US

SC Lawmaker: Hispanics Work Harder than Whites and Blacks

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP/The Blaze) – An African-American lawmaker in South Carolina said Tuesday that stricter illegal immigration laws would hurt the state because blacks and whites don’t work as hard as Hispanics.  State Sen. Robert Ford made his remarks during a Senate committee debate over an Arizona-style immigration law, eliciting a smattering of nervous laughter in the chamber after he said “brothers” don’t work as hard as Mexicans. He continued that his “blue-eyed brothers” don’t either.

Once his ancestors were freed from slavery, he said, they didn’t want to do any more hard work, so they were replaced by Chinese and Japanese.

“We need these workers here. A lot of people aren’t going to do certain type of work in this country,” said Ford, D-Charleston. “The brothers are going to find ways to take a break. Ever since this country was built, we’ve had somebody do the work for us.”

He recalled to senators that four workers in the country illegally showed up on his lawn and finished mowing, edging and other work in 30 minutes that would take others much longer, and only wanted $10 for the job. He went on to say he recommended the workers to his neighbors, and one local lawn care businessman lost work — a story one senator remarked was hurting, not helping, his case.

The executive director of the state GOP called on Ford to apologize.  “It’s abhorrent and incredibly offensive that any elected official would make comments this racist,” said executive director Joel Sawyer.

Ford, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination last year, said he’d apologize, but he doesn’t know what for, or what it would change.

Through the generations, whenever one immigrant group becomes “Americanized,” they stop working hard, he said.  “Black guys and white guys are going to get out there and do the hard work? No. I’m for America, and America’s a country of immigrants,” Ford said later when reached on his cell phone. “Everybody in America finds ways to take a break.”

To his critics, he said, “They’re taking life too serious. My advice is for them to get a life and to learn American history.”

The state NAACP leader called Ford’s wording unfortunate, and that Ford should have spoken in the larger context from the start, rather than further stereotypes.  “All human beings that I know of share both positive and negative traits,” said Lonnie Randolph with the South Carolina chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “All individuals share the same shortcomings.”

Ford’s comments came during debate on a proposal of a measure similar to one in Arizona that directs officers during a traffic stop or something similar to check the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. Producing a valid driver’s license, passport or military ID would satisfy the query.

South Carolina’s bill differs in that it directs local law enforcement to call Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to alert them. If ICE agents don’t respond, the suspect has the right to a bond hearing.

Comments (119)

1 2 3 4
  • OneFootRandy
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 5:28am

    Everything in life is perspective, and he is talking from his. What he is saying is that HE is lazy and doesnt want to do work, and based on his girth, and profession I believe him.

    Report Post »  
  • ginger100
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 5:25am

    This guy knows what he is talking about, but only he could say it because if he were white he would have been drummed out of office by anderson, rachel, meka, whoopie….

    Report Post » ginger100  
    • hud
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 11:34am

      Obummer’s grandfather, Owango, said basically the same thing, and hit the jackpot. Obummer never talked to him again.

      Report Post »  
  • FlowerBell
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 3:53am

    So this one, individual mental-giant speaks for entire nationalities of people?
    Our government is literally infected with narcissists.

    Report Post » FlowerBell  
  • KICKILLEGALSOUT
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 3:44am

    Let me explain to these Commies in congress who leech off the taxpayer and don’t understand what it is like for real Americans.

