Huffington Post: Biden's Use Of 'Illegal' To Describe Migrants Raises Red Flags For Democrats

[Jose Garcia]

President Joe Biden, briefly responding from the podium to jeering from Republicans during his State of the Union speech called a migrant “an illegal,” prompting criticism from his party’s progressive wing.

“No human being is illegal,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) in a social media post soon afterwards.

In the section of his speech Thursday dealing with immigration policy and the recent failure of a bipartisan bill aiming to secure the border, Biden’s criticism of Republicans for killing the bill drew sharp jeers and boos from the GOP side of the chamber.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shouted, “It’s about Laken Riley!” loudly enough to be heard throughout the chamber — including, apparently, from the podium.

More: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-describing-migrant-as-illegal-draws-fire_n_65eaa2e3e4b0c77c74160140/amp

[mopinko]

1. that's it? they found 1 word?

yeah, i just saw this on fb. c’mon man.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

5. He knows better. It was a slip.

Can we not just admit that? He shouldn't have said it.

[mopinko]

8. in this election, no.

this is no time to nitpick and otherwise important speech.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

11. It's not nitpicking. It's a known problematic phrase to describe people.

And it's OK to talk about it.To not do so seems so much like the Trump cult saying that some horrible thing he said just isn't important. We aren't a cult. We don't have to never say anything remotely negative.

[mopinko]

9. this 'slip' was part of his reply to empty green. it's not like it was in the script.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

12. So it's just something he normally says?

That's not better.

[edisdead]

10. No. It is nit picking stupidity.

Stop nitpicking when we all know his stances.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. This isn't a fucking cult, and he isn't the exalted leader.

He did a fantastic job on this speech. No doubt. He also used a very troubling word that Dems should know is troubling. We can talk about and think both of those things at the same time. It's totally possible.

[GuppyGal]

17. Apparently that is enough for some people. I'm just glad I'm an 'impure' Democrat and my pearls remain intact. nt

[mucifer]

2. Yeah, I didn't like that at all. But, we can't have everything we want. I still donated to the campaign this morning.

[maxrandb]

3. Oh no! Dems in disarray!

I guess they have to find something. Nobody wants to watch a football game where the "mercy rules" need to be implemented in the first quarter.

[LeftInTX]

4. "In the country illegally" is more appropriate, but harder to say. (I heard Joe stutter a few times)

"Undocumented" is better, but some viewers may not have understood it.

However, CFR still refers to them as "aliens".
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325
8 U.S. Code § 1325 - Improper entry by alien

[Happy Hoosier]

20. I actually don't like "undocumented"

It implies that it is simply a paper-work shuffle. Which it is not.

We do require control of our own borders. I am in favor of robust legal immigration, but it does need to have some parameters. Not everyone who shows up at the border is entitled to "documentation."

[dalton99a]

6. That's how many people talk

outside this forum

[Cuthbert Allgood]

14. Well they shouldn't.

That seems like a "locker room talk" response.

[BannonsLiver]

35. AKA the real world

We have some bubble issues here, unfortunately.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. No human being is illegal, and it's OK to remind the president of that.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

15. Right? I don't know why that's problematic.

[Amishman]

24. Their presence here is illegal, I don't understand why we bristle at the term

Time to face it - people entering this country illegally is a big problem.

Chicago alone has spent over $400 million on care for those Texas keeps bussing in. As obnoxious as the Pubs bussing shit is, it is successfully making a point - the volume of people coming in is extremely difficult to cope with logistically and financially.

Yes, we can and need to be more compassionate and humane about how those coming in are treated - but we need to take actions to dramatically reduce the numbers coming in.

