats are running scared that they are losing control of the people. I ask you how many black people do you see in these vidoes of these union thugs. So far I have not seen one . All I see is whites that looking like they just came off the bread line or off the streets.
Report Post »ExpertShot
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 5:19amDenial of equal opportunity in education, criminal justice, housing and jobs “continues to contribute more directly to the high unemployment rate that African-Americans endure and not the issue of illegal immigration as has been cited by virtue of this hearing,” Henderson said.
I’ll break it down in English for everyone:
1. There has been no “denial of equal opportunity” since the 60′s, in fact, a minority now gets preferential treatment (affirmative action)
2. When you have a community who glorifies 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, etc (drop out drug using criminals who just HAPPENED to make it big & not because of talent, cause it doesn’t take much talent to talk a poem) & then vilifies positive role models (such as Bill Cosby, Herman Cain, Condi Rice, etc.) as being “uncle Toms” because they worked hard & acheived something – they are obviously comfortable in their role as the “victim”.
3. Criminal Justice – go back & read point # 2. When you glorify and/or openly accept criminals, what do you expect??
4. Housing and Jobs – When I worked for the state (with the child & adolescent population), I routinely heard “I’m turning 18 next week & my mama is gonna take me so I can get my own welfare”. It’s been taught to the young people “you are a victim, you are owed it from the man”. Until we change the way of thinking in the younger generation (both black & white, cause I heard the welfare statement on both sides), there will always be the entitlement mentality & no motivation to better oneself. The hispanic community (whether here legally or not) are some of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, always trying to better their situation. The youth of today need to take a lesson from them. Just an observation.
Report Post »BlazerBlazer
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:34amToo late… the Black Dems already created tension…
Report Post »jim1flyer
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:18amWhy is there a black caucus? Is that really necessary and tell me what it has done for the benefit of the nation as a whole. Sounds like another group that needs to be disbanded on the grounds of being racist.
Report Post »NICE NICE TACO
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:00amIn my experiences with liberals, they usually try to blame someone else for exactly what they are doing. They are the most dishonest group of people I have ever encountered.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:14amExactly
Report Post »poohbear
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:25pm@ Nice
Just ask them what they’d do to a black conservative, like Clarence Thomas..there answers were the most racist I’ve ever heard and they had no problem saying it either. It‘s ok for a liberal to say such things which is odd to think if you sincerely believe in civil rights and the people’s right to exercise their views. It’s all a means to and end to them..how sad.
Report Post »sarg356
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:43am“willing to work” I’m just saying.
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:34amMaybe they should talk to Holder! God, I dislike these Idiots, please take care of them with your Judgement from above! It sickens me to see these people say these things! I’ve been noticing that the Dems and Progressives are switching everything around to make us look like thugs and evil! Watch, and you’ll see its happening all over!
Report Post »RobR
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:30amRacist ” Democrat Bro – therhood ” are at it ( race baiting ) again.
All one need do is watch an episode or two of COPS or THE FIRST 48, black folks need no help from us white boyz. They’ll kill one another, even they own family members, for a pair of sneakers or the last rib. So let the racist bastards try and blame whitey, they’re lying through they tooth as usual.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:26amWell this shows me that they are paying attention to what we say. Again they accuse us for what they are doing themselves. They seem to spin our comments into theirs. They have no facts to back them up, but they know that we make more sense than they do so they use our comments to not only cover their progressive butts but also sound intelligent. They have the mainstream media to cover their lies and put them on pedistals. Nothing original, nothing truthful, nothing new!
Report Post »Marine Recon Dad
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:15amConsider the source of these pathetic cries. These two individuals, Cleaver and Conyers, are despicable. They are the ones that cry ‘wolf’ at every opportunity, especially when they can find a sympathetic camera lens. When will people WAKE UP and say “You two are the problem!’
Until then, the cancer they spew will continue to spread out. My goodness, people,,,,,,,,,, quit sitting on your brains and use them for a change!
Report Post »duane38637
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:06amUnreal the Dem party has become the party of conflict, spin, and disrupting facts anything said will be used against you to further their Agenda. There is nothing negative about what was stated the real truth is the GOP was trying to help blacks by this statement! Common since if you get rid of illegals blacks will have more jobs available. How anyone can be associated with this warped,lying,brain dead party amazes me I would be embarrassed to be a part.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:48amIf the GOP gave out a box lunch, pack of Newport & a bus ride to the voting booth they would loose their voting base
Report Post »whitefield
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 1:40amThat must be one used up, bedraggled looking race card by now.