    For example the plight of the construction contractor. If an American wants to do construction work he needs to get a contractors license which costs money, then he needs to pay all kinds of fees to set up a business with the local government to get the name and register the business etc. Then the contractor must pay taxes and also has to pay insurance for his employees if he has a big crew. Now is this the law? Is this the way the government wants and requires Americans to do business? Yes of course because it is these taxes and fee‘s that go to paying these leeches and traitors who think they know something when they don’t. Of course to be able to make some sort of a profit their services are going to be more expensive because they must pay all the taxes, fees, and insurance. But then the illegals come along. They don’t pay taxes, they don’t pay fees, they don’t pay insurance to the workers and the Liberals cheer them along for working “cheaper” than Americans. Well you know what ********? If Americans across the country did the same we could also charge less to do the work. But what would happen in return? The workers would not have insurance if they get hurt, the local government would receive no taxes, Boo Hoo we can’t pay your big luxury salary anymore and the contractor lives outside of the law with his work. So who is this good for? These lawmakers set the stage for lawlessness and have no regard for right or commonsense. Who knows if things get to crazy I may just do the same one day, at least I can keep all the money I earn. Why should I give huge portions of my paycheck to the government when they are just funding terrorists, sending it overseas, giving it to illegals, and wasting it on welfare, and paying for these traitors to live a life of luxury. Maybe I will stop one day and keep my pay to myself and boycott the government and their nonstop invasion of my paycheck through taxes I shouldn‘t even have to pay because they can’t stop handing it out to the whole world. These crooks and traitors in office they are everything that is wrong with America and will be the one’s who lead us into destruction. All I can say is if that day comes we know the names, we know who is to blame, and we know where to make our first visit to meet them and thank them personally!

    Report Post » KICKILLEGALSOUT  
  • zychology
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 3:10am

    If half of the farm workers picking crops are illegal aliens then what does that mean about the other half of the people doing the work? According to this SC politician, it means that the other half are U.S. citizens and too Americanized for the jobs they hold. With his brilliant assessment we can fire half of the farm workers now!

    Report Post »  
  • hillbillyinny
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:48am

    Get rid of the handouts and maybe we’ll all work a little harder–or was that, as we should!

    Report Post »  
  • NoName22
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:41am

    Hahaha, gotta say I like this guy. At least he called both white and black people lazy. Now granted, it’s a stereotype, but nonetheless equally applied.

    I’ve worked for a woman who emigrated from Honduras and is doing quite well, two of her children are on their way to higher education, she went through the legal tangle. But she helped someone who was having citizenship issues and I remember her telling me that she always liked him because he enjoyed working hard. Often times, they would finish their days early. She worked hard too, never ever slow about anything.

    But the Senator is not completely incorrect in his statement. My uncle used to run an orange grove in Florida and needed labor. There were plenty of black American men whom he would have hired, but they didn’t want to do the work. So is my uncle supposed to let his business fold? Nah, he went and got some Mexicans to help him, because they would do the work.

    If citizens don’t want these people coming here illegally looking for work, we have to be willing as a country to do the work ourselves. The welfare state doesn‘t help that’s for sure. Not trying to pass judgement (except on the welfare state) or reinforce stereotypes, just sharing my experiences.

    Report Post »  
    • gullah
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 3:53pm

      noname, I hope your uncle did the right thing and brought Mexicans here on an agriculture visa? We offered unlimited agriculture visas, so there would be NO reason for your uncle to break the law.

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:17am

    State Senator Robert Ford lives in Charleston, SC.
    Personal Information
    Developer
    Residing at P.O. Box 21302, Charleston
    Born December 26, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana
    Attended Grambling State University and Wayne State University
    Single
    Member, SCLC Staff, 1966-72
    Arrested 73 times during civil rights movement
    Harvey Gantt Triumphant Award, 1991
    Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Physical Therapy Association, 1994
    Who’s Who Among Black Elected Officials
    Who’s Who Among American Politicians and Statesmen
    Senate Corrections & Penology Committee
    Senate Judiciary Committee
    Senate Labor, Commerce & Industry Committee
    Senate Banking & Insurance Committee
    Senate Rules Committee
    South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus
    Chairman, Civil Rights and Affirmative Action Committee
    Member, United Methodist Church

    And hires illegal aliens!!!

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:34am

      And hires illegal aliens!!!
      —
      According to his own words, he not only hires illegals, he pimps them out to other people too

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • komponist-ZAH
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 4:38am

      He lives in a post office box? ;)

      Report Post »  
    • streetrodder
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 7:49am

      It sounds like he has never worked a day in his life. He would know.

      Report Post »  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 11:53am

      Meg Whitman? Mitt Romney? Come on people, show some consistency.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
  • Grandpa's Attic
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:16am

    I don’t know how it is in SC, but I had a fella deliver lumber to yme today. Guess what? he worked his behind off unloading rack after rack of lumber.