Sugar coating it and trying the hide the problem behind friendlier verbage doesn't make the problem go away. It's real, it's big, and it's one of the Pubs more effective attacks routes. Time to face reality and get serious.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

25. Because using "illegal" as a noun dehumanizes them.

[Demsrule86]

31. No it doesn't. Some are in this country illegally...go ahead folks vote for Trump who has promised

mass deportations and basically concentration camps.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

44. ok but are you really being sarcastic or do you actually see "wishing Biden wouldn't use a specific word" and "voting

for Trump" as the same thing. It's hard to tell tbh

[Walleye]

34. OK, migrants stand in line, they fill out forms, they get a court date and parole. Are they still illegal?

[GuppyGal]

16. Just please! And he went on to say that how many are killed by 'legals'? It was a juxtaposition and I don't care nt

[CoopersDad]

18. F the Huffington Post.

That is all.

[Happy Hoosier]

19. Purity.... Police.... Arrest this man....

[MagickMuffin]

21. I cringed when I heard it and thought it was a slip of the tongue

I certainly don’t fault him for it. It was in the heat of the moment. I didn’t get upset but thought this could become an issue. However, Joe delivered a spirited speech and was glad to have been able to watch it.


And I’ll be riding with Biden all the way to Nov!

[Demsrule86]

32. I disagree given the context...and as I said before, let the purity police help Trump get elected.

He has promised mass deportations and basically concentration camps. Some are in this country illegally. It is a fact.

[MagickMuffin]

40. I'm riding with Team Biden till NOVEMBER AND BEYOND

Confused by your response because I stated very clearly my opinion, I thought that his use of the word was cringe worthy, but not a deal maker with me.


So. . . . TEAM BIDEN is where I stand.

Pay old neighborhood of white people is becoming more diverse and a lot of Mexican neighbors have moved in. They are hard working people. I don’t know their immigration status except for my neighbor across the street who recently became a US citizen.

Again I still think it was a slip of the tongue and I stand by my statement.


You have a great day okay!

[Ocelot II]

39. I don't think it was a slip of the tongue; I assumed he was throwing MTG's use of the word back at her.

Either way, though, the progressive purity police can just STFU and appreciate the power of that speech.

[-misanthroptimist]

22. I don't care.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Yeah, he misspoke there, but it's hardly a "Dems in disarray" moment...

[LiberalFighter]

26. No human being is illegal?

That is what Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) says. She went off topic.

That is not what Biden said. It appears she and some others are trying to pretend those entering the country illegally should not be considered as immigrants.

If immigrants enter the country illegally that makes them illegal.

[Ocelot II]

27. They had to find something to quibble about.

STFU, you idiots; for all you know he was using the term ironically as a GOPer would. If it was a slip it was a reversion to the unenlightened old days when everybody used that term. But FFS, it was a brilliant speech, don't tear down your own guy on account of one word.

[Walleye]

37. I thought he was using it ironically to as he was answering Marge

[Ocelot II]

38. That's how I took it as well. But the purity police always have to have something to gripe about.

And I do agree that "illegals" isn't the most appropriate way to refer immigrants who are here illegally, but I assumed he was throwing MTG's use of the word back at her.

[Walleye]

43. And we're gonna pick on one word? Used ironically? we know what's in his heart

[AllaN01Bear]

28. so much for decorum , eh?!

[Silent Type]

29. He was responding to Taylor Greene's criticism of "illegals." My favorite line of night was, "I will not demonize

"I will not demonize immigrants saying they 'poison the blood of our country.'"

[flying_wahini]

30. So again, Dems have to knell in forgiveness for the use of that one word? I know what it represents.

But remember who Biden was speaking to, as well. Independents know exactly what he meant.
People who come to this country without the proper legal steps are who he was referring to. Not migrants.
Yes I know why they come and why they have to do it. My heart goes out to them and I wish we could
find a way that works for everybody. It’s a bad situation.
However, I don’t think it’s a character flaw to use the word illegal.

[BannonsLiver]

33. He MuSt rEsIgN NoW!111

Gotta love it when folks work so hard to be offended. 🙄

[stonecutter357]

36. lol Huffington Post !

[Walleye]

41. Marge, who chased down and harassed school shooting survivors, has no moral authority on this. Somebody smack her

[Think. Again.]

42. Nope, nope, nope....

He was obviously referring to their legal U.S. status.

He did NOT use the word 'illegal' as a derogatory noun, he used it as a verb.