Report Post »flyguync
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:01amYeah, good thing they don’t punch it every time like they do on a train.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:22amAnd there‘s isn’t a single Conservative finger print on it. That‘s a Democratic deck that they’ve been using since they went from Slave owners to creating government entitlement slaves.
Report Post »DVT
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 1:30amAhhh the desperation race card again…didnt see that one comin” PFFT!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 1:54amSo the Black demoncr@ps are worried that if what Republicans are planning gets implemented, black Americans will get the jobs which illegals get by deceit, and that would be such a travesty for black Americans, right ?
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 1:56amYep…when the going gets tough the whinning Dems cry racism….sexism….homophobe….whatever. Just can’t deal with reality and the issues at hand.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:02amImmigrants , thats euphemism for ILLEGALS, lets get it straight.
Report Post »Now the article seems soooooooooo different
RepubliCorp
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 2:43amI thought The Charlatan (O’carter) is the great uniter …………
Report Post »Failed
walkwithme1966
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:04amHey its true the GOP is always trying to start race wars, class warfare etc, etc – they have been doing it for years so whats new with this articles – nothing!!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-HF
Report Post »brliantedj
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 3:05amLet’s see we divided the country:
-among race lines
-among age lines
-among party lines
-among worker vs. taxpayer lines
This divide and conquer thing seems to work, who thought of this plan, must’ve been a mathematician.
Report Post »Msg. to left- we know your math.
avenger
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 5:52amboo hooo…..truth bites them in the azs again…
Report Post »BreeZee
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:17amPot calling the kettle black. The “black” Dem’s have beat that racist horse to death. Just like the fabricated rhetoric they claimed at the “kill the HC bill” rally. Is it just me or has the word RACIST lost it’s value due to abused and over use? I for one have had it with the usage of the race card from the left. How do these hypocrites live with themselves? Where were/are these “black” Dem’s in the defence of Justice Thomas of the SCOTUS? Unlike their racist claims against the right we have proof of their racism on tape.
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:32amRep. John Conyers of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, issued a warning at the start of the hearing against any attempts to pit blacks against Latino immigrants, a notion that he said he found “so abhorrent and repulsive”…
So it’s okay for our President to pit Latino “immigrants” against those that believe in the rule of law – “We must punish our enemies” – but it’s not okay to mention the obvious?
Clearly, mass illegal immigration is at the root of most of our problems today. With 25 million Americans either unemployed or under-employed, why are 8 million illegal aliens currently employed?
War on Terror? Potential terrorists slipping through our porous borders. A cleaner environment? Over-population is detrimental to this cause. War on Drugs? Mexican drug cartels continue to smuggle drugs over our southern border with an ever-growing cartel presence in America. Economic recession? Hundred of billions of dollars spent each year supporting illegal aliens in our country.
Why do our political “representatives” continue to turn a blind eye to the ongoing crisis of mass illegal immigration? Why do our members of Congress continue to leave our borders wide open? Fences are okay for the safety and security of our political officials but not for the rest of us?
This is not a matter of “pitting African-Americans against Latino “immigrants”… This is a matter of getting to the root of most of our problems today.
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 7:33amUh WALKWITHME66 You cannot be serious. With ALL the race baiting of Jesse Jackson an Al Not so Sharpton, you are going to try and tell us its the republicans trying to start race wars. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thats rich. You say that like we are all deaf dumb and blind thus preventing us from actually seeing the truth. WOW. I have not once heard a republican cite race as a reason for anything. Not even a nice try by you.
Report Post »Miguelito
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 8:01amAre we tired of the race card yet. Look what this country did to the Native Americans, don’t them using the race card! Time for all people to say, “Yes I can!”
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 8:21amYes, it‘s someone else’s fault.
Report Post »constitutionparty
Posted on March 2, 2011 at 10:10am@walkwithme666
Report Post »Once again you are completely wrong on this issue. Your link does not even reference race relations but gay marriage and abortion. Because someone is against gay marriage or abortion does not make them a racist! Religious freedom for all but Christians? You stand with Islam when they want to stone infidels but a Christian against gay marriage is unforgivable???
Back to this issue at hand….
Democrats have played the race card for years all you have to to is open your eyes and read history. It how they get into power and then lose it later. Without being divisive democrats would not even get into power. Stop getting your info from HufPO. You always put these hit and run attacks on here and when the facts comes out you disappear. Typical Liberal! Afraid of facts and history.