    He was a 54 year old white fella who was working hard as any man I know. He was happy to be doing his job too, he said to me “just glad to be living! I like to be able to call my own shots.” He said “I am not a millionaire but at one point in my life I had money and a great business. I lost it all, but I learned so much that I can be happy to get by and to be living.” He followed with a, “its what I was dealt, these are tough times for everybody”.

    I was impressed by this man today as he delivered all his work and cut all his own wood and followed it from the lumber stacks to the customer. Why? because he enjoyed what he was doing even though he lost it all and had to start from square one again at 54!!

    So when a man who sits in a big chair on some fancy floor of some place talk about how people are lazy is just wrong in so many ways as he just subverted to the idea of labeling all these people including the fella I met today..

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:03am

    Now how did this guy get off the government plantation? Having run a successful business for 25 years, and being a White person by birth, I did everything possible to advance myself and those that I loved. “Just do it” is an excellent motto to have. I cleaned toilets in the beginning, because there wasn’t anyone else to do it. When I could afford it, I paid others to clean the toilets. That’s called success.

    Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:46am

    @jds7171
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:20am
    This guy is a racist.
    ———————–
    JDS, this guy is either a racist or stupid. Or both. You can’t fix stupid, though.

    State Sen. Robert Ford said, “Once his ancestors were freed from slavery, he said, they didn’t want to do any more hard work, so they were replaced by Chinese and Japanese.”

    Do you mean to tell me, Meredith Jessup, that this collectivist dude is saying, with unemployment being a major burden on taxpayers for benefits, that we should not enforce immigration laws because people are too lazy to work?

    And then he digs a deeper hold by admitting that as a civil servant, he has knowingly employed illegal aliens! The story reads, “He recalled to senators that four workers in the country illegally showed up on his lawn and finished mowing, edging and other work in 30 minutes that would take others much longer, and only wanted $10 for the job. He went on to say he recommended the workers to his neighbors, and one local lawn care businessman lost work — a story one senator remarked was hurting, not helping, his case.”

    Glory be!!! As I said, you can’t fix stupid!

    (Wonder where in South Carolina he is from? I used to live in South Carolina.)

    Report Post » Showtime  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:44am

    He recalled to senators that four workers in the country illegally showed up on his lawn and finished mowing, edging and other work in 30 minutes that would take others much longer, and only wanted $10 for the job. He went on to say he recommended the workers to his neighbors, and one local lawn care businessman lost work
    ——
    So he knowingly hire illegals ?

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:42am

    So how many illegals are on welfare in his state ?
    What is the %age of illegals that work ?
    What is the %age of illegals that don’t work but have drug and gang convictions ?
    What is the %age of illegals who are convicted felons / pedophiles in his state?
    Lets get some answers because this idiot is trying to push the cr@p that illegals come here to work and our country will collapse if illegals don’t do what they do.
    Remember “ immigrant” is libberish for illegals .
    This racist is articulating laraza’s push for amnesty and trying to be cute about it.

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • Grandpa's Attic
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:37am

    Dear Rep. Ford of the Great State of South Carolina,

    Only time will tell as to your proclamation, sir.. Keep up with the racist rants…Those only show your true form of feelings. So now you are moving past just being blatantly racist, but now we are attacking eye color as well? Wow, I have seen quite a lot over the years but this is pretty bad. Given the circumstances to your position, I probably would have held back this racially charged OPINION of people.

    Knowing majority of your constituents are White, Black and many have so called eye colors they probably are going to feel pretty insulted on this one. Not a real choice of wording unless that is your intention to insult into labor. That might work, IF that is the intention, but I think you just sacrificed quite a lot for that.

    It depends on your definition of work, physical work of manual labor, sure you might have something there as we have moved into this digital age of endless paperwork, digital screens, that make work of anything else but manual labor, easier.

    Just to remind you, this great nation was started and built on the backs of many races and creeds there where Blacks, Whites, Browns, Reds, and many others. There where also Blue Eyed, Brown Eyed, Green Eyed, Gray Eyed people in this as well. So to segregate one group just to do it, and to do it in a state legislature, is just wrong. I thought we moved pass this or are you taking one step forward and two steps back..

    Either way right now Robert Ford appears to be a racist.

    Report Post »  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:35am

    Not true. I’m damned lazy when I want.
    What kind of racial profiling is this. I’m outraged. I am contacting the ACLU. I am offended. I am emotionally affected and demand compensation from this racist.

    Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • beckwill
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 4:38am

      Indeed! My psyche has been irreparably damaged. Only a large cash settlement will help and I’ll probably still have continuing doubts and work ethic issues.

      Report Post »  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:35am

    I bet Al Sharpton is on his way to N.C. right now to lead demonstrations and calling for his resignation. Oh wait , this guy is black and he can say that and get away with it and saying it about whites is alright .

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
  • Ray2447
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:32am

    Racist.

    Report Post »  
    • awizard
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 10:47am

      “It’s abhorrent and incredibly offensive that any elected official would make comments this racist,” said executive director Joel Sawyer.

      Report Post » awizard  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:31am

    Use to men had to work hard didn’t matter what race you were. Then came along the UNIONS. This guy has no inkling as to what work is as do most AMERICANS. No one wants to work hard, because if they did then what would they need machines for? Mexicans don’t want to work hard either, and when they can they will slow down. They only work hard when you stay on them to get the work done just as with anyone else.
    I worked and tried to do more than they next person so that I could come back the next day and do it all over again. This guy has no clue as to what he is talking about.

    Report Post »  
  • I SPY
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:31am

    Yeah, don‘t enforce American laws because we don’t want to work. Let the illegals do it. So what if they drink and drive to get here and the crime stats sky rocket along with the deficit to pay for the out of control birth habits of Hispanics. None of us care about our neighbors anymore anyway. Rob us blind, take what we have left, take it all. We’ll just mosey on somewhere else and turn their country into a super power. HELLO, CONGO, we bring space rockets, computers, technology and medicine!!

    Report Post » I SPY  
  • davecoolworld
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:27am

    They are always name calling. Definitely not racist though…right? Double standard, double talk and double cross.
    I was a paper boy, a dish washer, a window washer, swept floors, cleaned toilets etc. I have 4 businesses and would not ask anyone who works for me to do anything I wouldn’t. That guy is just a fat, LAZY, racist.

    Report Post » davecoolworld  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:27am

    Maybe this is why Joe Kennedy is doing the pro Hugo Chavez ads because they work harder .Or is this all just the socialist mentality in practical use but in the open for a change.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
    • TrueGrit
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 8:41am

      Haven’t said anything in awhile BUT…the Joe Kennedy thing really gets me upset!
      He is promoting the ‘good will’ of a dictator and country that has sworn to destroy
      the USA.

      Chavez is sending insurgents over the border.
      Chavez is bring missiles into the region… medium range.
      Chavez is funding terrorist groups in South America.
      Chavez the owner of CITCO…….!!!!!!

      Why do we even allow a declared enemy foreign government to own retail businesses here
      when the funds go to undermining our system and freedoms?
      Chavez gives free oil, a Kennedy promotes the company…????
      This is ridiculous.

      Why doesn’t Schumer, Weiner, Frank, etc. get oil to these people on Obama’s
      good will to all- share the weath- programs instead of a communist dictator.

      I was involved with JFK, RFK way way back.
      They would be sick to their stomach over this. Teddy- maybe not.

      Wolverine

      Report Post »  
  • joseph Fawcett
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:23am

    I have seen a lot of Hispanics work and some of them work harder than most people I know and some don’t. I also live out west and live amoung ranchers and they work incredably hard too. They happen to be white. When I lived in Chicago I knew and employed some blacks too, they were willing to work hard and do an incredable job. It is not the race that makes a person a better or harder worker. It is the person and the value system they grow up with and their personal desire to work. This is just a ploy to open our boarders and allow everyone to come in. If they got rid of the illegals and got rid of welfare and extended unemployment then I bet we would see Americans take the jobs they don’t want to do now. If we got the goverment to do it’s job of protecting our boraders and quit trying to make us dependant upon it, then we would see so much go right in this country. Too bad the goverment cannot see that. Too bad a big enough majority of Americans can’t see that either.

    http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist

    Report Post » joseph Fawcett  
    • Showtime
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:56am

      I’ve been told more than once that non-union workers work harder and better than union workers. So, it’s not the color of their skin; it is the values and commitment they hold. And, for all that example of a vacuum brain knows, those illegals could have cut his lawn for $10 and CASED THE JOINT! Why didn’t he cut his own grass? Because he was too sorry to do it. He’d rather get something for nothing, just as all the rest of the Leftists feel they’re entitled to.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • Showtime
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:58am

      Mr. Fawcett, could you tell I am internationally pissed off?

      Report Post » Showtime  
  • jds7171
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:20am

    This guy is a racist.

    Report Post »  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:17am

    The NAACP calls it unfortunate i call a spade a spade it is racist.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
  • davecoolworld
    Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:17am

    Ummm….no comment necessary. This man HOPEFULLY talked himself out of a job.
    West/Rubio 2012

    Report Post » davecoolworld  
    • TennesseeConservative
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 7:00am

      The truth is He only wanted to pay $10 to get his lawn cut. Not $50. 3 for 10 or 1 for 50. These people work cheap because they have no choice.Work cheap or die, what part of illegal do you not understand.
      Do not confuse the fruits of being a citizen, with being a fugitive who has no choice.

      So this politician put his own neighbor out of work, and hired illegals. That is one reason I left SC to come back home. Another reason was Clyburn. Hey Alvin Green got 350,000 votes. Need I say more.

      Report Post » TennesseeConservative  
    • colascguy
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 9:30am

      TennesseeConservative From SC here and I could not agree more. Clyburn is on WVOC often and I am just shocked people vote for him

      Report Post »  
    • TEIN
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 10:24am

      That was $10 under the table…which would equal $30+ if all taxes, worker comp, insurance,..etc. was being paid. And from what I’ve seen of these “hard workers” is once the money is made….SIESTA TIME!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista Mace
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 11:02am

      This dude is smoking crack.

      Is this a black man saying that hispanics work harder than blacks?

      Weren’t blacks brought here by force against their will and forced into slave labor…then refused, and still refuse to do hard physical labor without reasonable wages?

      The same types of jobs that blacks refused to do without reasonable wages, or at least A WAGE, the desperate hispanics being driven here by their corrupt government and cartels are willing to be exploited this way, which undermines the ENTIRE EFFORT that blacks have fought for equality.

      Their struggle is NOT synonymous with ours, and no real comparisons can be made to corroborate these ridiculous claims people come up with.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • hud
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 11:37am

      Hey, know the truth and it will set you free It’s about time some black spewed some truth after 45 yrs of BS

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista Mace
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 12:23pm

      The truth is HUD, most of the hispanics that are here working illegally are undermining the entire effort blacks fought for for real wages.

      Nobody forced them to come here and be exploited, their own government is utterly corrupt.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • jjufon
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 12:44pm

      davidcoolworld: why is your flag upside down???

      Report Post »  
    • Navyveteran
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 1:05pm

      I could be wrong, but didn’t this moron actually confess to a crime? I thought it was illegal to hire illegal aliens for any job.

      Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:02pm

      The only way this MORON can get anyone to listen to him is to say something STUPID! What a turd …

      Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on February 10, 2011 at 2:26pm

      As long as we have these turds in our country, we will have to listen to this crap. It will never end.
      Racism will always be with us, because these turds keep on fueling the fires.

      Report Post »  
    • davecoolworld
      Posted on February 11, 2011 at 12:25am

      JJUFON…..I display my flag upside down because we are in great peril. It is only acceptable to display OUR Flag this way as a sign of severe distress. I will return OUR Flag to it’s “glory” when OUR Union is no longer in jeopardy.

      Report Post » davecoolworld  
1 2 3 4

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love